Anzac Day 2026 – Commemorative activities, history and road closures

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as Anzacs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.

When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to establish a reputation among the nations of the world. When Britain declared war in August 1914 Australia was automatically placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.

The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated from the peninsula, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers had died in the campaign. Gallipoli had a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war.

Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the actions of Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign left a powerful legacy. What became known as the “Anzac legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways in which they viewed both their past and their future.

Australians recognise 25 April as a day of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held across the nation at dawn – the time of the original landing, while later in the day, former servicemen and servicewomen meet to take part in marches through the country’s major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country.

At the conclusion of the Anzac Day Commemorative March, the Anzac Day Service of Remembrance provides a significant finale to the commemorations, with the Dawn Service representing a funeral, the march representing the walk to the grave site and the Cross of Sacrifice service representing the burial.

In these ways, Anzac Day is a time at which Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.

Adelaide Metro will run additional train, tram and bus services on Anzac Day (Saturday, 25 April) to help passengers get to and from the city for the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Commemorative March.

Current and former serving military personnel wearing their uniform and people wearing service medals or carrying a Department for Veteran Affairs identification card can travel free across all Adelaide Mero services throughout the day.

A free and accessible shuttle will operate between the National War Memorial on King William Road to Victoria Square after the Anzac Day march. The Digger Shuttle will run in a clockwise direction every 15 minutes after the march from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Due to Anzac Day crowds and commemorations in the city, from first service to 1:00 pm trams will not run to the Botanic Gardens or Festival Plaza stops, while Glenelg services will terminate at Rundle Mall and Entertainment Centre services will terminate at Adelaide Railway Station.

Full public transport information for the day can be found on the Adelaide Metro website.