A new year, a new plan for taking time off work! But when are the next public holidays in your state or territory?
Below you’ll find a full list of the public holidays each Australian state and territory will have in 2026.
Controversially, the NSW Premier Chris Minns has suggested that NSW residents could get an extra public holiday in 2026 because Anzac Day falls on a Saturday. When most public holidays fall on a weekend, like Christmas or Boxing Day, we generally do get an extra public holiday on the following Monday.
In recent years, other states and territories have implemented extra public holidays when Anzac Day falls on the weekend, namely Western Australia and the ACT.
The suggestion has led to backlash from Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert, who called it a “terrible idea”. As reported by the ABC, his main concern was over increased wages.
“On public holidays, restaurants and cafes pay between 75 and 100 per cent of their revenue out in wages – so if the premier wants to add another public holiday, we’re going to advocate that restaurants and cafes around the state close.”
RSL NSW isn’t opposed to the idea; however, they don’t want the “meaning or solemnity” of the day to be diminished.
“We’re underserved when it comes to public holidays, there’s a lot more in every other state,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Triple M. “So I can say to you guys, we’re going to have a conversation about it for this year.”
Chris Minns made it official on 15 February 2026 that NSW would be getting a new public holiday so that residents can commemorate the important day with loved ones.
All Australian public holidays in 2026:
New South Wales
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 Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Victoria
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 – Easter Saturday.
Sunday, 5 April – Easter Sunday.
Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday.
Saturday, 25 April – Anzac Day.
Monday, 8 June – King’s Birthday.
Tuesday, 3 November – Melbourne Cup.
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday, 26 December – Boxing Day.
Monday, 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Date TBC (Subject to AFL schedule) – Friday before the AFL Grand Final
ACT (Australian Capital Territory)
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 Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Northern Territory
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.
Friday, 3 July – Alice Springs Day (regional)
Friday, 10 July – Tennany Creek Show Day (regional).
Friday, 17 July – Katherine Show Day (regional)
Friday, 24 July – Darwin Show Day (regional).
Monday, 3 August – Picnic Day.
Friday, 14 August – Borroloola Show Day (regional).
Thursday, 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight).
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday, 26 December – Boxing Day.
Monday, 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Thursday, 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm to midnight).
Queensland
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 – Labour Day.
Wednesday, 12 August – Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only).
Monday, 5 October – King’s Birthday.
Thursday, 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight).
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday, 26 December – Boxing Day.
Monday, 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
South Australia
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 (from 7pm to midnight).
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday, 26 December – Boxing Day / Proclamation Day.
Monday, 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Thursday, 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm to midnight).
Tasmania
Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day.
Monday, 26 January – Australia Day.
Monday, 9 February – Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
Monday, 9 March – Eight Hours Day.
Friday, 3 April – Good Friday.
Saturday, 4 April – Easter Saturday.
Sunday, 5 April – Easter Sunday.
Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday.
Tuesday, 7 April – Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Services only).
Saturday, 25 April – Anzac Day.
Monday, 8 June – King’s Birthday.
Thursday 22 October – Royal Hobart Show (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart).
Monday 2 November – Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta).
Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday, 26 December – Boxing Day.
Monday, 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
Western Australia
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 in WA hold the King’s Birthday public holiday on a different date).
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day.
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day.
Monday 28 December – Additional Day (for Boxing Day landing on a weekend).
How to maximise your annual leave in 2026?
The key to making the most of your precious annual leave days is to work around the public holidays so you get more time off to spend with friends, family, and loved ones.
For instance, you could take four days of annual leave in January around Australia Day and end up with nine days off. There’s the weekend of 24-25 January, then the public holiday, then you could take off the next four days, and then it’s the weekend again.
Your next opportunity comes at Easter time. If you take off the days before and after the public holidays, you end up with 16 days off for only eight days of annual leave. Fully doubling your time off!
You could also be strategic around Labour Day, the King’s Birthday (state excepting), and of course Christmas.
