People in Australia’s most populous state have been given a long Anzac Day weekend for the next two years and could be lining up for more holidays.
Premier Chris Minns has announced that NSW will have an extra public holiday in both 2026 and 2027. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday this year and a Sunday next year. The additional public holiday for 2026 falls on the following Monday, April 27.
Remembrance services are held nationally on April 25, but previously only people in Western Australia and the ACT were given an additional public holiday on April 27.
The ACT had announced it would move the holiday to Monday and all commemorative activities would take place on Saturday as usual. In WA, the government has designated both Saturday and Monday as public holidays.
Unlike New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, no additional public holidays were previously declared in NSW if Anzac Day fell on a weekend.
Adding a holiday under these circumstances will not diminish the tradition, Minns emphasized.
“If anything, it is a reminder of its importance and one more reason for people to get up, attend a local service and ensure that the spirit of remembrance is passed on to the next generation,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Restaurants and cafes are encouraged not to open
The NSW Returned and Services League (RSL) said after consultation with members it was not opposed to the introduction of an additional public holiday.
“I’ve already had feedback from some of the smaller RSL organizations that… it might give them an opportunity to get together on Monday,” acting president Vince Williams said.
“In addition, a public holiday on Monday will also provide many serving Australian Defense Force personnel who are required to work on Anzac Day itself the opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones.”
But the decision has not received universal support, with Minns acknowledging that not all business groups were on board.
“We know it’s an added burden especially for small businesses,” he said.
“But this is, in our view, an important matter for the state.”
The decision will increase labor costs for hospitality venues to 75 and 100 percent of turnover, Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert warned.
“So we will encourage cafes and restaurants not to open,” he told ABC TV.
‘It won’t just be a holiday for office workers, it will be a holiday for everyone.
“Hospitality companies have one of the lowest profit margins in history, less than three per cent, and they simply cannot celebrate 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 ten public holidays to be recognized nationally in 2026.
Most Australians will get another three or four, including those in Victoria, Queensland, ACT and South Australia.
But NSW only enjoys two extras: the King’s Birthday in June and Labor Day in October.
Christmas Island celebrates six more, including two for the Lunar New Year in February.
The Minns Government will consider making the Anzac Day change permanent and decide whether the number of public holidays is sufficient.
The economic and social impact of the additional holiday in 2026 and 2027 will be considered and subject to feedback from community, business and veterans groups.
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