Australia Public Holidays

Use this Australia public holidays 2026 guide to view national holiday anchors and the state or territory pages needed for local planning.

Year 2026
8 States & Territories
11 Holiday Anchors
39+ State-Specific Dates

Australia Public Holidays 2026

Switch between the detailed list and month-by-month calendar view.

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Date Day Holiday Type Local rule note
January 1, 2026 Thursday New Year's Day National anchor -
January 26, 2026 Monday Australia Day National anchor -
April 3, 2026 Friday Good Friday National anchor -
April 4, 2026 Saturday Easter Saturday State rules Applies in most jurisdictions; check the state page.
April 5, 2026 Sunday Easter Sunday State rules Public holiday treatment varies by state and award context.
April 6, 2026 Monday Easter Monday National anchor -
April 25, 2026 Saturday Anzac Day State rules Replacement or extra day depends on the state or territory.
June 8, 2026 Monday King's Birthday State rules Date differs in Queensland, Western Australia, and some regions.
December 25, 2026 Friday Christmas Day National anchor -
December 26, 2026 Saturday Boxing Day / Proclamation Day State rules Name and additional-day rules vary by jurisdiction.
December 28, 2026 Monday Additional Christmas public holiday State rules Common substitute date after Boxing Day falls on Saturday.

Data from Fair Work Ombudsman, Public holidays overview Last updated June 12, 2026

January

  • New Year's Day Thursday
  • Australia Day Monday

February

No holidays this month.

March

No holidays this month.

April

  • Good Friday Friday
  • Easter Saturday Saturday
  • Easter Sunday Sunday
  • Easter Monday Monday
  • Anzac Day Saturday

May

No holidays this month.

June

  • King's Birthday Monday

July

No holidays this month.

August

No holidays this month.

September

No holidays this month.

October

No holidays this month.

November

No holidays this month.

December

  • Christmas Day Friday
  • Boxing Day / Proclamation Day Saturday
  • Additional Christmas public holiday Monday

State and territory public holidays

Use the Australia public holidays 2026 overview first, then check local pages because several holidays differ by state, territory, region, or workplace context.

Victoria

AFL Grand Final Friday, Melbourne Cup, and no replacement day for Anzac Day in 2026. Local Melbourne Cup alternatives may apply in some non-metropolitan council areas.

View holidays

New South Wales

Includes an additional Anzac Day public holiday, Boxing Day additional day, and a Bank Holiday note for banks and certain financial institutions.

View holidays

Queensland

Labour Day in May, King's Birthday in October, and Brisbane show day rules make Queensland planning different from the national anchor list.

Western Australia

Different Labour Day, WA Day, an additional Anzac Day public holiday, and regional King's Birthday dates require local confirmation.

South Australia

Adelaide Cup Day, Christmas Eve part-day, Proclamation Day, and New Year's Eve part-day rules affect work and trading schedules.

Tasmania

Eight Hours Day and region-specific public holidays such as Hobart Regatta, Royal Hobart Show, and Recreation Day vary by area.

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, an additional Anzac Day public holiday, and standard national dates shape the ACT calendar.

Northern Territory

May Day, Picnic Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve part-day holidays create extra planning points beyond national anchors.

Understanding Australia Holidays

National Anchors

Australia has common holiday anchors such as New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. These anchors make the Australia public holidays overview useful, but they do not replace the local state or territory rules that apply to work and trading decisions.

State Rules

Australia public holidays can include state and territory additions, replacement days, part-day holidays, and regional exceptions. The result is that two people in different jurisdictions can share the same national anchor but have different weekday closures or extra local dates.

Planning Workflow

Use this Australia public holidays 2026 overview first, then check the relevant state or territory before scheduling leave, payroll cutoffs, trading hours, travel, or school-related plans.

FAQ

Are Australia public holidays the same in every state in 2026?

No. The 2026 Australia public holidays share common holiday anchors, but each state and territory can declare additional dates, substitute days, part-day holidays, and regional holidays.

Why do users search for Victoria or NSW public holidays?

State pages answer local planning questions that a national Australia page cannot answer. Examples include Melbourne Cup in Victoria, the additional Anzac Day public holiday in NSW, different Labour Day dates, and local event rules that only apply in selected areas.

Should I use the Australia overview or a state page?

Use the Australia public holidays 2026 page for a national overview. Use a state or territory page when planning work, travel, payroll, trading hours, or school-related dates.

Does Anzac Day have the same replacement rule everywhere?

No. In 2026, replacement or additional public holiday treatment depends on the state or territory, so the Australia public holidays overview should be paired with the relevant local page.

Which 2026 public holidays are national anchors in Australia?

The national anchors include New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, King's Birthday, Labour Day, part-day holidays, and additional days can depend on the state or territory.

Why does the Australia page show anchors instead of one final national list?

A single national list can hide important differences. The 2026 Australia calendar includes shared dates, but the practical answer for payroll, leave, trading hours, and local closures depends on the state or territory where the person or business is located.

Are regional and local holidays included on the Australia overview?

The Australia overview highlights national anchors and the need for local pages. Regional holidays, show days, local event days, and council-level exceptions should be checked on the relevant state or territory page or through the official local authority.

How should employers use this Australia public holidays guide?

Employers can use this page to identify the national planning points, then confirm the exact state or territory rule before setting rosters, payroll deadlines, penalty-rate handling, or customer-facing closure notices. Awards, agreements, and local trading rules can still affect the final decision.

Can I use this page for travel planning?

Yes, but use the Australia public holidays page as the first step. National anchors help identify likely long weekends and busy travel periods, while state pages explain local dates that can affect accommodation demand, transport, events, retail opening hours, and public services.

Why are Victoria and NSW linked first?

Victoria and NSW have clear local search intent and material rule differences in 2026. Victoria has AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup context, while NSW has an additional Anzac Day public holiday and a Bank Holiday note that needs explanation.

How often should the official sources be rechecked?

Official Australia public holidays sources should be rechecked when a state announces replacement days, local holidays, or event-dependent dates. Dates such as the Friday before the AFL Grand Final, local show days, and additional public holidays are especially important to verify before final planning.

Can this Australia public holidays page be used as a calendar checklist?

Yes. Use this page as a checklist for shared national dates, then mark the relevant state or territory dates before publishing a team calendar, booking travel, or confirming customer-facing opening hours. The safest workflow is overview first, local confirmation second.

What should I compare after reading the Australia overview?

After reading the Australia public holidays 2026 overview, compare the state page for the place where the work, trip, or event will happen. The most important checks are replacement days, additional Monday holidays, local event holidays, and part-day holidays around Christmas and New Year's Eve.