Australia Day 2027

Is Australia Day a public holiday?

Yes. Australia Day is a public holiday in all six states, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Public holidays in Australia are set by state and territory law, but every jurisdiction observes January 26.

In 2027, January 26 is Tuesday, January 26, 2027, so the public holiday is Tuesday, January 26, 2027. If January 26 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the public holiday instead. Depending on the weekday, the holiday can create a long weekend or fall midweek.

Banks and government offices close (see January bank holidays for other countries), and many shops and services run on public holiday hours. Employees who work on the day are often entitled to public holiday penalty rates under their award or agreement. Check your state or territory government and the Fair Work Ombudsman for the official dates and pay rules.

Australia Day dates 2024–2035

The table shows the weekday of January 26 and the public holiday date for each year, including Monday substitute days. For other dates this month, see the January holidays list.

Why is Australia Day on January 26?

January 26 is the anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788. The fleet of 11 ships, carrying convicts, marines, officials and some of their families, sailed from England in 1787 under Captain Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy.

Phillip judged Botany Bay unsuitable for a settlement and moved north to Port Jackson. On January 26, 1788, he raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, the start of the first permanent European settlement in Australia. Phillip became the first Governor of New South Wales.

The colony marked the anniversary from the early 1800s, and in New South Wales the day was long known as Anniversary Day or Foundation Day. The name Australia Day and a shared national date were adopted gradually over the 20th century.

Before 1994, the public holiday was often moved to the Monday nearest January 26 to create a long weekend. Since 1994, all states and territories have held the holiday on January 26 itself, with a Monday substitute only when the date falls on a weekend.

Australian of the Year, honors and citizenship ceremonies

The Australian of the Year awards are announced on the eve of Australia Day, January 25, at a ceremony in Canberra. Run by the National Australia Day Council and presented since 1960, the awards have four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia's Local Hero.

On January 26, the Governor-General announces the Australia Day Honours list, which recognizes people appointed to the Order of Australia (established in 1975) along with other awards. The other main list of the year is the King's Birthday Honours in June.

Australia Day is also one of the biggest days of the year for citizenship ceremonies. Local councils across the country welcome thousands of new citizens, who make the Australian citizenship pledge.

How Australians celebrate

Celebrations range from community barbecues, beach days and backyard cricket to free concerts, festivals and fireworks run by state and local governments. Many councils also present local Australia Day awards to volunteers and community groups.

Sydney, where the First Fleet landed, holds some of the largest events on and around Sydney Harbour. Many official programs include an Aboriginal Welcome to Country or smoking ceremony.

January 26 is also Republic Day in India, so Indian-Australian communities often mark both occasions. See January 26 for other events on this date.

The debate over the date: Invasion Day and Survival Day

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, January 26 marks the start of British colonization and the dispossession that followed. Some call it Invasion Day, while others use Survival Day to recognize the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

Protest on the date has a long history. On January 26, 1938, the 150th anniversary, Aboriginal activists held a Day of Mourning in Sydney, and the 1988 bicentenary drew both large celebrations and a large Aboriginal-led march in Sydney.

Today, rallies and marches take place in capital cities on January 26 alongside official celebrations. Some Australians want to keep the date, others support moving the national day, and some local councils have changed how they mark it. Because public holidays are set by legislation, any change to the date would require action by governments.

Related

• January holidays
• Republic Day (India)
• Bank holidays
• January 26
• National days
• January 2027 calendar