Australia Day falls on 26 January, commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788. It's a public holiday in every state and territory, marked by fireworks, outdoor concerts, citizenship ceremonies, and the Australian of the Year awards. Major cities put on their biggest shows — Sydney Harbour is particularly spectacular.
The day is not without controversy. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 26 January marks the beginning of dispossession, and the date is increasingly contested. Some councils and communities hold "Survival Day" or "Invasion Day" events as alternative observances. The debate about whether to change the date is ongoing and worth knowing about if you're visiting around this time.