Australians Mark 111th Anzac Day with Dawn Services

Australians across the nation gathered before dawn on April 25, 2026, to observe Anzac Day, marking the 111th anniversary of the ill-fated Gallipoli landings during World War I. The annual commemoration honors the service and sacrifice of those who fought in conflicts from Gallipoli to more recent wars, drawing communities to memorials for services, marches, and moments of reflection on the costs of war.

In capital cities from Sydney to Hobart, thousands braved cool early morning air for dawn services that began as the first light broke. In Sydney, the ceremony at the Martin Place Cenotaph started at 4:20 a.m., echoing the hour Australian and New Zealand troops first came ashore at Anzac Cove in 1915. Canberra's Australian War Memorial hosted readings from soldiers' letters from 4:30 a.m., followed by a service on the Parade Ground. Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance drew crowds from 5:30 a.m., allowing visitors to lay poppies afterward. Similar events unfolded in Brisbane at Anzac Square from 4:28 a.m., Adelaide at the National War Memorial from 6 a.m., Perth's Kings Park from 5:45 a.m., Darwin's Bicentennial Park from 6 a.m., and Hobart's Queens Domain at 6 a.m. Road closures...