Suburbs with bin collections on Thursday will have to wait until Saturday. Photo: File.
It’s not every day society grinds to a halt, but we’re coming up to one such day. From Christmas Day to New Year’s Day, you’re never quite sure who’s working and who isn’t.
So we’ve compiled this handy list to help answer some of those questions:
I’ve burnt lunch. What’s actually open?
If the main meal is a smoldering mass-in-the-oven-type write-off, your options are limited – but not gone.
Major supermarkets including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi will be closed on Christmas Day, reopening the following day. Many local IGA and SPAR stores will fill the gap, although expect reduced trading hours and check your local store before heading out.
Fast food is also an option.
McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s will be open on Christmas Day, while several Domino’s Pizza stores are operating from 4 pm to 10 pm, depending on location.
Colonel Sanders over at KFC is off playing Santa Claus for the day, so his fast food restaurants will be closed. Red Rooster it is then.
What if I need to catch a bus?
It’s not going to break the already strained bank: travel on both buses and light rail will be free on Christmas Day, with a special Christmas Day timetable in place.
Local bus services will run every two hours, except for the Ginninderry service, which will operate every 30 minutes.
Rapid bus services will run throughout the day, while light rail will operate to a regular Sunday timetable.
Passengers are encouraged to tap on and off during the free travel period to help Transport Canberra collect patronage data, even though no fare will be charged.
Public transport is free on Christmas Day. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
While we’re on it: Is public transport free at other times over summer?
Yes – and not just on public holidays. Travel is free on bus and light rail services every Friday and Saturday evening from 6 pm throughout summer until Saturday, 28 February, 2026.
Free travel will also apply all day on New Year’s Eve, with the regular bus timetable running alongside additional services between Tuggeranong, Woden, City and Belconnen.
Light rail services will be extended, running every 7.5 minutes until 11 pm, every 10 minutes until 1:30 am, with the final service leaving Alinga Street at 2:30 am on New Year’s Day.
My bins are normally collected on Thursdays. Should I put them out?
No. Christmas Day bin collections will be postponed to Saturday, 27 December – so best keep the prawn heads in the fridge until then. All other bin collection days over the holiday period will go ahead as usual.
The Mugga Lane and Mitchell resource management centres will be closed on Christmas Day. However, recycling drop-off centres in Belconnen, Mitchell, Gungahlin, Phillip and Tuggeranong will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Johnny’s fallen off the new trampoline. Where can I go?
If it’s not life-threatening, Canberra’s walk-in medical centres remain open every day, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, from 7:30 am to 10 pm.
Centres are located in Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, Dickson, Belconnen and Gungahlin and provide free treatment for issues such as cuts, strains, fractures and infections, with no appointment needed.
For more serious cases, the emergency departments at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital will operate as normal throughout the Christmas and New Year period.
New Year’s Eve fireworks will be held on Lake Burley Griffin. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
And there’s got to be somewhere we can see in 2026 with fireworks?
There is.
Canberra will ring in 2026 with two fireworks displays on Wednesday, 31 December – a “family-friendly show” at 9 pm and a second display at midnight. Fireworks will launch from Central Basin and will be accompanied by a synchronised soundtrack by Mix 106.3.
Four celebration hubs around Lake Burley Griffin – Rond Terrace, Wendouree Drive, Ferry Gate and Commonwealth Place – will open from 6 pm, featuring local DJs, food and drink vendors, toilets, accessible facilities and first aid.
New Year’s Eve has also been declared a special event under local liquor laws, allowing licensed venues to extend trading hours and serve alcohol until 2 am on 1 January.
Have we missed anything? Put it in the comments.
