Australia has no single public holiday calendar. State and territory governments set additional holidays, choose some dates and declare local or part-day holidays. In 2026, Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, and arrangements for an extra weekday holiday differ by jurisdiction.
Public holidays shared across Australia
The National Employment Standards (NES), the national minimum workplace entitlements, recognise New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the King’s Birthday holiday observed in each jurisdiction, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. States and territories can also declare other public holidays.
In 2026, those shared occasions fall on 1 January, 26 January, 3 April, 6 April, 25 April, the locally observed King’s Birthday date, 25 December and 26 December respectively. The King’s Birthday does not have one national date, and some jurisdictions add another weekday holiday when a holiday falls on a weekend.
State and territory holidays in 2026
The table highlights the main state and territory differences in 2026. It is not a complete list of every local declaration.
| State or territory | Distinctive holidays and arrangements in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day and Labour Day are ACT holidays. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are also listed. The ACT observes an additional Anzac Day public holiday on Monday 27 April. |
| New South Wales | Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are public holidays. NSW also observes an additional Anzac Day holiday on Monday 27 April. Local declarations can cover a specific area or part of a day. The August Bank Holiday is not a public holiday for work purposes. |
| Northern Territory | May Day and Picnic Day are territory-wide holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are part-day holidays from 7 pm to midnight. Regional show-day holidays apply in designated areas. |
| Queensland | Labour Day is in May and the King’s Birthday is in October. Christmas Eve is a part-day holiday from 6 pm to midnight. The Royal Queensland Show holiday applies in Brisbane, while other districts have their own show holidays. Queensland does not provide an extra Anzac Day holiday when the day falls on a Saturday. |
| South Australia | Adelaide Cup Day and Labour Day are distinctive holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are part-day holidays from 7 pm to midnight. The 26 December holiday is called Proclamation Day. |
| Tasmania | Eight Hours Day falls in March. The Royal Hobart Regatta applies in some areas; other areas observe Recreation Day. Easter Tuesday generally applies to Tasmanian Public Service employees rather than as a statewide day off. |
| Victoria | Labour Day, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup are public holidays. In 2026, those last two holidays fall on 25 September and 3 November. Melbourne Cup is statewide unless a non-metropolitan council arranges an alternative local holiday. Victoria has no replacement Anzac Day holiday when it falls on a weekend, but observes an additional Boxing Day holiday on Monday 28 December in 2026. |
| Western Australia | Labour Day and Western Australia Day are distinctive holidays. WA observes an additional Anzac Day holiday on Monday 27 April. Some regional areas observe the King’s Birthday on a different date. |
Weekend and local public holidays
A Saturday or Sunday holiday does not lead to the same replacement arrangement across Australia. In 2026, the ACT, NSW and WA observe an additional public holiday on Monday 27 April after Anzac Day. Queensland and Victoria do not provide an extra Anzac Day holiday in those circumstances. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, with an additional holiday on Monday 28 December in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Show days and other event holidays may apply only in a particular district or local government area. Some are part-day holidays. Check the relevant state or territory calendar for the place where the employee works, especially when a statewide list does not include every local declaration.
Public holiday entitlements at work
Workplace entitlements depend on more than the public holiday calendar. The NES sets minimum entitlements, while awards and registered agreements may allow an employer and employee to agree to substitute another day for a public holiday. Pay and other arrangements depend on the applicable workplace rules and circumstances.