NT Public Holidays

Here is a complete list of all 2026 and 2027 public holidays in the Northern Territory, including national and territory holidays.

Public Holidays 2026

NT Public Holidays 2026

Public HolidayDay/Date
New Year’s DayThursday, 1 January
Australia DayMonday, 26 January
Good FridayFriday, 3 April
Easter SaturdaySaturday, 4 April
Easter SundaySunday, 5 April
Easter MondayMonday, 6 April
Anzac DaySaturday, 25 April
May DayMonday, 4 May
King’s BirthdayMonday, 8 June
Alice Springs Show DayFriday, 3 July*
Tennant Creek Show DayFriday, 10 July*
Katherine Show DayFriday, 17 July*
Darwin Show DayFriday, 24 July*
Picnic DayMonday, 3 August
Borroloola Show DayFriday, 14 August
Christmas Eve (7pm–12am)Thursday, 24 December
Christmas DayFriday, 25 December
Boxing Day

Saturday, 26 December

Public holiday falls on Monday, 28 December

New Year’s Eve (7pm–12am)Thursday, 31 December

*Regional holidays that only apply to specific locations.

Public Holidays 2027

NT Public Holidays 2027

Public HolidayDay/Date
New Year’s DayFriday, 1 January 2027
Australia DayTuesday, 26 January 2027
Good FridayFriday, 26 March 2027
Easter SaturdaySaturday, 27 March 2027
Easter SundaySunday, 28 March 2027
Easter MondayMonday, 29 March 2027
Anzac Day

Sunday, 25 April

Public holiday observed on Monday, 26 April 2027

May DayMonday, 3 May 2027
King’s BirthdayMonday, 14 June 2027
Alice Springs Show DayFriday, 2 July 2027*
Tennant Creek Show DayFriday, 9 July 2027*
Katherine Show DayFriday, 16 July 2027*
Darwin Show DayFriday, 23 July 2027*
Picnic DayMonday, 2 August 2027
Borroloola Show DayFriday, 13 August 2027*
Christmas Eve (7pm–12am)Thursday, 24 December 2027
Christmas Day

Saturday, 25 December

Public holiday observed on Monday, 27 December

Boxing Day

Sunday, 26 December

Public holiday observed on Tuesday, 28 December

New Year’s Eve (7pm–12am)Friday, 31 December 2027

* Regional holidays that only apply to specific locations.

School Holidays 2026

NT School Holidays 2026

Term 1StartFinish
School HolidaysFriday, 3 April 2026Sunday, 12 April 2026
Term 2StartFinish
School HolidaysSaturday, 20 June 2026Sunday, 12 July 2026
Term 3StartFinish
School HolidaysSaturday, 19 September 2026Sunday, 4 October 2026
Term 4StartFinish
School HolidaysSaturday, 12 December 2026Tuesday, 26 January 2027

*Gunbalanya School operates on a flexible school year, with school term dates determined through separate consultations.

School Holidays 2027

NT School Holidays 2027

Term 1StartFinish
School HolidaysSaturday, 3 April 2027Monday, 12 April 2027
Term 2StartFinish
School Holidays19 Saturday, June 2027Monday, 12 July 2027
Term 3StartFinish
School HolidaysSaturday, 18 September 2027Monday, 4 October 2027
Term 4StartFinish
School HolidaysFriday, 10 December 2027TBC

*Gunbalanya School operates on a flexible school year, with school term dates determined through separate consultations.

Leave Maximiser 2026

How to Maximise Your Work Leave in 2026

Take time away from work so you can enjoy more time off.

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 20 DecemberNo
Yes
Sunday, 21 DecemberNo
Yes
Monday, 22 December
Yes
No
Tuesday, 23 December
Yes
No
Wednesday, 24 December
Yes
No
Thursday, 25 DecemberNo
Yes
Friday, 26 DecemberNo
Yes
Saturday, 27 DecemberNo
Yes
Sunday, 28 DecemberNo
Yes
Monday, 29 December
Yes
No
Tuesday, 30 December
Yes
No
Wednesday, 31 December
Yes
No
Thursday, 1 JanuaryNo
Yes
Friday, 2 January
Yes
No
Saturday, 3 JanuaryNo
Yes
Sunday, 4 JanuaryNo
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 7Days off: 9
Total days off: 16

Australia Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 23 January
Yes
No
Saturday, 24 JanuaryNo
Yes
Sunday, 25 JanuaryNo
Yes
Monday, 26 JanuaryNo
Yes
Tuesday, 27 January
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 2Days off: 3
Total days off: 5

Easter Holidays

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 3 AprilNo
Yes
Saturday, 4 AprilNo
Yes
Sunday, 5 AprilNo
Yes
Monday, 6 AprilNo
Yes
Tuesday, 7 April
Yes
No
Wednesday, 8 April
Yes
No
Thursday, 9 April
Yes
No
Friday, 10 April
Yes
No
Saturday, 11 AprilNo
Yes
Sunday, 12 AprilNo
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 4Days off: 6
Total days off: 10

