Public Holidays

Here is a complete list of Australia’s national public holidays in 2026 and 2027. Please visit one of the state or territory pages listed below if you’re looking for state, territory, or regional public holidays.

Maximise Your Annual Leave This Year

Strategically planning your annual leave around public holidays can be one of the most effective ways to maximise your leave and spend meaningful time off during the year. For each of the states and territories, we’ve highlighted the public holidays for 2027 and how to plan your time off to create extended stretches of leave.

Being strategic also means planning for the unexpected but common challenges that can come with travelling, like losing your luggage or having to cancel non-refundable tickets. To avoid leaving things to chance, Budget Direct’s Domestic Travel Insurance can help protect your hip pocket and reduce the financial strain of unexpected events while you’re travelling.

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Select the state or territory you live in to see your public holidays.

National Public Holidays in Detail

New Year’s Day, 1 January

New Year’s Day marks the first day of the modern Gregorian calendar. Australia is one of the first countries to celebrate the New Year because of our proximity to the International Date Line. If New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, the public holiday takes place on the Monday.

Note: South Australia and the Northern Territory also have a part-day public holiday for New Year’s Eve from 7pm–12am.

Australia Day, 26 January

Australia Day is the official national public holiday of Australia. If it falls on a weekend, the public holiday takes place on the Monday.

Good Friday and Easter Monday

Easter is a Christian holiday marked over a four-day weekend, including Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Note: Easter Tuesday is observed as a public holiday by the Tasmanian Public Service.

Anzac Day, 25 April

Anzac Day is commemorated on the anniversary of Australian and New Zealand troops landing at Gallipoli in 1915 during the First World War. If Anzac Day falls on a Sunday, the public holiday is taken on the Monday in NSW, ACT, QLD, NT and WA.

Christmas Day, 25 December

Australians celebrate Christmas Day as a religious and cultural occasion, with activities spanning beach swims, backyard barbecues and seafood platters. If Christmas falls on a weekend, each state observes the public holiday on the Monday.

Note: South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland have a part-day public holiday on Christmas Eve. Queensland provides for the part-day public holiday from 6pm to 12am, while South Australia and the Northern Territory are from 7pm to 12am.

Boxing Day, 26 December

Australians celebrate Boxing Day on the day after Christmas. While the origin of the name is uncertain, it’s commonly linked to the tradition of “Christmas Boxes,” which were given to servants on their day off after Christmas to thank them for their hard work. If Boxing Day falls on a weekend, the public holiday is observed on Monday or Tuesday in each state.

Labour Day

Labour Day celebrates the modern eight-hour working day, which started in the 19th century. Before this, most labourers worked ten to twelve hours a day, up to six days a week. Labour Day supports the equal division of 24 hours in a day into three parts: eight hours for work, recreation and rest. Labour Day is held on different dates, with the public holiday observed in March, May and October.

King’s Birthday

As a part of the Commonwealth, Australians mark the King’s Birthday as a public holiday. The dates vary across the country and don’t ever fall on King Charles’ birthday. However, it always falls on a Monday for a long weekend.

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