The 2026 ANZAC Commemoration took place at the Stonefall Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Harrogate on Sunday 26 April 2026

ANZAC day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorating those who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The day itself is on 25 April each year with ceremonies starting at dawn, reflecting the dawn operations which started the campaign at Gallipoli in 1915, where so many ANZAC service people lost their lives.

The ceremony at Stonefall is supported by Harrogate International Partnerships, in recognition of the background to Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington, capital of New Zealand. It commemorates the 23 New Zealand and 97 Australian aircrew and service personnel who gave their young lives and who are buried at Stonefall, many miles from home.

The ceremony at Stonefall is now arranged by a separate Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which has been formed to take forward the organisation of the ANZAC commemorations. www.anzacremembrancecio.org 

This event is supported by the RNZAF, the RAAF, the New Zealand High Commission, the Royal British Legion, and many others including local dignitaries. Permission has been obtained for this Commemoration to be held on the Sunday nearest to ANZAC day.

All photographs – credit Russell Pearce

For further information on the ceremony, a list of the principal attendees and wreaths laid, a selection of further photographs and video footage of procedings, please see the CIO’s own website: https://www.anzacremembrancecio.org/anzac-ceremony-2026

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And afterwards….

Ceremonial cake cutting by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire – Captain Stephen Upright RN

Presentation to the Mayor of Harrogate by Kate Spencer of a gift from the Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand. This was part of an exchange of gifts in furthering the twinning connection between Harrogate and Wellington.

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