Bomber Command Commemorative Day
Commemorative ceremonies are held in most Australian capital cities in late May or early June.
Keep an eye on our news feed for the location and time of the Bomber Command Ceremony in your capital city.
Australian Bomber Command Commemorative Day events are held across Australia in late May or early June, with each ceremony honouring the aircrew and ground staff who served and sacrificed during the Second World War. Across the country, these commemorations typically take the form of formal wreath‑laying services, moments of reflection, and gatherings of veterans’ families, descendants and supporters. They mirror the national ceremony in Canberra and are designed to ensure Bomber Command’s legacy remains visible in every state.
Most services are held late May or the first Sunday in June, aligning with the national date set by the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Foundation. In Canberra, the principal ceremony takes place at the Bomber Command Memorial in the Western Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial. This is the flagship national event and often includes associated activities such as a Last Post Ceremony the evening before. If you can't attend the Canberra ceremony, watch the Last Post Ceremony on the Australian War Memorial website.
State‑based ceremonies follow similar timing. For example, Sydney’s service is held at Martin Place and is usually held the week before Canberra, reflecting the pattern of late‑May observances when the national date falls close to the King's Birthday weekend. Other capital cities hold their own commemorations around the same period, ensuring broad national participation.
Together, these ceremonies form a coordinated national act of remembrance, giving Australians in every state the opportunity to honour Bomber Command veterans at the same time each year.