Australia has seven national public holidays observed in every state and territory — plus a layer of state-specific holidays (Labour Day, the King’s Birthday, Melbourne Cup Day, show days) that fall on different dates in each state. This page lays out both: the national dates for 2026 and 2027, then a state-by-state breakdown so you can see exactly what applies where you live and work.
Dates are generated from the legislated rules and cross-checked against the Fair Work Ombudsman and state government listings. A couple of holidays are set by the state each year rather than by a fixed rule — those are flagged below. For payroll, penalty rates or leave, confirm against your state’s official page (linked in each section).
National public holidays (all states & territories)
Observed everywhere in Australia. When one falls on a weekend, most states grant a substitute weekday holiday — see each state’s list and the FAQ below.
| Public holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| Australia Day | Mon 26 Jan | Tue 26 Jan |
| Good Friday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 26 Mar |
| Easter Monday | Mon 6 Apr | Mon 29 Mar |
| Anzac Day | Sat 25 Apr | Sun 25 Apr |
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec | Sat 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec | Sun 26 Dec |
State & territory public holidays 2027
These are in addition to the seven national holidays above. Each state also observes all of the national dates.
New South Wales (NSW) public holidays 2027
- Easter Saturday — Sat 27 Mar 2027
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 4 Oct 2027
- Additional Christmas Day holiday — Mon 27 Dec 2027 (because Christmas Day falls on a weekend)
- Additional Boxing Day holiday — Tue 28 Dec 2027 (because Boxing Day falls on a weekend)
Victoria (VIC) public holidays 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 8 Mar 2027
- Easter Saturday — Sat 27 Mar 2027
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Melbourne Cup Day — Tue 2 Nov 2027 (some regional areas hold a different local-cup holiday instead)
- Friday before the AFL Grand Final — late Sep / early Octset each year (set by the Victorian Government each year once the AFL fixture is known — confirm with vic.gov.au closer to the date)
Queensland (QLD) public holidays 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 3 May 2027
- Ekka People’s Day — Wed 11 Aug 2027set each year (Brisbane area only; regional show days vary by town)
- King’s Birthday — Mon 4 Oct 2027
Western Australia (WA) public holidays 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 1 Mar 2027
- Anzac Day holiday (in lieu) — Mon 26 Apr 2027 (because Anzac Day falls on a Sunday)
- King’s Birthday — late Sep / early Octset each year (WA sets its King’s Birthday holiday each year — confirm the exact date with wa.gov.au)
South Australia (SA) public holidays 2027
- Adelaide Cup Day — Mon 8 Mar 2027
- Easter Saturday — Sat 27 Mar 2027
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 4 Oct 2027
- Additional Christmas Day holiday — Mon 27 Dec 2027 (because Christmas Day falls on a weekend)
- Proclamation Day (additional) — Tue 28 Dec 2027 (SA observes Proclamation Day; extra day because Boxing Day falls on a weekend)
Tasmania (TAS) public holidays 2027
- Royal Hobart Regatta — Mon 8 Feb 2027set each year (southern Tasmania only)
- Eight Hours Day (Labour Day) — Mon 8 Mar 2027
- Easter Tuesday — Tue 30 Mar 2027 (state government employees and some others)
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Recreation Day — Mon 1 Nov 2027 (northern Tasmania only)
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) public holidays 2027
- Canberra Day — Mon 8 Mar 2027
- Easter Saturday — Sat 27 Mar 2027
- Reconciliation Day — Mon 31 May 2027 (the Monday on or after 27 May)
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Labour Day — Mon 4 Oct 2027
Northern Territory (NT) public holidays 2027
- May Day (Labour Day) — Mon 3 May 2027
- King’s Birthday — Mon 14 Jun 2027
- Picnic Day — Mon 2 Aug 2027
Australian FY
Australian Fiscal Year Calendar
July–June financial year on one printable page — for ATO, BAS and reporting.
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Yearly Event Calendar
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Frequently asked questions
Which public holidays are national (observed in every state and territory)?
Seven public holidays are observed Australia-wide: New Year’s Day, Australia Day (26 January), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day (25 April), Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December). Every other public holiday — Labour Day, the King’s Birthday, Melbourne Cup Day, show days and so on — is set by the individual state or territory, so the dates differ across the country.
Why do the King’s Birthday and Labour Day fall on different dates in each state?
Public holidays other than the seven national ones are legislated by each state and territory government, not the Commonwealth. The King’s Birthday is the second Monday of June in most states, but Queensland holds it in October and Western Australia sets it around late September each year. Labour Day is in March in Victoria, WA and Tasmania, in May in Queensland and the NT, and in October in NSW, the ACT and SA. Always check the state where you work.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
Most states grant a substitute weekday holiday when a public holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday — but the rules differ. When Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend, most states add substitute holidays on the following Monday and Tuesday, while South Australia observes Proclamation Day instead of a second Boxing Day holiday. Anzac Day is substituted with a Monday holiday in some states but not others. The state-by-state list above already includes each state’s substitute days for the year shown; confirm with your state authority for anything load-bearing.
Are regional show days and local holidays included here?
This page lists the state-wide public holidays, plus the best-known regional ones (Brisbane’s Ekka People’s Day, the Royal Hobart Regatta). Many areas also observe other local holidays — regional agricultural show days, local race-day holidays, and council-declared days. These vary town by town and change year to year, so confirm local dates with your council or the state government.
How accurate are these dates?
Most dates are generated from the legislated rules (the second Monday of June for the King’s Birthday, Easter-based dates, each state’s Labour Day rule, and so on) and were validated against the Fair Work Ombudsman and state government listings. A small number are set by the state government each year rather than by a fixed rule — Victoria’s AFL Grand Final Friday and Western Australia’s King’s Birthday in particular — and are flagged in the list until the government confirms them. For anything load-bearing (payroll, penalty rates, leave), confirm against your state or territory’s official page, linked in each section below.
Do public holidays follow the Australian financial year?
No — public holidays run on the calendar year (January–December), while the Australian financial year runs 1 July – 30 June. If you’re planning around the financial year for tax, BAS or payroll, our Australian Fiscal Year Calendar lays out July–June on one page; use this public-holidays reference alongside it to mark the holidays that fall inside the FY.
Updated through July 2026