Support for Australia Day has surged among young Australians, despite the national holiday facing criticism from woke activists, a new poll has revealed.
The day marks the arrival of the First Fleet and the raising of the Union Jack by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove.
The survey, carried out by Dynata for the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), found that 76 per cent of Australians support the date - up from 69 per cent last year and 63 per cent in 2024.
The biggest increase came among 18 to 24-year-olds, where backing jumped to 83 per cent - almost double the 42 per cent recorded in 2024.
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The poll also revealed a rising sense of national pride, with 88 per cent of Australians saying they are proud of their country, rising to 90 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds.
Opposition to the date has also fallen, with just 10 per cent saying they do not support the celebration, down from 14 per cent last year.
Speaking to GB News, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson praised young Australians for "pushing back" on the "woke, divisive narrative peddled by elites".
She told the People's Channel: "After the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the more recent Bondi Attack, young Australians are realising that without embracing respect and pride in your country, there are people with harmful ideologies prepared to change the makeup of this country.
The biggest shift was recorded among 18 to 24-year-olds, where support surged to 83 per cent
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"Young people embrace change, but only when it’s for the betterment of the nation.
"I’m proud to see them not only stepping up and voicing their traditionalist views, but I’m thrilled that they're leading the way in preserving significant calendar events like Australia Day that are a part of our national identity."
A YouGov poll conducted last year found that just 41 per cent of Gen Z Britons said they were proud to be British - less than half the proportion of their Aussie counterparts.
Commenting on the contrast, the One Nation leader said: "Weak politicians have all but killed the pride in Britain. Is it any wonder why the youth aren’t so proud of the country?
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Pauline Hanson said she was 'proud' of Australia's youth
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"I can only imagine why the majority of young Brits are not proud, because they see unwanted, illegal migrants reaping the spoils of other people's hard work while they go without.
"Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher must be rolling in their graves at the right royal mess that Labour and the Tories have created for younger generations. It’s a legacy they’re inheriting with extremely serious consequences."
Australia Day has become a hotly debated topic in recent years, with many left-wing activists and political groups labelling the celebration “Invasion Day".
In the lead-up to this year’s event, Amnesty International released an “Invasion Day 2026 activist toolkit,” describing the date as "a day of mourning, marking the start of the invasion and colonisation of this country, the mass genocide of First Nations peoples".
The One Nation leader hit out at the 'woke activists' who condemn Australia's national day
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Ms Hanson slammed the "woke activists" who criticise Australia's national day, saying they were "the same people who stoke division by protesting in support of Hamas and scream hateful slogans on our streets like 'gas the Jews' and 'intifada'."
She added: "They’re not the type of people who pull on volunteer uniforms and fight fires, let alone sign up to fight for this country. No, they let the people who celebrate Australia Day do that.
"They’re insidious parasites who have no pride in themselves let alone our nation.
"We can still recognise the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders who were here before settlement, but to see the advancements in this nation over the past 238 years is nothing short of magnificent.
"And what’s even more striking are the developments Australia will continue to make if it's managed properly and we continue as a united mono-culture."
Ms Hanson said she believes 'Australia remains a country worth fighting for'
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Speaking about what Australia Day means for her, the One Nation leader said it "reflects the growth, prosperity and pride within our young, modern nation".
"To me, Australia remains a country worth fighting for. A land of tremendous opportunity if you’re prepared to work hard."
On Monday, Australians will mark the day with community barbecues, public ceremonies and fireworks.
Sydney is set to host the largest Australia Day celebrations, featuring dawn ceremonies, parades, live music and evening fireworks over Circular Quay.
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