Australian public holidays 2026: A state-by-state guide for employers

Public holidays can catch out even well-prepared HR teams, especially when your workforce spans more than one state. 

Below is the full list of 2026 public holidays for each Australian state and territory, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman, so you can plan leave, rosters, and penalty rates with confidence.

2026 holidays in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• 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
• Monday 27 April: 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

For more information on public holidays in the ACT, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in New South Wales (NSW)

• 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 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

For more information on public holidays in NSW, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in the Northern Territory (NT)

• 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 (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 (7pm to midnight)

For more information on public holidays in the NT, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in Queensland (QLD)

• 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 (6pm to midnight)
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December: additional public holiday for Boxing Day

For more information on public holidays in Queensland, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in South Australia (SA)

• 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 (7pm to midnight)
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Proclamation Day holiday
• Monday 28 December: additional public holiday for Proclamation Day
• Thursday 31 December: New Year’s Eve (7pm to midnight)

For more information on public holidays in South Australia, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in Tasmania (TAS)

• Thursday 1 January: New Year’s Day
• Monday 26 January: Australia Day
• Monday 9 February: Royal Hobart Regatta (observed in certain areas only, including Hobart)
• 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 (observed in certain areas only)
• Monday 2 November: Recreation Day (areas that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Monday 28 December: Boxing Day

For more information on public holidays in Tasmania, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in Victoria (VIC)

• 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
• Date TBC: Friday before the AFL Grand Final (subject to AFL schedule)
• Tuesday 3 November: Melbourne Cup (some regional areas observe a different date)
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December: additional public holiday for Boxing Day

For more information on public holidays in Victoria, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

2026 holidays in Western Australia (WA)

• 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 observe a different date)
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day
• Monday 28 December: additional public holiday for Boxing Day

For more information on public holidays in Western Australia, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman.

What employers should know about public holidays

Public holiday entitlements sit under the National Employment Standards, but the specific dates, part-day holidays and substitute-day rules vary by state and territory, so it’s worth checking your state’s list against your award or enterprise agreement instead of assuming national dates apply everywhere.

A few things worth building into your planning:

• Penalty rates apply. Employees working on a public holiday are generally entitled to a penalty rate and the applicable rate depends on the award or agreement that covers them.
• Employees can refuse reasonable requests to work. Whether a request to work a public holiday is reasonable depends on factors like notice given, the nature of the role, and the employee’s personal circumstances.
• Part-day holidays exist in some states. SA, NT and QLD all observe part-day public holidays on Christmas Eve and in SA and NT’s case, New Year’s Eve. These carry their own pay rules.
• Substitute days are important for payroll. Where a holiday falls on a weekend, several states and territories add a substitute public holiday, usually the following Monday. Getting this wrong is a common source of underpayment.

Looking for more information? Download our in-depth public holiday pay guide for everything you need to know. 

Given how much variation exists between jurisdictions, it’s worth reviewing your rosters and payroll settings against your specific state’s calendar well ahead of each date, particularly if you operate across more than one state or territory.

Public holiday dates in this article are sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman and are current as at 22 July 2026. Some dates, particularly the AFL Grand Final Eve holiday in Victoria, are still to be confirmed. Always check directly with your state or territory authority for the most up-to-date information and seek professional advice for your specific circumstances.

Staying ahead of public holiday pay

Public holiday rules shift every year and getting them wrong, even by one incorrect penalty rate or missed substitute day, adds up fast across a workforce. The safest approach is building your state’s calendar into your rostering and payroll process well ahead of each date, instead of checking entitlements shift by shift.

Employment Hero’s payroll software applies award interpretation automatically, so penalty rates and public holiday pay are calculated correctly without manual lookups. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you manage public holidays, get in touch with our team today.