Wellington Anniversary Day in 2026 falls on Monday, 19 January 2026.

Quick Scoop

  • Official observance date 2026: Monday, 19 January 2026.
  • The anniversary itself marks the first settlers’ arrival on 22 January 1840, but the public holiday is shifted to the Monday closest to 22 January.
  • In 2026, 19 January is the closest Monday to 22 January, so that is the public holiday most people in the Wellington region get off work.

In practice, if you live or work in the wider Wellington province (including places like Wellington, Kapiti, Palmerston North, Masterton, Whanganui, Levin, and Feilding), you can expect a long weekend with the public holiday on Monday 19 January 2026.

TL;DR: When is Wellington Anniversary Day 2026? It’s observed as a public holiday on Monday, 19 January 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.