Australia Day 2026 in Australia falls on Monday, 26 January 2026 — a public holiday in Australia.
Australia Day, observed on January 26, marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty. It is Australia's national day, though it remains controversial for Indigenous Australians who refer to it as Invasion Day or Survival Day.
January 26, 1788 — Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove. The 50th anniversary in 1838 was the first official celebration. The name "Australia Day" became standard in 1935, and it was officially uniform across all states only since 1994.
Citizenship ceremonies (thousands take their oath on this day). Barbecues. Beach trips — Australia Day falls in summer. Triple J's Hottest 100 music countdown. Tall ships in Sydney Harbour. Fireworks. Award of Australian of the Year.
Barbecue — sausages, prawns, steak. Lamingtons, pavlova, fairy bread. Vegemite on toast. Cold beer, particularly XXXX or VB.
"Happy Australia Day".
National public holiday. Most businesses closed. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane host major celebrations. Beaches packed. Indigenous-led counter-events also held.
Future dates for moving holidays (Easter, Eid, Lunar New Year, Diwali, etc.) are computed and approximate; the actual public-holiday date in some countries is fixed by official decree closer to the date.
Australia Day 2026 in Australia falls on Monday, 26 January 2026, a national public holiday.
Yes. Australia Day is a nationwide public holiday in Australia.
The countdown above shows the exact days, hours and minutes remaining. The year-by-year list below has Australia Day's date in the surrounding years.
The next Australia Day is Tuesday, 26 January 2027.