Anzac Day
Australia · 2026
About Anzac Day
ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, observed on April 25th each year. It commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations, particularly the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli, Turkey, on April 25, 1915.
The Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, in which Allied forces attempted to capture the Dardanelles strait, resulted in devastating casualties for Australian and New Zealand troops. Though the campaign failed militarily, it became a defining moment in both nations' national identities.
ANZAC Day is one of the most important national occasions in Australia and New Zealand, often described as the ANZAC spirit — characterized by courage, mateship, and sacrifice.
Quick Facts
- Date 2026
- April 25, 2026
- Day
- Saturday
- Type
- Public
- Scope
- National
- Fixed Date
- No — date changes each year
- Traditions
- Dawn Service ceremonies · RSL marches · Two-Up gambling game · Last Post and minute's silence
When is Anzac Day?
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 25, 2025 | Friday |
| 2026This year | April 25, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | April 25, 2027 | Sunday |
How is Anzac Day Celebrated?
ANZAC Day begins with Dawn Services held at 6:00 AM at war memorials across Australia and New Zealand — an outdoor ceremony that draws enormous crowds to remember the fallen. The haunting notes of the Last Post, a minute's silence, and the Rouse bugle call are central elements.
Marches of veterans and current servicemembers through city centers are held in the morning. Australians also gather to play Two-Up — a traditional gambling game played with pennies — which is legally permitted only on ANZAC Day. RSL clubs host commemorative events throughout the day.
Did You Know?
- •The Gallipoli landing on April 25, 1915 saw approximately 8,709 Australians killed during the campaign — out of the 61,514 who died in WWI overall.
- •The Dawn Service tradition began in 1923 in Albany, Western Australia.
- •Two-Up, the coin-tossing gambling game associated with ANZAC Day, was originally played by soldiers in the trenches.
- •ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli, Turkey attract thousands of Australian and New Zealand visitors each year.
- •The word ANZAC is protected by Australian law — it cannot be used for commercial purposes without permission.