Introduction
Australia observes seven national public holidays and an additional 3–6 state-specific public holidays depending on the jurisdiction. The calendar varies significantly by state: Victoria observes the most public holidays (13 full-day holidays in 2026, including Melbourne Cup Day), while Tasmania and the ACT each observe 12. Public holidays that fall on a weekend are generally observed on the following Monday in all states except for Christmas Day and ANZAC Day in some jurisdictions. This calendar covers all states and territories for the 2026 and early 2027 holiday period.
National Public Holidays Observed in All States
Seven days are observed as public holidays across every Australian state and territory: New Year’s Day (1 January), Australia Day (26 January, observed Monday 27 January in 2026), Good Friday (3 April 2026), Easter Saturday (4 April 2026 — observed in all states except Tasmania and WA as at 2026), Easter Monday (6 April 2026), ANZAC Day (25 April, observed Saturday 25 April in 2026; no substitute day when ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday in most states), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December, observed Monday 28 December in 2026). Easter Saturday is technically a public holiday only in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the NT — WA and Tasmania do not observe it, though many employers treat it as a public holiday by enterprise agreement.
State-Specific Public Holidays
New South Wales observes an additional Bank Holiday (first Monday in August, 3 August 2026) and Labour Day (first Monday in October, 5 October 2026). Victoria adds Labour Day (second Monday in March, 9 March 2026), King’s Birthday (second Monday in June, 8 June 2026), Friday before AFL Grand Final (date set by AFL, typically late September), and Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November, 3 November 2026). Queensland observes Labour Day (first Monday in May, 4 May 2026), Royal Queensland Show Day — Brisbane only (second Wednesday in August, 12 August 2026), and King’s Birthday (first Monday in October, 5 October 2026). Western Australia uniquely observes Western Australia Day (first Monday in June, 1 June 2026) and King’s Birthday on a different date to eastern states (last Monday in September, 28 September 2026). South Australia adds Adelaide Cup Day (second Monday in March, 9 March 2026), King’s Birthday (second Monday in June, 8 June 2026), Labour Day (first Monday in October, 5 October 2026), and Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve (part-day from 7pm, specific to SA).
2026 Calendar: Month-by-Month Summary
January 2026: New Year’s Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 27 Jan — actual date 26 Jan observed Monday). March: Labour Day VIC/SA (Mon 9 Mar), Canberra Day ACT (Mon 9 Mar). April: Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Saturday (Sat 4 Apr — ACT/NSW/QLD/VIC/NT), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), ANZAC Day (Sat 25 Apr). May: Labour Day QLD (Mon 4 May). June: Western Australia Day WA (Mon 1 Jun), King’s Birthday (Mon 8 Jun — all states except QLD and WA). August: Bank Holiday NSW (Mon 3 Aug), Royal Queensland Show Day Brisbane (Wed 12 Aug). September: King’s Birthday WA (Mon 28 Sep). October: Labour Day NSW/SA (Mon 5 Oct), King’s Birthday QLD (Mon 5 Oct). November: Melbourne Cup Day VIC (Tue 3 Nov). December: Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Mon 28 Dec — observed).
Penalty Rates and Holiday Pay
Full-time and part-time employees who work on a public holiday are generally entitled to penalty rates specified in their award or enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Act 2009 sets the default at 250% of the base rate (i.e., base rate plus 150% loading) for work on a public holiday, though some awards specify lower or higher rates. Casual employees typically receive 250% with no paid leave entitlement. An employer may request an employee to work on a public holiday only if the request is reasonable; employees can refuse if the request is unreasonable, considering factors such as family responsibilities and whether the employee could reasonably expect to work on that day. Employees not required to work receive their base rate of pay for the day.
FAQ
Q: Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in all states? A: No. As at 2026, Easter Saturday is a public holiday in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. Western Australia and Tasmania do not observe it. However, many WA and Tasmanian employers treat Easter Saturday as a public holiday through enterprise agreements.
Q: What happens when Christmas Day falls on a weekend? A: In 2026, Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December (a regular public holiday). Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December, observed on Monday 28 December. When Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is declared a substitute public holiday in most states.
Q: Do I get paid for a public holiday if I am on annual leave? A: Yes. Under the Fair Work Act, if a public holiday falls during a period of annual leave, the day is treated as a public holiday and does not reduce the employee’s annual leave balance.
Q: Are shops open on public holidays? A: Trading hours on public holidays vary by state and local council regulations. In NSW, most retail stores are closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and ANZAC Day (before 1pm). Smaller shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, and cafes are generally exempt. Check your local council’s trading hour rules.
Q: Can my employer substitute a public holiday for another day? A: Yes, under certain awards and enterprise agreements, an employer and an employee (or a majority of employees) may agree to substitute a public holiday for another day. The substituted day is treated as the public holiday for pay and leave purposes.
Sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Public Holidays, fairwork.gov.au (2026)
- NSW Government, Public Holidays, nsw.gov.au
- Business Victoria, Public Holidays, business.vic.gov.au
- Queensland Government, Public Holidays, qld.gov.au
- WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Public Holiday Dates, commerce.wa.gov.au