Anzac Day 2026 Dawn Services and events across Australia and New Zealand
Consensus Summary
Australians and New Zealanders will commemorate the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on April 25, 2026, with Dawn Services held across capital cities, including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and Hobart. The Sydney Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place begins at 4:20am, marking the 1915 landing time, and will be broadcast live on ABC TV and ABC iview. Canberraās service at the Australian War Memorial starts at 5:30am, featuring pre-dawn readings from soldiersā letters. Melbourneās Shrine of Remembrance service begins at 5:30am, while Brisbaneās Anzac Square service starts at 4:28am with early road closures. Adelaideās service at the National War Memorial begins at 6:00am after an overnight youth vigil, and Perthās service at Kings Park runs from 5:45am to 7:00am with LED screen broadcasts. Darwin and Hobart services also begin at 6:00am. NSW will have an additional public holiday on April 27, with free public transport for veterans and their families on April 25. Sydneyās day includes a 9:00am march along Elizabeth Street, a 12:30pm service at the Anzac Memorial, and a 5:00pm sunset service at the Cenotaph.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The NSW Anzac Day Dawn Service will be held at the Cenotaph, Martin Place, Sydney, beginning at 4:20am on April 25, 2026, marking the time of the 1915 Gallipoli landings.
- The Australian War Memorial in Canberra will host a Dawn Service from 5:30am to 6:00am on April 25, 2026, with pre-dawn readings from soldiersā letters and diaries starting at 4:30am.
- The Sydney Dawn Service will be broadcast live on ABC TV, ABC iview, and the ABC listen app from 4:20am (AEST) on April 25, 2026.
- The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne will host a Dawn Service beginning at 5:30am and ending around 6:30am on April 25, 2026.
- The Anzac Day Dawn Service in Brisbane will be held at Anzac Square, starting at 4:28am on April 25, 2026, with road closures beginning at 3:00am.
- The Dawn Service in Adelaide will take place at the South Australian National War Memorial on North Terrace, beginning at 6:00am on April 25, 2026, following the Anzac Eve Youth Vigil.
- The Dawn Service in Perth will be held at the State War Memorial, Kings Park, running from 5:45am to 7:00am on April 25, 2026, with public transport strongly recommended.
- The Darwin Dawn Service will begin at 6:00am on April 25, 2026, at the Darwin Cenotaph in Bicentennial Park, with veterans marching from the Darwin RSL at 5:45am.
- The Hobart Dawn Service will be held at the Hobart Cenotaph in Queens Domain at 6:00am on April 25, 2026.
- The Sydney Dawn Service will include the bugle call of the Last Post and a reading of the Ode of Remembrance.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NSW Dawn Service will have public viewing areas around Martin Place, with entry via Pitt St closed and security checks required.
- The Melbourne Dawn Service will be broadcast live on ABC TV TAS and streamed via RSL Victoriaās Facebook page.
- The Perth Dawn Service will be shown on large LED screens across Kings Park.
- The Hobart Dawn Service will be held overlooking the Derwent River, known for its calm, reflective atmosphere.
- The day continues in Tasmania with the main Anzac Day parade along Macquarie St from about 11:00am.
- NSW will have an additional public holiday on Monday, April 27, 2026, as part of a two-year trial, with no Anzac Day services affected.
- Travel on public transport will be free for veterans and their families on April 25, 2026, with current or former members of the Australian Defence Force asked to wear their uniform, display service medals, or carry an accreditation letter.
- Additional early-morning transport services will be available to support access to the dawn service.
- The Sydney march will begin at 9:00am along Elizabeth Street, finishing at Liverpool Street around 12:30pm.
- A service at the Pool of Remembrance at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park South will be held at 12:30pm.
- A sunset service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place will be held at 5:00pm.
- Many shops and businesses in NSW are required to shut on Anzac Day, with exemptions including specific services and gambling games like two-up remaining illegal except on April 25 and November 11.
- The trading restrictions on Saturday will not apply to the additional public holiday on Monday, April 27.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states the Sydney Dawn Service runs from 4:20am to 5:20am, while Article 2 does not specify an end time but mentions it runs until 5:20am, implying a possible discrepancy in duration clarity.
Source Articles
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