NSW gets extra Anzac Day public holiday until at least 2027
People in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), will have an extra Anzac Day long weekend for the next two years, and could be in line for more public holidays. The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has announced that the state will have an additional public holiday in 2026 and 2027, when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday and Sunday.
Remembrance services are held nationwide on April 25th, but only people in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had previously been granted an additional public holiday on the following Monday. Unlike New Year's Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, there had been no additional public holidays declared in NSW when Anzac Day fell on a weekend.
Adding a public holiday in these circumstances won't diminish the tradition, Minns said. Instead, it will serve as a reminder of its importance and provide an opportunity for people to attend local services and pass on the spirit of remembrance to the next generation.
The Returned and Services League (RSL) NSW's acting president, Vince Williams, supports the introduction of an additional public holiday after consulting with members. He also noted that a public holiday on Monday will give serving Australian defense force personnel, who are required to work on Anzac Day, a chance to spend quality time with their loved ones.
Anzac Day is one of 10 public holidays recognized nationwide. However, NSW has fewer public holidays than all other mainland states and territories. Most Australians get three or four extra public holidays on top of the nationwide holidays, including in Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, and South Australia.
NSW currently has just two extra public holidays: King's Birthday in June and Labour Day in October. Christmas Island celebrates an extra six public holidays, including two for the lunar new year in mid-February.
The Minns government will consider making the Anzac Day change permanent and will assess whether the number of statewide public holidays is sufficient. They will examine the economic and social impacts of the extra public holiday in 2026 and 2027 and seek feedback from community, business, and veteran groups.
