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Ah, public holidays. They go hand-in-hand with long weekends and the sweet, sweet joy of a four-day work week – two things we can easily get around! In Australia, we’re lucky to score up to 15 full-day public holidays each year, with the exact number depending on where you live. So which state or territory should you move to if you want to maximise your free days off?
Australia currently has ten annual public holidays that are celebrated on the same day nationwide, including New Year’s Day, January 26, Good Friday, Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas and Boxing Day. But some holidays, like the King’s Birthday and Labour Day, vary in date depending on the state or territory. Throw in a few local public holidays, and it becomes clear that some Aussies are getting more sleep-in days than others.
The Australian Capital Territory benefits from the most full-day public holidays in Australia, with 15 days off in 2026. This includes two special holidays for Canberra Day (March 9) and Reconciliation Day (June 1). The ACT is also one of only three states to honour Anzac Day (Saturday, April 25) as a public holiday, while giving a second public holiday on the following Monday (April 27). New South Wales and Western Australia are the only two other states to offer this double whammy.
Victoria follows closely behind with 14 public holidays in 2026, uniquely including the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (September 25) and the Melbourne Cup (November 3).
If we include part-day public holidays, the Northern Territory and South Australia both also score 14 days off (13 full days plus two half days). In the NT, long weekends fall on May Day (May 4), the King’s Birthday (June 8) and Picnic Day (August 3), with part-day holidays on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight). Meanwhile, South Australia gets Adelaide Cup Day (March 9), the King’s Birthday (June 8) and Labour Day (October 5), plus the same half-day public holidays as the NT.
On the flip side, Tasmania has the fewest public holidays, with 12 days off. Some are region-specific, meaning locals observe either the Royal Hobart Regatta (February 9) or Recreation Day (November 2), bringing the total to 11 public holidays per person. Sorry Tassie!
Which state has the most public holidays in Australia?
- ACT – 15
- Victoria – 14
- Northern Territory – 14 (13 full days + 2 half days)
- South Australia – 14 (13 full days + 2 half days)
- Queensland – 13.5 (13 full days + 1 half day)
- NSW – 13
- Western Australia – 13
- Tasmania – 12/11