Picnic Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 1 AugustNo
Yes
Sunday, 2 AugustNo
Yes
Monday, 3 AugustNo
Yes
Tuesday, 4 August
Yes
No
Wednesday, 5 August
Yes
No
Thursday, 6 August
Yes
No
Friday, 7 August
Yes
No
Saturday, 8 AugustNo
Yes
Sunday, 9 AugustNo
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 4Days off: 5
Total days off: 9

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 19 DecemberNo
Yes
Sunday, 20 DecemberNo
Yes
Monday, 21 December
Yes
No
Tuesday, 22 December
Yes
No
Wednesday, 23 December
Yes
No
Thursday, 24 December
Yes
No
Friday, 25 DecemberNo
Yes
Saturday, 26 DecemberNo
Yes
Sunday, 27 DecemberNo
Yes
Monday, 28 DecemberNo
Yes
Tuesday, 29 December
Yes
No
Wednesday, 30 December
Yes
No
Thursday, 31 December
Yes
No
Friday, 1 JanuaryNo
Yes
Saturday, 2 JanuaryNo
Yes
Sunday, 3 JanuaryNo
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 7Days off: 9
Total days off: 16

Leave Maximiser 2027

How to Maximise Your Work Leave in 2027

Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 19 December 2026No
Yes
Sunday, 20 December 2026No
Yes
Monday, 21 December 2026
Yes
No
Tuesday, 22 December 2026
Yes
No
Wednesday, 23 December 2026
Yes
No
Thursday, 24 December 2026
Yes
No
Friday, 25 December 2026No
Yes
Saturday, 26 December 2026No
Yes
Sunday, 27 December 2026No
Yes
Monday, 28 December 2026No
Yes
Tuesday, 29 December 2026
Yes
No
Wednesday, 30 December 2026
Yes
No
Thursday, 31 December 2026
Yes
No
Friday, 1 January 2027No
Yes
Saturday, 2 January 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 3 January 2027No
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 7Days off: 9
Total days off: 16

If you live at the top end of NT in Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine or Arnhem Land, you know that this time of year is the middle of the wet season. [1] Make sure to prepare appropriately for monsoons, tropical cyclones and flooding, like insuring your car in case of extreme weather.

Easter Holidays

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 26 MarchNo
Yes
Saturday, 27 MarchNo
Yes
Sunday, 28 MarchNo
Yes
Monday, 29 MarchNo
Yes
Tuesday, 30 March
Yes
No
Wednesday, 31 March
Yes
No
Thursday, 1 April
Yes
No
Friday, 2 April
Yes
No
Saturday, 3 AprilNo
Yes
Sunday, 4 AprilNo
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 4Days off: 6
Total days off: 10

The Easter Holidays are perfect for seeing NT’s beautiful national parks. Consider road tripping to NT’s tallest waterfalls, Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls, or exploring the Finke Gorge National Park. [2]

Don’t forget road safety. Statistically, Territorians are four times more likely to get into a road accident compared to the rest of Australia. [3] Crashes are more likely to happen when roads are busy, such as on the Easter long weekend. Help protect yourself on the roads with car insurance and roadside assistance.

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 18 December 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 19 December 2027No
Yes
Monday, 20 December 2027
Yes
No
Tuesday, 21 December 2027
Yes
No
Wednesday, 22 December 2027
Yes
No
Thursday, 23 December 2027
Yes
No
Friday, 24 December 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 25 December 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 26 December 2027No
Yes
Monday, 27 December 2027No
Yes
Tuesday, 28 December 2027No
Yes
Wednesday, 29 December 2027
Yes
No
Thursday, 30 December 2027
Yes
No
Friday, 31 December 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 1 January 2028No
Yes
Sunday, 2 January 2028No
Yes
Monday, 3 January 2028No
Yes
TotalsDays of annual leave: 8Days off: 9
Total days off: 17

How to Maximise Your Weekends in 2027

Australia Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 22 January 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 23 January 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 24 January 2027No
Yes
Monday, 25 January 2027
Yes
No
Tuesday, 26 January 2027No
Yes
Wednesday, 27 January 2027
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 3Days off: 3
Total days off: 6

Australia Day is not only an opportunity for a long weekend, but also a time to celebrate the best parts of Australia, which includes our iconic fauna. So why not get an up-close look at one of our most powerful and ancient animals: the saltwater crocodile? Watch salties leap out of the Adelaide River on a Jumping Croc tour for an exhilarating and educational glimpse of our natural wildlife. [4] Just remember to keep your hands inside the boat!

