TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Each year on April 25, Australians and New Zealanders pause to honor those who have served and sacrificed. Tracing back to the Gallipoli landings, the day is often followed by dawn services, remembrance ceremonies, and nationwide observance.
This year’s commemorations will once again begin before sunrise, as thousands gather at memorials across the country to honor the tradition.
Citing news.au, The Guardian, and other sources, here’s a guide to when and where to attend official ANZAC Day Dawn Services across Australia’s capital cities, along with what to expect from retail trading hours as state-by-state restrictions come into effect.
What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day takes its name from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose troops became known as ANZACs. It commemorates their landing at the Gallipoli landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915, one of the first major campaigns involving forces from Australia and New Zealand during World War I.
Today, ANZAC Day is observed nationwide through solemn dawn gatherings across capital cities. From cenotaphs to riverside memorials, crowds assemble before sunrise as the Last Post sounds, followed by the Ode of Remembrance and a minute of silence in tribute to those who served.
Where to attend dawn service during ANZAC Day?
In Sydney, the NSW Dawn Service will take place at Cenotaph, Martin Place, beginning at 04:20 AM to commemorate ANZAC Day, with public viewing areas set around Martin Place and security checks in place, including the closure of entry via Pitt Street.
At the nation’s capital, Canberra, the day begins with pre-dawn readings from soldiers’ letters at the Australian War Memorial at 04:30 AM, before the Dawn Service unfolds from 05:30 AM to 06:00 AM on the Parade Ground. This observance is open to the public and broadcast live on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Crowds in Melbourne will gather at the Shrine of Remembrance for the Dawn Service from 05:30 AM to around 06:30 AM, after which attendees are invited into the Sanctuary to lay a poppy, with the ceremony broadcast live on ABC TV TAS and streamed via RSL Victoria’s Facebook page.
Perth’s main ANZAC Day service will be held at the State War Memorial, Kings Park from 05:45 AM to 07:00 AM, with large LED screens set up across the precinct, while attendees are advised to use public transport due to road closures and no available parking within Kings Park.
What do trading hours look like during ANZAC Day 2026?
In New South Wales, ANZAC Day trading laws tighten significantly in 2026, with the Retail Trading Amendment (Anzac Day Trading Hours) Act 2024 requiring major retailers to remain closed for the entire day.
As a result, large chains such as Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Big W and Westfield will not open, along with standalone liquor outlets including Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars. However, essential and small-scale services, including chemists, petrol stations, cafes, takeaway shops, florists, and newsagencies, are exempt and permitted to operate under the updated rules.
ANZAC Day brings strict morning trading limits in Victoria, with Coles closed until 01:00 PM while Woolworths trades under reduced hours in line with the Shop Trading Reform Act 1996 and Anzac Day Act 1958. Morning entertainment is also paused statewide, with cinemas, concerts, live performances, and auctions only permitted after 01:00 PM.
Meanwhile, ANZAC Day trading rules will see all Coles stores and most Woolworths outlets in Queensland remain closed under the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990. Entertainment venues are also tightly regulated, with amusement parks, cinemas, and sporting events barred from opening before 1:30pm unless granted special government approval.
As Australians observe the day, attention also turns to broader national conditions. Weather outlooks, including Australia’s Super El Nino patterns, are being closely monitored for their potential impact on daily life and public gatherings.
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