Use maximal capitalisation for the names of special days celebrated nationally, or in a particular state or territory:

All Saints’ Day     Boxing Day     Good Friday     Mothers Day     New Year’s Day     Show Day

Use maximal capitalisation for the names of significant events, such as:

  • wars
First World War     American War of Independence     Boer War

Did you know? The terms World War 1 (WW1) and World War 2 (WW2); World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII); and First World War and Second World War are all in common usage in Australia.

The Australian War Memorial prefers First World War and Second World War.

  • sporting events
Olympic Games     French Open
  • exhibitions
Arthur Streeton: The Art of War     Love & Desire: Pre-Raphaelite Masterpieces from the Tate
  • fairs, shows and festivals
Sydney Royal Easter Show     Parkes Elvis Festival     Splendour in the Grass     Eurovision Song Contest
  • natural disasters
Black Saturday

Use minimal capitalisation to refer to natural phenomena that include a place name:

the Newcastle earthquake      the Brisbane floods