Mark your calendar: Here’s your ultimate guide to Australia’s 2026 public holidays by state and territory

Hands up if you love a public holiday! Same. And good news: Australia’s 2026 calendar is packed with public hols just begging to be turned into long weekends or cheeky overseas adventures (once you’ve mastered the art of maximising your annual leave).

The year starts off strong with the January 26 public holiday, Easter and Anzac Day, then ends on a high with Christmas and Boxing Day. In between, each state and territory celebrates its own set of public holidays, with the ACT benefiting from the most at a generous 15 days off. It’s no wonder our nation’s capital was just named the world’s third-most relaxing city to live in.

One thing to note: Anzac Day (April 25) lands on a Saturday in 2026, meaning most of the country is one public holiday short. Only the ACT and Western Australia will observe it on the following Monday (April 27). Scroll on to see exactly which public holidays you can lock into your calendar in your state or territory.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Canberra Day: Monday, March 9
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day observation: Monday, April 27
• Reconciliation Day: Monday, June 1
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Labour Day: Monday, October 5
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

New South Wales (NSW)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Labour Day: Monday, October 5
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

Northern Territory (NT)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• May Day: Monday, May 4
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Picnic Day: Monday, August 3
• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24 (from 7pm to midnight)
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28
• New Year’s Eve: Wednesday, December 31 (from 7pm to midnight)

Queensland (QLD)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• Labour Day: Monday, May 4
• Royal Queensland Show: Wednesday, August 12 (Brisbane area only)
• King’s Birthday: Monday, October 5
• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24 (from 6pm to midnight)
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

South Australia (SA)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Adelaide Cup Day: Monday, March 9
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Labour Day: Monday, October 5
• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24 (from 7pm to midnight)
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28
• New Year’s Eve: Wednesday, December 31 (from 7pm to midnight)

Tasmania (TAS)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Royal Hobart Regatta: Monday, February 9 (only observed in certain areas of Tasmania)
• Eight Hours Day: Monday, March 9
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Easter Tuesday: Tuesday, April 7 (typically Tasmanian Public Service only)
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Recreation Day: Monday, November 2 (in areas of Tasmania that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

Victoria (VIC)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Labour Day: Monday, March 9
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Saturday: Saturday, April 4
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• King’s Birthday: Monday, June 8
• Friday before AFL Grand Final: Friday, September 25
• Melbourne Cup: Tuesday, November 3
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

Western Australia (WA)

• New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
• Australia/Invasion Day: Monday, January 26
• Labour Day: Monday, March 2
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5
• Easter Monday: Monday, April 6
• Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25
• Anzac Day observation: Saturday, April 27
• Western Australia Day: Monday, June 1
• King’s Birthday: Monday, September 28
• Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
• Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26
• Boxing Day observation: Monday, December 28

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