Jan 26: The Great Pub Debate

The conversation around January 26 as "Australia Day" continues to heat up, and the Australian Venue Co. (AVC) has found itself in the spotlight. At first, AVC made a bold and welcomed move by announcing that its 200 venues wouldn’t celebrate Australia Day out of respect for the pain and division the date represents. But after a wave of public backlash and boycott threats, they backtracked, stating that patrons could decide how they want to celebrate.

This reversal feels like a missed chance for real change. It also highlights the challenges businesses face when tackling divisive issues, especially when balancing progressive values with public pressure.

Why January 26 Matters

For First Nations peoples, January 26 is no celebration. It marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788—a day that began the colonisation, dispossession, and strategic cultural destruction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. It is a day of mourning and remembrance, reflecting the ongoing trauma and injustices faced by Indigenous people.

AVC’s original decision to avoid celebrating January 26 acknowledged this pain and signalled a step toward creating more inclusive venues and spaces. Their intention to foster empathy and respect was welcomed by many as an important move toward reconciliation, particularly as more Australians rethink how we mark this date.

We can no longer find the original AOV statement but, it was reported by Pedestrian News in their article '200+ pubs ditch Australia Day events in 2025 as owners finally realise its a day of hurt' and by National Indigenous Times in their piece 'January 26 celebrations banned at hundreds of pubs around Australia' that AOV spokeswoman said "we have decided not to specifically celebrate a day that causes hurt for some of our patrons and out team". 

The Backflip and the Backlash

When AVC first announced its decision, they told their venues—notable places like The Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, The Duke of Wellington in Melbourne, and Untied in Sydney—not to celebrate January 26 (scroll for full list of venues). The idea was to acknowledge the hurt this date causes for many staff and patrons and to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment.

But the backlash came in hard and fast. Social media blew up with criticism, and boycott calls started spreading like wildfire. People accused AVC of causing division, with some brushing off the decision as “performative” or “out of touch.” Even politicians like Queensland Senator Matt Canavan weighed in, saying AVC was acting like “moral guardians” instead of just running pubs. 

What really stood out, though, was the lack of public support. When AVC took this step, there weren’t enough people in the media or on social platforms speaking up and celebrating this leadership. Instead of a balance between criticism and praise, the conversation was dominated by negativity, leaving AVC to deal with the backlash on its own.

Under all that pressure, AVC backtracked.

In a follow-up statement, they said their venues would remain open on January 26 and that patrons could celebrate however they wanted. “Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always,” they said.

Australian Venue Co. Revised Statement:

We love this article from Pedestrian TV called 'Company that canned Aus Day-Themed events at  venues apologies after the Nation's Boomers had a cry' who reported "certain news outlets took the narrative that the fact 200 pubs wouldn’t hold certain events and turned it into a national outrage, concocted to infuriate exactly the type of people who gave themselves heart attacks last year when Woolies stopped selling Aussie flag budgie smugglers.".

A Missed Opportunity

AVC’s decision to backtrack highlights the broader resistance to rethinking January 26, even as more people, businesses, and local governments begin to embrace change. Their reversal signalled that public pressure, and backlash can outweigh the commitment to respect and truth-telling.

This wasn’t about dictating how people feel about January 26—it was about acknowledging the harm this date represents and creating venues where everyone feels welcome. While we know it takes courage for businesses to engage in polarising issues, Indigenous people and organisations don’t have the choice to “opt out.”

We live with the realities of this date every single day.

By stepping back, AVC missed an important chance to stand alongside First Nations people and show the kind of leadership that drives meaningful change. Recognising the pain tied to January 26 isn’t about division—it’s about healing and fostering unity.

Moving Forward

At Clothing The Gaps, we’ve always stood firm: January 26 is not a date to celebrate. Healing begins with truth-telling and acknowledgment, even if it means stepping outside of comfort zones or tradition.

We call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to show leadership on this issue. His lack of action on the Australia Day debate is disappointing and stands in contrast to his support for a First Nations Voice to Parliament and the “Uluru statement of the heart in full” as per his 2022 election night speech . If he’s serious about reconciliation and amplifying Indigenous voices, it’s time to address the harm caused by celebrating Australia Day on January 26.

That’s why we’ve launched a petition urging the PM to reconsider how Australia commemorates the country, and this date. This is his opportunity to step up, engage in meaningful dialogue, and work with the community—particularly First Nations peoples—to reimagine what a national day of celebration could look like.

What You Can Do

You can join us in advocating for change:

• Sign the Petition: Add your voice to our campaign asking the Prime Minister to reconsider January 26 as a national day of celebration.
• Support Inclusive Businesses: Spend your money at venues that prioritise respect and inclusion. Let the pubs and venues (see list AOV below) that you supported their original decision to not celebrate Australia Day at their venue.
• Start the Conversation: Talk to your friends and family about why January 26 isn’t a date to celebrate. Wearing your values is a great way to do this.
• Attend Invasion Day Events: Show your solidarity with First Nations peoples by participating in rallies and events.

SIGN PETITION HERE

Change starts with us

While we continue to push for government action, we have the power to take the lead ourselves. We welcomed AVC’s original statement and we hope in 2026 the public support is there for them to stand firm.

January 26 will always remain a day of reflection and mourning—a reminder of Australia’s painful history. By choosing not to celebrate the day—whether that means working, swapping out the holiday, or attending a rally to stand in solidarity with First Nations peoples—we send a clear message. Collective action enables real change.

