Millions of individuals in Australia might enjoy an additional day off work next year, as hinted by the government. Unlike in 2020, Anzac Day on April 25 will not fall on a weekday, potentially leading to a new public holiday in one Australian state.

Residents of New South Wales (NSW), home to iconic landmarks like Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach, and Sydney Opera House, could soon benefit from a new public holiday. Premier Chris Minns disclosed ongoing discussions with relevant authorities to establish this holiday due to Anzac Day falling on a Saturday.

While remembrance services will proceed nationwide on April 25, only Western Australia and the ACT currently have an extra public holiday on the following Monday. Premier Minns highlighted the disparity in public holidays among states, emphasizing the need for equitable holiday allocations.

Anzac Day, a significant day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga, honors servicemen and women who sacrificed in wars and peacekeeping missions. The day is akin to the UK’s Remembrance Sunday and involves rituals like playing two-up, a traditional coin-tossing game associated with Australian soldiers.

The decision regarding the new holiday is pending further consultations with the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL), as the government aims to maintain the sanctity of Anzac Day while addressing the public holiday disparity. Premier Minns assured ongoing discussions for both this year and the next to address the holiday imbalance across states.

Public holidays in Australia, managed at a state level, have sparked debate over variations in holiday entitlements. NSW, with 12 standard statewide public holidays in 2026, lags behind Victoria, which offers 14 public holidays, including state-specific events like the AFL Grand Final eve and Melbourne Cup Day.

Diverse holiday calendars exist across Australian states, with Western Australia and Tasmania having 13 days off this year, while the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland enjoy 14 days. South Australia and the Northern Territory lead with a total of 15 public holidays for 2026, underscoring the discrepancies in holiday provisions nationwide.