Canterbury's Show Day
Canterbury Anniversary Day 2026 and 2027, New Zealand
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary | School calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | (Wednesday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| 2027 | (Thursday) | Term 4 (schools close) | |
| 2028 | Not yet published by Employment New Zealand | ||
Add to your calendar (.ics) Calendar dates come from official publications or legislation, with no estimates and a source link for each event.
Key facts
- Observed date in 2026
- Friday 13 November 2026, in Term 4 (schools close)
- Observance rule
- A day fixed by local custom; the anniversary itself is Wednesday 16 December 2026
- Anniversary long weekend Calculated
- 3 days off in a row, Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 15 November 2026
A fact marked Calculated is worked out from the official dates linked below, rather than quoted from the source.
Show Day is the name Northern and Central Canterbury use for their anniversary public holiday. Canterbury Anniversary Day is kept as Christchurch Show Day on the second Friday after November's first Tuesday, well before the actual anniversary in mid-December. With the observance falling during Term 4, the Friday holiday creates a three-day weekend within the school term. That November timing is the key distinction when fitting the local break around school and workplace plans.
Right now in Canterbury (, New Zealand time)
Next Canterbury Anniversary Day
8 days to go
: Term 4 (schools close).
Why Canterbury takes it on that day
In the words of Employment New Zealand:
Canterbury Anniversary: Northern and Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day. The definition for the Canterbury Anniversary Day celebration as decided by Christchurch City is the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November each year.
The area as govt.nz lists it: Canterbury.
Canterbury Anniversary weekend 2026 and 2027: the long weekend
- 2026: Friday 13 November to Sunday 15 November 2026: three days off in a row.
- 2027: Friday 12 November to Sunday 14 November 2027: three days off in a row.
These breaks combine the anniversary day, weekends and that year's national holidays, assuming weekends are days off.
Canterbury Anniversary Day: 2010 to 2025
Employment New Zealand's previous-years list shows how the observed anniversary day for Canterbury moved between years.
Show observed dates from 2010 to 2025
| Year | Observed | Actual anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2024 | (Monday) | |
| 2023 | (Saturday) | |
| 2022 | (Friday) | |
| 2021 | (Thursday) | |
| 2020 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2019 | (Monday) | |
| 2018 | (Sunday) | |
| 2017 | (Saturday) | |
| 2016 | (Friday) | |
| 2015 | (Wednesday) | |
| 2014 | (Tuesday) | |
| 2013 | (Monday) | |
| 2012 | (Sunday) | |
| 2011 | (Friday) | |
| 2010 | (Thursday) |
Public holidays, long weekends and school dates
Common questions
- When is Canterbury Anniversary Day in 2027?
- Friday 12 November 2027. The anniversary itself is Thursday 16 December 2027; Canterbury keeps a day set by local custom, quoted above. In the school calendar that is Term 4 (schools close).
- How is the observed date for Canterbury Anniversary Day decided?
- Local custom sets the day; Employment New Zealand’s rule reads “Northern and Central Canterbury areas observe Christchurch Show Day. The definition for the Canterbury Anniversary Day celebration as decided by Christchurch City is the second Friday after the first Tuesday in November each year.” Employment New Zealand lists Friday 13 November in 2026 and Friday 12 November in 2027.
- Do schools in Canterbury close for Canterbury Anniversary Day?
- 2026: Friday 13 November falls in Term 4, so state schools in Canterbury close that day. 2027: Friday 12 November falls in Term 4, so state schools in Canterbury close that day.
Official sources
- Employment New Zealand: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
- New Zealand Government (govt.nz): Dates for public holidays and anniversary days (read )
- Employment New Zealand: Previous years: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
Every date here was compared with the official pages on . Should anything differ, the official page is right. How dates are checked.