National Remembrance Day (Papua New Guinea)

National Remembrance Day is a public holiday in Papua New Guinea, and it is observed on July 23 each year. The holiday commemorates those who have died during World War I, World War II and any other military engagements.

Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. Papua New Guinea was the territory of Australia before its independence on September 16, 1975.

During World War II, Japanese forces landed on the north coast of Papua New Guinea with the goal to seize Port Moresby, the capital located on the south coast. The village of Kokoda was the site of a government station in 1942 and is positioned on a plateau in northern foot-hills of the Owen Stanley Range, the middle from the north coast to Port Moresby.

On July 23, the First Battle of Kokoda was fought between Australian forces and invading Japanese forces in the area of Kokoda. This was the first time that Papua New Guinea soldiers together with Australian forces fought against Japanese forces on its own land. This was so important for Papua New Guinea, and it became the celebration day when National Remembrance Day became a public holiday in 1981.

The following is the list of National Remembrance Day in Papua New Guinea from 2022 to 2026.