Anzac Day 2026 Across Australia
Memorial services were held across the country to mark the 111th anniversary of the landing by Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli before dawn on 25 April 1915. The day was marked by solemn ceremonies, but also controversy as Indigenous speakers were booed at some services, and Ben Roberts-Smith attended a Gold Coast event.
Dawn Services in Major Cities
In Sydney, Australian army cadets attended the Anzac Day dawn service at Coogee beach, where a serviceman played the bugle. People also attended the memorial service at Coogee beach, laying wreaths and observing moments of silence. At the Cenotaph in Sydney, Uncle Ray Minniecon delivered the acknowledgement of country.
In Melbourne, a navy officer played the bugle during the Anzac Day dawn service on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance. Large crowds attended the service, and a moment of silence was observed. A member of the Australian defence force played the bagpipes on top of the Shrine, and navy officers saluted during the ceremony. Veterans posed for a photo after the dawn service.
In Canberra, Flying Officer Kbora Ali posed for photographs with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife, Jodie Haydon, during the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memorial. People laid wreaths at the 'For Our Country' memorial during the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commemorative ceremony.
Services in Other Regions
In Queensland, a dove was released during the Anzac Day dawn service in Currumbin. Surfers returned after a paddle-out during the service at Currumbin beach. In Sydney, a wreath was laid during an Anzac Day dawn service, and a navy officer played the bagpipes at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
The day also saw controversy, with Indigenous speakers booed at some services. Ben Roberts-Smith, a former soldier, attended a Gold Coast event. The commemorations reflect ongoing debates about the place of Anzac Day in modern Australia, as noted by journalist Paul Daley.
Overall, the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing was marked with respect and reflection across the nation, highlighting both the solemnity of the occasion and the diverse perspectives on its significance.