Anzac Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 23 April 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 24 April 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 25 April 2027No
Yes
Monday, 26 April 2027No
Yes
Tuesday, 27 April 2027
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 2Days off: 3
Total days off: 5

One of the perks of living in the NT is the variety of places and activities that are discounted and even free for residents. Territorians can get discounted memberships for wildlife parks such as the Territory Wildlife Park and the Desert Springs Wildlife Park. For adventurers who want to go on hikes, NT residents can enjoy free entry to Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. [5] For something more educational, visit the Bamboo Creek Tin Mine to learn about NT’s mining history. [6]

May Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 30 April 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 1 May 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 2 May 2027No
Yes
Monday, 3 May 2027No
Yes
Tuesday, 4 May 2027
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 2Days off: 3
Total days off: 5

Everyone is familiar with Uluru and its scenic beauty against the outback desert. But have you ever seen it on the back of a camel? Take a sunset or sunrise tour by camelback to bask in the majesty of nature. [7] While you’re at it, make sure you check out what you are and are not covered for when it comes to any planned holiday activities. Our Budget Direct Domestic Travel Insurance automatically covers camel riding, but more adventurous activities may require adding one of our two levels of Adventure Activities cover to your policy.

King’s Birthday

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Friday, 11 June 2027
Yes
No
Saturday, 12 June 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 13 June 2027No
Yes
Monday, 14 June 2027No
Yes
Tuesday, 15 June 2027
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 2Days off: 3
Total days off: 5

If you want to get in touch with Australia’s Indigenous culture, the Barunga Festival is one of the best celebrations of NT’s cultural heritage. Open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons, attendees can enjoy a diverse program of traditional dance, music performance, bush medicine workshops, sports activities, and art exhibitions. Located 80 km southeast of Katherine, participants can camp throughout the long weekend to learn about and participate in the region’s rich culture. [8]

Picnic Day

DateTake Leave?Public Holiday/Weekend
Saturday, 31 July 2027No
Yes
Sunday, 1 August 2027No
Yes
Monday, 2 August 2027No
Yes
Tuesday, 3 August 2027
Yes
No
TotalsDays of annual leave: 1Days off: 3
Total days off: 4

The winter months are the best time for Territorians to explore the richness of the Australian outback. In Kakadu and Katherine, temperatures stay at a dry 20-30°C [9], making it a perfect time for sightseeing and exploration. This gives you the opportunity to explore the beautiful rock formations of Karlu Karlu in Warumungu [10], or the wonders of Kings Canyon at Watarrka National Park. [11]

NT Public Holidays in Detail

May Day

Also known as Labour Day in other Australian states and territories, May Day is the annual celebration of the modern eight-hour working day implemented in the 19th century. May Day is always held on a Monday, forming a long weekend each year.

Alice Springs Show Day

The Alice Springs Show is an annual agricultural and pastoral event that showcases the region’s best produce, livestock and craft.

It features outback sporting events, cooking contests, carnival-style rides and fireworks.

Tennant Creek Show Day

The Tennant Creek Show Day showcases the region’s agricultural accomplishments. The main attractions include cattle and dog demonstrations, rides, sideshow alley games, music events, and arts and crafts competitions.

Katherine Show Day

The Katherine Show Day has several large competitions with prizes for dog jumping, needlework, cooking, poetry, writing and rodeo.

There are equestrian events throughout the week leading up to the public holiday, with the main events taking place on Friday and Saturday. There are an average of 3,000 entries in the showcase competitions. The day concludes with a fireworks display on Saturday night.

Darwin Show Day

The Darwin Show is the oldest show day in the Northern Territory, dating back to 1952. It is a demonstration of Darwin’s agriculture, livestock, trade and industries.

Thousands of locals and visitors arrive to compete in 24 competitions each year, ranging from stud cattle and arts and crafts, to horticulture and photography.

It is only observed in Darwin and surrounding regions.

Picnic Day

Picnic Day began as a holiday for railway workers to picnic at the Adelaide River in the late 1800s.

Annual races are held in Harts Ranges on Picnic Day, as well as bull rides and children’s competitions.

Borroloola Show Day

The Borroloola Show is held annually on the third Friday in August by the Borroloola Gulf Show Society Inc.

See More Public Holidays Articles

References

  1. Northern Territory Government, n.d, NT public and regional holidays
  2. Northern Territory Government, n.d, School term and holiday dates in NT
  3. Northern Territory, 2026, Weather & Seasons in the Northern Territory
  4. We Are Explorers, 2026, After 5 Years Exploring the Northern Territory, These are the Best Off-Road Tracks for 4WD Road Trips
  5. Inside State Government, 2025, NT dead serious about Easter road safety message
  6. Adelaide River Cruises, 2026, Home Page
  7. The Territory, NA, Territorian Perks
  8. Northern Territory, NA, Bamboo Creek Tin Mine
  9. Uluru Camel Tours, 2026, Tours
  10. Barunga Festival, NA, About
  11. Northern Territory, NA, Road tripping the NT
  12. Northern Territory, NA, Karlu Karlu
  13. Northern Territory, NA, Kings Canyon

Disclaimer

Data from the sources referenced below from the latest available data as at September 2026. Auto & General Services Pty Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data and accepts no liability whatsoever arising from or connected in any way to the use or reliance on this data.