As more people step away from acknowledging January 26 as a public holiday, the pressure should continue to mount on the government to address this issue that sparks public outcry year after year. Change starts with us.

List of Australian Venue Co (AVC) hotels and venues: 

• Anglers Tavern
• Apollo Bay Hotel
• Auburn Hotel
• Ball Court Hotel
• Beer DeLuxe Fed Square
• Birallee Tavern
• BrewDog Pentridge
• College Lawn Hotel
• Criterion Hotel
• Eureka Hotel
• Fairfield Park Boathouse
• Fargo and Co
• Flinders Hotel
• Garden State Hotel
• Golden Gate Hotel
• Harlow
• Holliava
• Hopscotch
• Hotham Hotel
• Imperial Hotel Bourke St
• Imperial South Yarra
• Melbourne Public
• Middle Park Hotel
• Morris House
• Perseverance
• Prahran Hotel
• Prince Alfred Hotel
• Prince of Wales Hotel
• Public House
• Richmond Club Hotel
• River’s Edge Events
• Skinny Dog Hotel
• State of Grace
• Studley Park Boathouse
• Swan Hotel
• Terminus Hotel Abbotsford
• The Bridge Hotel
• The Crafty Squire
• The Duke of Wellington
• The Esplanade Hotel
• The Exchange Hotel
• The Gardiner Hotel
• The Hawthorn Hotel
• The Local
• The Park
• The Posty
• The Provincial
• The Smith
• The Station Hotel
• The Terminus Yarrawonga
• The Victoria Hotel
• The Wharf Hotel
• Trinket
• Village Belle Hotel
• West Beach Pavilion
• Yarra Botanica
• Yarra Valley Grand Hotel

Queensland

• Airlie Beach Hotel
• Barron River Hotel
• Beenleigh Tavern
• Berserker Tavern
• Birkdale Gardens Tavern
• Bonny View Hotel
• Boomerang Hotel
• Bribie Island Hotel
• Brighton Hotel
• Browns Plains Hotel
• Burleigh Town Hotel
• Cannon Hill Tavern
• Capella Hotel
• Carindale Hotel
• Chancellors Tavern
• Cleveland Sands Hotel
• Cleveland Tavern
• Club Hotel Waterford
• Commercial Hotel
• Commonwealth Hotel
• Coomera Lodge Hotel
• Crown Hotel
• Currimundi Hotel
• Diamonds Kallangur
• Diamonds Tavern Varsity Lakes
• Dunwoody’s Hotel
• Empire Alternacade & Events
• Enigma
• Everton Park Hotel
• Ferry Road Tavern
• Finn McCool’s Brisbane
• Finnigan’s Chin Keperra
• Fitzy’s Loganholme
• Fitzy’s Waterford
• Friday’s
• Grafton Hotel Edmonton
• Grand Hotel Motel
• Hey Chica
• Hope Island Tavern
• Hotel Allen
• Hotel HQ Underwood
• Inala Hotel
• Jindalee Hotel
• Jubilee Tavern
• Kings Beach Tavern
• Koala Tavern
• Kooyong Hotel
• Lefty’s Music Hall
• Leichhardt Hotel
• Lulu Rooftop Bar
• Mango Hill Tavern
• Mansfield Tavern Brisbane
• Mihi Tavern
• Morayfield Tavern
• Mount Sheridan Tavern
• Newnham Hotel
• Old Bundy Tavern
• Palm Cove Tavern
• Port Office Hotel
• Portadown Hotel
• Redcliffe Tavern
• Reef Gateway Hotel
• Regatta Hotel
• Retro’s Brisbane
• Riverland Brisbane
• Royal Hotel Nundah
• Royal Mail Hotel
• Runaway Bay Tavern
• Salisbury Hotel
• Sands Tavern
• Springlake Hotel
• Sundowner Hotel Motel
• Surfair Beach Hotel
• Taigum Tavern
• The Anthill
• The Boundary Hotel
• The Club Hotel Gladstone
• The Commonwealth Hotel Roma
• The Kenmore
• The Local Tavern
• The Lord Alfred Hotel
• The Mansfield Townsville
• The Metropolitan Hotel
• The Ox
• The Strand Hotel
• The White Bull Tavern
• The Wickham
• Tom’s Tavern
• Trinity Beach Tavern
• Wallaby Hotel
• Waterloo Hotel
• Woodpecker Bar & Grill

NSW

• Albion Hotel
• Beer Deluxe Albury
• Beer Deluxe T2
• BrewDog South Eveleigh
• Bungalow8
• Cargo
• Henley’s Kitchen & Bar
• Kingsleys Woolloomooloo
• Little Pearl Bar
• North Byron Hotel
• Salt Bar
• The Bended Elbow
• The Rook
• The Winery
• Untied

South Australia

• Avenues Café & Bar
• Brighton Metro Hotel
• Hampstead Hotel
• Mick O’Shea’s Hotel
• Naracoorte Hotel
• Parkside Hotel
• Payneham Tavern
• Robe Hotel
• The Colonist
• The Duck
• The Grand Junction Tavern
• The Hope Inn
• The Mile End Hotel
• The Unley
• The West End Tavern
• Victoria Hotel
• Waterloo Station Hotel
• Western Tavern