On Sunday 27 July 2026 at 2:00 PM AEST, every compatible mobile phone in Australia will receive a test alert from AusAlert, the country's new emergency warning system.

This is not a real emergency. The test confirms that the cell broadcast system works nationwide before the full launch in October 2026, ahead of the 2026-27 bushfire season.

Community-based trials begin earlier across 9 locations from 10 June 2026: Majura (ACT), Launceston (TAS), Liverpool (NSW), Geelong (VIC), Port Lincoln (SA), Port Douglas (QLD), Tennant Creek (NT), Goomalling (WA), and Queanbeyan (NSW).

When the test alert arrives, your phone will:

• Display a full-screen alert on your lock screen and home screen
• Play a loud, distinctive siren tone (even if your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb)
• Vibrate continuously until you acknowledge the alert
• Show a message identifying this as a TEST, not a real emergency

To dismiss the alert, tap the acknowledgement button on screen. The alert will also auto-dismiss after a period if you don't interact with it.

No action is required from you. Do not call 000. This is a test.

About 90% of Australian phones are expected to receive the alert. Compatible devices include:

A SIM card is not required. Devices do not need an active phone plan. From 30 June 2026, all devices imported into Australia must comply with Communications Alliance standard AS/CA S042:2025.

If your phone doesn't receive the test alert, possible reasons include:

• Your phone is too old (pre-2019 models or older operating systems)
• You're in a mobile coverage black spot
• Your phone's firmware doesn't support Australian cell broadcast channels
• Grey-import devices may need a software update
• Your phone was powered off during the test window

NEMA will publish post-test results with coverage statistics. During real emergencies, AusAlert will run alongside other warning channels (TV, radio, state emergency apps, sirens) so no single system is a single point of failure.

AusAlert does not provide a developer API or public data feed. If you're building an application that needs real-time emergency incident data, EmergencyAPI provides a REST API aggregating 33 government feeds from all 8 Australian states.

During the national test, EmergencyAPI will continue operating normally. Our data comes directly from state emergency services feeds, not from the AusAlert cell broadcast system. The two systems are complementary: AusAlert pushes alerts to phones, EmergencyAPI provides structured data for applications.

For more on how AusAlert uses CAP-AU under the hood, see our CAP-AU Developer Guide.