Public Holidays
Public holidays are government set days of the year where employees can be absent from work for the day, or part of the day. You must still be paid your base rate of pay for this day, unless you are a casual employee. These entitlements form part of the National Employment Standards (NES).
Public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in, or where your employer is based. Below are 2026 public holidays around the country.
NOTE: Some states and territories may have additional or varied public holidays for certain regional areas to those listed below.
Australia-wide
January 1 (Thursday) – New Year’s Day
January 26 (Monday) – Australia Day
April 3 (Friday) – Good Friday
April 6 (Monday) – Easter Monday
December 25 (Friday) – Christmas Day
New South Wales
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
October 5 (Monday) – Labour Day
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
Victoria
March 9 (Monday) – Labour Day
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
September (date TBC) (Friday) – before AFL Grand Final Day
November 3 (Tuesday) – Melbourne Cup Day
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
Queensland
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
May 4 (Monday) – Labour Day
August 12 (Wednesday) – Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane only)
October 5 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
December 24 (Thursday) – Christmas Eve (from 6pm)
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
Western Australia
March 2 (Monday) – Labour Day
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
April 27 (Monday) – Additional day for Anzac Day
June 1 (Monday) – Western Australia Day
September 28 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
South Australia
March 9 (Monday) – Adelaide Cup Day
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
October 5 (Monday) – Labour Day
December 24 (Thursday) – Christmas Eve (from 7pm)
December 26 (Saturday) – Proclamation Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Proclamation Day
December 31 (Thursday) – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm)
Tasmania
February 9 (Monday) – Royal Hobart Regatta (certain areas only)
March 9 (Monday) – Eight Hours Day
April 7 (Tuesday) – Easter Tuesday (generally Public Service only)
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
October 22 (Thursday) – Royal Hobart Show (certain areas only)
November 2 (Monday) – Recreation Day (certain areas only)
December 28 (Monday) – Substitute day for Boxing Day
Australian Capital Territory
March 9 (Monday) – Canberra Day
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 27 (Monday) – Substitute day for Anzac Day
June 1 (Monday) – Reconciliation Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
October 5 (Monday) – Labour Day
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
Northern Territory
April 4 (Saturday) – Easter Saturday
April 5 (Sunday) – Easter Sunday
April 25 (Saturday) – Anzac Day
May 4 (Monday) – May Day
June 8 (Monday) – King’s Birthday
August 3 (Monday) – Picnic Day
December 24 (Thursday) – Christmas Eve (from 7pm)
December 26 (Saturday) – Boxing Day
December 28 (Monday) – Additional day for Boxing Day
December 31 (Thursday) – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm)
Refusal to work on a public holiday
Under the NES, employees have the right refuse work on a public holiday. This refusal must be reasonable. To help decide if your refusal is reasonable, consider the following:
- The nature of your workplace and the work you do
- Your personal circumstances, such as caring responsibilities
- If you could reasonably expect your employer to request work on the public holiday
- If you are entitled to receive penalty rates or other payments that reflect an expectation to work on public holidays
- Your type of employment (full-time, part-time, causal or shift work)
- The amount of notice your employer gives you when making the request
- The amount of notice you give your employer in refusing the request
- Anything else that is relevant
Payment on a public holiday
You are entitled to payment on a public holiday if:
- You are absent for a day of part of a day that is a public holiday and
- You would ordinarily be working on the day or part of a day that is a public holiday
Casual workers do not qualify under this entitlement, nor part-time workers who do not work on the day the public holiday falls.
If you are entitled to payment, your employer must pay you the base rate of pay for your ordinary hours of work on that day. This excludes any bonuses, loadings, allowances, overtime or penalty rates or any other additional payments.
Substituting public holidays for another day
Sometimes an award or enterprise agreement may allow for a public holiday to be substituted for another day of the year. You can also make this agreement independently with your employer. If you do swap a public holiday for another day, make sure:
- You are paid as per your public holiday entitlements
- You are still receiving the lawful amount of annual public holidays
Your employer must not pressure you to make a swap. It must be agreed by both parties.
Already a union member?
Reach out to your union for more specific information about your right to refuse work on a public holiday in your workplace.
Not yet a member of your union?
Join your union to ensure you’re getting the public holiday pay and conditions that you’re entitled to.
Do you want some further information about Public Holidays?
The Australian Unions Support Centre can assist you to find and join your union. We can also provide general information about your rights at work.
All Support Centre enquiries are 100% confidential.
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