Australia Public Holidays (2025–2028)
Seven public holidays are observed across every Australian state and territory in 2026. Boxing Day (Dec 26) falls on a Saturday, so a substitute public holiday is taken on Monday Dec 28. Anzac Day lands on a Saturday, with substitution varying by state.
At a Glance: Statutory Days & Long Weekends
2026 – 20273 long weekends (3+ days)
View full calendar3 long weekends scheduled
Explore scheduleFair Work Ombudsman and State/Territory Industrial Relations Commissions (e.g. NSW Industrial Relations).
Fair Work Act 2009 (National Employment Standards, Part 2-2, Division 10) sets 8 national public holidays, with state and territory Public Holidays Acts establishing regional totals (10 to 15 days).
Australia Public Holiday System & Legal Framework
Governing Legislation & Statutory Authority
Fair Work Act 2009 (National Employment Standards, Part 2-2, Division 10) sets 8 national public holidays, with state and territory Public Holidays Acts establishing regional totals (10 to 15 days).
Weekend In-Lieu Observance & Substitute Days
State-governed substitute holidays: When Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, states mandate an additional or substitute public holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday. ANZAC Day observance rules vary by state (NSW, VIC, ACT grant an additional Monday holiday when April 25 lands on Sunday/Saturday).
Federal vs Regional & Provincial Disparities
Public holidays in Australia are heavily decentralized: Victoria has Melbourne Cup Day and AFL Grand Final Friday; NSW has August Bank Holiday; South Australia has Adelaide Cup; Western Australia observes Western Australia Day; Queensland observes Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).
Statutory Annual Leave & Bridge Days (Ponts) Culture
The National Employment Standards mandate 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year for all permanent full-time workers (5 weeks for regular shift workers), with annual leave loading (typically 17.5%) common under modern awards.
Australia Multi-Year Calendars & Downloads (2025–2028)
iCal (ICS) · CSV · PDFSubscribe to all years in your calendar app
Google Calendar · Apple Calendar · Outlook — the feed updates as governments publish new years.
Australia Planning Hub: Calendars, Working Days & Schools
Working Days Calculator
Calculate exact business days, work hours, and statutory holidays for Australia (2026 & 2027) for payroll and contracts.
Long Weekends & Leave Planner
Discover all natural 3- and 4-day weekends, plus interactive bridge day strategies turning 1–2 days of annual leave into 5–9 days off.
School Terms & Holidays
Official academic term dates, half-term breaks, summer vacations, and exam recess periods issued by the ministry of education.
States & Regional Subdivisions
Explore regional legislation and distinct state public holiday calendars across Australia.
Australia State & Territory Public Holidays 2026: Full Guide
Australia state holidays 2026: King’s Birthday falls Jun 8, Sep 28 or Oct 5 and Labour Day Mar 2 to Oct 5, depending on your state. Full guide.
Major Global Festivals Celebrated in Australia
Other Public Holiday Calendars in Oceania
Official sources & data
- Public holidaysVisit sourceFair Work Ombudsman
Frequently Asked Questions About Australia Public Holidays
How many public holidays are there in Australia each year?
Under the Fair Work Act, there are 8 national public holidays. When combined with state and territory gazetted holidays, residents enjoy between 10 and 15 public holidays per year depending on where they live.
What happens when ANZAC Day falls on a weekend in Australia?
Rules depend entirely on state law: In NSW, Victoria, the ACT, and Western Australia, an additional public holiday is observed on the following Monday when April 25 falls on Sunday (or Saturday in some jurisdictions). In Queensland and Tasmania, rules historically did not provide a Monday holiday.
Do employees get penalty rates for working on public holidays in Australia?
Yes. Under Modern Awards and enterprise agreements, employees working on a declared public holiday typically receive penalty rates between 200% and 250% (double time to double time and a half) of their ordinary base rate.
Why does Victoria have more public holidays than other Australian states?
Victoria legally gazetted two unique sporting public holidays: Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) and the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (late September), bringing its state annual total to 15 days.
What is Australia’s longest public holiday weekend each year?
Easter weekend is Australia’s longest guaranteed national break, spanning 4 consecutive days from Good Friday through Easter Monday in all states and territories.