ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday in 2026
ANZAC Day in 2026 lands on Saturday 25 April, and the weekend date changes how people get to the dawn services and marches across Australia and New Zealand. In Australia the gazetted public holiday remains 25 April itself; several states and territories also observe a substitute day on Monday 27 April, so it is worth checking local arrangements before assuming every office is closed or every weekend timetable has changed. In New Zealand the holiday is also Saturday 25 April, and many shops stay closed until 1:00 pm.
The dawn services are the hinge of the day. Most capital city services begin before first light, and the marches that follow draw veterans, serving members, descendants, school bands and local cadet units. If you plan to go, be early: the largest services fill their standing areas 30 to 45 minutes before the official start.
Dawn service times and march starts
Organisers list these local start times for the main city services. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the time shown if you want a clear view of the cenotaph or memorial.
| City | Dawn service location | Dawn service start |
|---|---|---|
| Canberra | Australian War Memorial | 5:30 am |
| Sydney | Cenotaph, Martin Place | 4:30 am |
| Melbourne | Shrine of Remembrance | 6:00 am |
| Brisbane | Anzac Square | 4:28 am |
| Adelaide | South Australian National War Memorial | 6:00 am |
| Perth | State War Memorial, Kings Park | 6:00 am |
| Hobart | Hobart Cenotaph | 6:00 am |
| Darwin | Darwin Cenotaph | 6:00 am |
| Auckland | Auckland War Memorial Museum | 6:00 am |
| Wellington | Pukeahu National War Memorial Park | 6:00 am |
March step-off times cluster between 9:00 am and 11:00 am local time. Sydney and Melbourne marches begin at 9:00 am, Brisbane at 10:00 am, Adelaide and Perth around 9:30 am, Darwin at 9:00 am and Hobart at 11:00 am. Veterans who cannot march are often invited to travel at the rear of the procession, so contact the organising Returned and Services League (RSL) branch before the morning if you need that arrangement.
In regional and rural areas, RSL sub-branches and community associations run services at local cenotaphs, often at dawn or mid-morning. These smaller events frequently follow the same order of service as the capital cities, and some finish with a community breakfast in a hall or club.
Photo by Sushanta Rokka on Unsplash
Road closures, transport and what to bring
Public transport will be the easier option in every capital city because road closures around memorials and march routes begin early. Weekend timetables apply in most centres, and some cities add early-start services on 25 April to move crowds before dawn. Allow extra walking time between the train or bus stop and the service site; security screening is common at large services and large bags slow entry.
- Bring a small torch, warm layers, water and a rain jacket if the forecast is uncertain.
- Leave large bags, folding chairs and bulky signs at home where security checks are in place.
- Standing can last 45 to 75 minutes, so wear comfortable shoes and be ready for uneven grass or pavement.
- If you are marching, confirm your assembly time and entry point with the branch running the march, not just the published step-off time.
If you are driving, expect parking to be scarce from 4:00 am near major memorials. Rideshare drop-off zones are often moved, so check the local transport authority's page before the day.
At the Australian War Memorial, the national ceremony later in the morning usually includes a march-past, flypasts and formal wreath-laying. If you plan to attend both the dawn service and the national ceremony, leave enough time between them; some roads near the memorial stay closed into the afternoon.
The Australian War Memorial publishes current service details, road closure advice and live-stream links on its official ANZAC Day page.
New Zealand services and the RSA network
In New Zealand the Returned and Services Association, known as the RSA, coordinates community dawn services and parades. Auckland's dawn service is held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the national service in Wellington at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park follows the dawn service. Many local RSA branches run smaller town services; the national office keeps a searchable list on its official ANZAC Day page.
New Zealand shares the core ritual with Australia: the Ode, the Last Post, a minute of silence, the Rouse and wreath-laying. In recent years both countries have given more visible space to descendants and family groups marching behind veteran contingents, which has become a practical way to carry memory across generations.
The New Zealand Defence Force lists national and base services on its ANZAC Day page.
Photo by Sushanta Rokka on Unsplash
The story behind the day
ANZAC Day marks the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, the start of an eight-month campaign on the peninsula in what is now Türkiye. More than 8,000 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died during the campaign. The first commemorations were held in 1916, a year after the landing, and the day now honours service and sacrifice in later conflicts as well as Gallipoli.
The name ANZAC comes from the initials of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The Ode of Remembrance used in services is the fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's 1914 poem 'For the Fallen' and includes the line 'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.' The Last Post, a bugle call, closes the remembrance before the Rouse signals the living to continue.
On the morning itself the sequence usually moves from hymn to address, then the Ode, the Last Post, one minute of silence, the Rouse and wreath-laying before the crowd disperses. The exact order varies by branch, but the silence after the Last Post is the same across both countries. Wreaths are laid by officials, service organisations, schools and family groups; in Canberra the Governor-General attends the national ceremony, and in Wellington the Governor-General attends the national service at Pukeahu.
Veterans and serving members wear their own medals on the left side of the chest; descendants may wear family medals on the right side. The distinction is not enforced everywhere, but it is the convention at most large services.
Watching from home and after the march
ABC TV and ABC iview broadcast the Canberra dawn service and march in Australia; TVNZ and RNZ provide coverage in New Zealand. The Australian War Memorial streams its services online, which helps families who cannot travel or who are watching from a different time zone.
After the formal events, two-up is played in many Australian pubs and clubs from midday under state-authorized rules; New Zealand does not have the same two-up tradition. RSL clubs host gatherings where veterans and families share the afternoon, and many branches rely on volunteers in the weeks before 25 April.
Before you leave home, check the official page for your city or town. Road closures, march assembly points and weather advice change overnight, and the largest dawn services do not have spare standing room for latecomers.