Public Holidays in Australia 2026

Australian public holidays

Dates current for 2026 and 2027 as at October 2026. States and territories can declare extra or substitute days, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman's public holidays page before you finalise rosters.

Public holidays in Australia can be different depending on the state or territory that you're in. All Australian states and territories share the same National Public Holidays, though some states and territories recognise additional or different public holidays. It is important for business owners and managers to know the specific public holidays in your region, as they can impact business operations, the amount of staff required, opening hours and wages especially if penalty rates apply.

To find the public holidays for your state or territory, find the list for your region below.

National public holidays

The Fair Work Act sets eight public holidays that apply across Australia: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the King's Birthday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. When one of these falls on a weekend, each state and territory decides whether a substitute or additional day applies. Other days, such as Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day (ACT only) and Labour Day (on different dates in each state and territory), are set by each state or territory and appear in the lists below.

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• King's Birthday - Monday 8 June in most states and territories (Monday 5 October in Queensland and Monday 28 September in Western Australia)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• King's Birthday - Monday 14 June in most states and territories (Monday 4 October in Queensland and Monday 27 September in Western Australia)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day

Easter Sunday is a public holiday in every state and territory except Tasmania, but it isn't one of the national public holidays in the Fair Work Act. On the other hand, Western Australia Day is a public holiday only in Western Australia, and holidays like Recreation Day in Tasmania are recognised only in specific regions within the state.

Another layer to consider is how various states manage public holidays that fall on weekends. Some states observe a substitute public holiday on the following Monday if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. This substitute day may either replace the weekend holiday or be in addition to it.

Also, the entitlement to public holidays for employees is based on their usual work location, not where they happen to be working on the day of the public holiday. This means that an employee's public holiday rights are determined by the state regulations where their primary place of work is located, regardless of their location on the actual day of the holiday.

Here are the public holidays for each state and territory in 2026 and 2027:

Australian Capital Territory

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 9 March - Canberra Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 27 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 1 June - Reconciliation Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 5 October - Labour Day
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 8 March - Canberra Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 26 April - Anzac Day (25 April falls on a Sunday)
• Monday 31 May - Reconciliation Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 4 October - Labour Day
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

New South Wales

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 27 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 5 October - Labour Day
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 26 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 4 October - Labour Day
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

Northern Territory

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 4 May - May Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 3 August - Picnic Day
• Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
• Thursday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Monday 26 April - Anzac Day (25 April falls on a Sunday)
• Monday 3 May - May Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 2 August - Picnic Day
• Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
• Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)

Queensland

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - The day after Good Friday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 4 May - Labour Day
• Wednesday 12 August - Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
• Monday 5 October - King's Birthday
• Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - The day after Good Friday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Monday 26 April - Anzac Day (25 April falls on a Sunday)
• Monday 3 May - Labour Day
• Wednesday 11 August - Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
• Monday 4 October - King's Birthday
• Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

South Australia

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 9 March - Adelaide Cup Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 5 October - Labour Day
• Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Proclamation Day holiday (Boxing Day)
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day
• Thursday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 8 March - Adelaide Cup Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - Easter Saturday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Monday 4 October - Labour Day
• Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Proclamation Day holiday (Boxing Day)
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day
• Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)

Tasmania

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 9 February - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state)
• Monday 9 March - Eight Hours Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Tuesday 7 April - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Thursday 22 October - Royal Hobart Show (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
• Monday 2 November - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don't observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Monday 28 December - Boxing Day (26 December falls on a Saturday)

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 8 February - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state)
• Monday 8 March - Eight Hours Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Tuesday 30 March - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Thursday 21 October - Royal Hobart Show (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
• Monday 1 November - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don't observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Boxing Day (26 December falls on a Sunday)

Victoria

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 9 March - Labour Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Saturday 4 April - Saturday before Easter Sunday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 8 June - King's Birthday
• Friday 25 September - Friday before the AFL Grand Final
• Tuesday 3 November - Melbourne Cup (some regional areas hold it on a different date)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 8 March - Labour Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Saturday 27 March - Saturday before Easter Sunday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 14 June - King's Birthday
• Friday before the AFL Grand Final - date to be confirmed by the Victorian Government
• Tuesday 2 November - Melbourne Cup (some regional areas hold it on a different date)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

Western Australia

2026

• Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Monday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 2 March - Labour Day
• Friday 3 April - Good Friday
• Sunday 5 April - Easter Sunday
• Monday 6 April - Easter Monday
• Saturday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 27 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 1 June - Western Australia Day
• Monday 28 September - King's Birthday (some regional areas hold it on a different date)
• Friday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

