📅 holiday

Canberra Day

Monday, March 9, 2026

— days to go

Canberra Day is a public holiday held on the second Monday of March each year in Canberra, to celebrate the naming ceremony of Australia’s capital which took place on 12 March 1913. In 2027, Canberra Day falls on Monday 8 March. The holiday will be on Monday 13 March in 2028. Canberra Day is celebrated with a public holiday for all people in the Australian Capital Territory, and there are many events that take place during March each year as part of the Canberra Day celebrations. Until 2007, Canberra Day was celebrated on the third Monday of March each year. In 2007 the date was moved to the second Monday of March, so that in future years, the celebration would fall closer to the original date of 12 March. Canberra is Australia’s National Capital, and is located in the Australian Capital Territory. It is frequently referred to as Australia’s ‘bush capital’ because of large areas of natural vegetation that have been retained between areas developed as suburbs. A national capital separate to Sydney or Melbourne was initially discussed in the late 19th century, and New South Wales transferred land to the newly formed commonwealth in 1911 for this purpose. Canberra is a planned city, designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin (after whom the lake is named). Almost the total number of people living in ACT today live in Canberra itself.

History

Seat of Government Act. The Seat of Government Act established Canberra as the capital of Australia, selected due to its location between Sydney and Melbourne This observance marks an important moment in history, remembered annually for its cultural and historical significance.

How It's Celebrated

Celebrate by learning more about the occasion, sharing on social media with relevant hashtags, participating in community events, or taking small personal actions that align with the day's theme.

Other Years

2027 Mon

8 Mar

2028 Mon

13 Mar

2026 Mon

9 Mar

2025 Mon

10 Mar

Countries

🇦🇺 AU

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🌍 observance Jan 26

Australia

In 1788, Arrival of. First Fleet. On January 26, 1788, the First Fleet of British ships arrived at Port Jackson, marking the beginning of European colonization of Australia

AUUS

📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

🌍 observance Feb 13

National Apology Day

In 2004, National. Apology Day Inception. This holiday was officially recognized in Australia as a day to encourage apologies for past wrongdoings, and starting afresh