Anzac Day Dawn Service at Cathedral Square
A dawn service in Cathedral Square will give Christchurch residents a chance to remember New Zealand’s fallen soldiers on Anzac Day.
This year, for the fourth time since the 2011 earthquakes, we will be returning to Cathedral Square under the Citizen’s War Memorial.
The commemorations that mark Australia and New Zealand’s Gallipoli campaign will begin at 6.15am when veterans and servicemen, active and retired, will gather at the Worcester Bridge and then parade the short distance to Cathedral Square for the traditional dawn service.
Veterans, service personnel, and those marching are asked to assemble on Worcester Boulevard at the intersection of Oxford Terrace. Please arrive by 5.45am for a 6.00am briefing.
VIPs, visitors, and members of the public are asked to be in Cathedral Square by 6.00am for a 6.15am start.
The New Zealand Army Band will perform at the service, which will end with the playing of the Last Post, a minute’s silence, and then the singing of the New Zealand national anthem.
For those unable to make it in person, the service will be available at the Anzac Day Dawn Service 2026 live stream.
Other services around Christchurch and Banks Peninsula
- Heathcote: War Memorial (Martindale-Bridal Path-Flavell), 6.15am
- Harewood: Harewood War Memorial, 721 Harewood Rd, 7am
- Cashmere: 19th Battalion and Armoured Regiment Memorial Victoria Park, 8am
- Riccarton: 20th Battalion Association, Jane Deans Close, 9am
- Hornby: Hornby War Memorial, Hornby Primary School Ground, 190 Waterloo Rd, 9am
- Halswell: War Memorial/Domain, 9am
- Little River: Community Hall, 9.30am
- Waltham: Waltham Park Memorial Gates, 9.30am
- Ilam: University of Canterbury, Matariki Quad, 20 Kirkwood Ave, 10am
- New Brighton: Cenotaph, Marine Parade, 10am
- Lyttelton: War Memorial, Albion Square, 10am
- Diamond Harbour: War Memorial Hall, 10.30am
- Templeton: Templeton RSA, Banks Street, 11am
- Aranui: St Ambrose Church, 11am
- Sumner: RSA Memorial Gates, 11am
- Akaroa: War Memorial, 11.30am
- Wigram: Airforce Museum, 45 Harvard Avenue, midday
- Belfast: War Memorial, Sheldon Park, 8.30am
- Papanui: Papanui Club, 310 Sawyers Arms Road, 10am
This year, for the fourth time since the 2011 earthquakes, we will be returning to Cathedral Square under the Citizen’s War Memorial.
The commemorations that mark Australia and New Zealand’s Gallipoli campaign will begin at 6.15am when veterans and servicemen, active and retired, will gather at the Worcester Bridge and then parade the short distance to Cathedral Square for the traditional dawn service.
Veterans, service personnel, and those marching are asked to assemble on Worcester Boulevard at the intersection of Oxford Terrace. Please arrive by 5.45am for a 6.00am briefing.
VIPs, visitors, and members of the public are asked to be in Cathedral Square by 6.00am for a 6.15am start.
The New Zealand Army Band will perform at the service, which will end with the playing of the Last Post, a minute’s silence, and then the singing of the New Zealand national anthem.
For those unable to make it in person, the service will be available at the Anzac Day Dawn Service 2026 live stream.
Other services around Christchurch and Banks Peninsula
- Heathcote: War Memorial (Martindale-Bridal Path-Flavell), 6.15am
- Harewood: Harewood War Memorial, 721 Harewood Rd, 7am
- Cashmere: 19th Battalion and Armoured Regiment Memorial Victoria Park, 8am
- Riccarton: 20th Battalion Association, Jane Deans Close, 9am
- Hornby: Hornby War Memorial, Hornby Primary School Ground, 190 Waterloo Rd, 9am
- Halswell: War Memorial/Domain, 9am
- Little River: Community Hall, 9.30am
- Waltham: Waltham Park Memorial Gates, 9.30am
- Ilam: University of Canterbury, Matariki Quad, 20 Kirkwood Ave, 10am
- New Brighton: Cenotaph, Marine Parade, 10am
- Lyttelton: War Memorial, Albion Square, 10am
- Diamond Harbour: War Memorial Hall, 10.30am
- Templeton: Templeton RSA, Banks Street, 11am
- Aranui: St Ambrose Church, 11am
- Sumner: RSA Memorial Gates, 11am
- Akaroa: War Memorial, 11.30am
- Wigram: Airforce Museum, 45 Harvard Avenue, midday
- Belfast: War Memorial, Sheldon Park, 8.30am
- Papanui: Papanui Club, 310 Sawyers Arms Road, 10am
Citizens War Memorial, 99 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central
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