2027

• Friday 1 January - New Year's Day
• Tuesday 26 January - Australia Day
• Monday 1 March - Labour Day
• Friday 26 March - Good Friday
• Sunday 28 March - Easter Sunday
• Monday 29 March - Easter Monday
• Sunday 25 April - Anzac Day
• Monday 26 April - Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
• Monday 7 June - Western Australia Day
• Monday 27 September - King's Birthday (some regional areas hold it on a different date)
• Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
• Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
• Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
• Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day

Public holiday trading

When considering trading on a public holiday, businesses must first verify if they are legally permitted to operate on that day. This is because some public holidays are designated as restricted trading days in various states and territories, allowing only certain types of businesses to open. Businesses that do not fall into these categories may need to obtain an exemption to operate.

Public holidays are one of the 12 National Employment Standards. From the perspective of workplace relations and employment law, public holiday pay and entitlements for employees are quite complex. Generally, employees are not obligated to work on public holidays. However, permanent employees, who would normally work on a day that coincides with a public holiday, are entitled to be absent and receive their base rate of pay for the ordinary hours they would have worked.

If a business chooses to operate on a public holiday and requires their employees to work, they must make a reasonable request to their employees. Employees have the right to refuse to work on a public holiday if the request is deemed unreasonable.

Remember, public holiday regulations can vary significantly between different regions in Australia, so it's important to be informed about the specific laws applicable to your business location.

Requesting employees to work

When it comes to requesting employees to work on public holidays, there are certain considerations and guidelines that employers must follow:

Reasonableness of the request‍

In industries like hospitality where businesses often operate on public holidays, employers can request their employees to work. However, this request must be reasonable. What constitutes a reasonable request can depend on the nature of the industry, the role of the employee, and the operational requirements of the business.

Employee's circumstances‍

Before making such a request, the business needs to consider the employee's personal circumstances which may include family responsibilities. This is part of assessing the reasonableness of the request.

Communication and policy‍

It's recommended to inform employees from the beginning of their employment that they may be required to work on public holidays, especially in industries where this is common. Having a clear policy in place about working on public holidays can help set expectations and avoid misunderstandings.

Awards and agreements‍

Certain awards and employment agreements may have specific provisions for working on public holidays. These could include entitlements like additional pay (often referred to as public holiday rates), the option for an extra day off, or additional annual leave. Some awards also allow for the substitution of a different day as the public holiday.

Shutting down over public holidays

When planning a business closure over public holiday periods like Christmas or New Year's, consider the following:

• Check your compliance with relevant awards, enterprise agreements, or contracts, especially on the notice provisions for leave during shutdowns.
• Give employees adequate notice as required by these agreements or contracts.
• Decide on the type of leave (paid or unpaid) employees should take, based on their entitlements and the terms of applicable agreements. Our guide to annual leave explains when you can direct employees to take leave during a shutdown.
• Consult and communicate with your employees in advance about the shutdown plans.

It's important to align your shutdown procedures with legal requirements and to consider the impact on your employees. For more information on the rules and guidance, call our 24/7 HR advice line on 1300 144 002 for free initial advice.

Frequently asked questions

How do public holidays differ across states and territories?

Public holidays in Australia vary by state and territory. While national public holidays like Australia Day and Christmas Day are common across the country, each region may have additional or different public holidays.

What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?

In some states, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday may be observed on the following Monday. This substitute day can either replace the weekend holiday or be an additional day off, depending on the state's legislation.

Are employees entitled to public holidays based on their work location or where they are on the day?

An employee's entitlement to public holidays is based on their usual work location, not where they are working on the day of the public holiday. This means the state regulations of their primary place of work determine their public holiday rights.

Can businesses ask employees to work on public holidays?

In certain industries like hospitality, businesses may require employees to work on public holidays. This request must be reasonable and take into account the employee's circumstances. Employees can refuse the request if it's deemed unreasonable.

What should businesses consider if they decide to close over public holiday periods?

Businesses should ensure compliance with any notice provisions present in modern awards, enterprise agreements, or contracts. They may direct employees to take paid or unpaid leave during the shutdown, considering the type of leave and employees’ entitlements.

Is Easter Sunday a public holiday?

‍Yes, Easter Sunday is a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. South Australia added it under the Public Holidays Act 2023 (SA). It is not a public holiday in Tasmania.

Is Easter Monday a public holiday?

‍Easter Monday is observed as a national public holiday across all states and territories in Australia. It follows Easter Sunday and is part of the wider Easter holiday period which includes Good Friday and Easter Saturday in many parts of the country.