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Residents of Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, are set to enjoy a long weekend for Anzac Day over the next two years, alongside the potential for additional public holidays in the future.
Premier Chris Minns recently announced that NSW would benefit from an extra public holiday in 2026 and 2027. With Anzac Day falling on a Saturday this year and a Sunday the next, the extra holiday will be observed on the subsequent Monday, specifically April 27, 2026.
Traditionally, Anzac Day commemorations take place nationwide on April 25. However, until this change, only residents of Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) received an additional day off when the holiday fell on a weekend.
The ACT has decided to shift the public holiday to the following Monday, while all commemorative events will continue as usual on the Saturday. Meanwhile, Western Australia has opted to recognize both the Saturday and the Monday as public holidays.
In contrast to holidays like New Year’s Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, NSW previously did not designate an extra day off when Anzac Day occurred on a weekend, making this new development a notable shift in policy.
Adding a public holiday in these circumstances won’t diminish the tradition, Minns insisted.
“If anything, it is a reminder of its importance and another reason for people to get up, attend a local service and ensure the spirit of remembrance continues to be passed on to the next generation,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Restaurants and cafes encouraged not to open
The NSW Returned and Services League (RSL) said it did not oppose the introduction of an additional public holiday after consulting with members.
“I’ve already had feedback from some smaller RSL organisations that … it may give them an opportunity to get together on the Monday,” its acting president Vince Williams said.
“Additionally, a public holiday on Monday will also provide many serving Australian Defence Force personnel who are required to work on Anzac Day itself with an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones.”
But the decision hasn’t garnered universal backing, with Minns acknowledging not all business groups were on board.
“We know that it’s somewhat of an additional burden for small businesses in particular,” he said.
“But this is, we believe, an important thing to do for the state.”
The decision will lift labour costs for hospitality venues to 75 and 100 per cent of sales, Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert warned.
“So we’ll be encouraging cafes and restaurants not to open,” he told ABC TV.
“It won’t just be a public holiday for office workers, it’ll be a public holiday for everyone.
“Hospitality businesses are on some of the lowest profit margins in history, below three per cent, and they just cannot wear another public holiday in NSW.”
Major lobby group Business NSW declined to comment on the decision.
Fewer public holidays in NSW
NSW has fewer public holidays than all other mainland states and territories.
Anzac Day is one of 10 public holidays recognised nationwide in 2026.
Most Australians get another three or four, including those in Victoria, Queensland, ACT and South Australia.
But NSW enjoys just two extra: the King’s Birthday in June and Labour Day in October.
Christmas Island celebrates an extra six, including two for Lunar New Year in February.
The Minns government will consider making the Anzac Day change permanent and decide if the number of statewide public holidays is enough.
It will look at economic and social impacts of the extra public holiday in 2026 and 2027 and be subject to feedback from community, business and veteran groups.
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