Bank Holidays in Australia in 2026

Do you live in Australia or plan to travel there in 2026? It helps to know the public holiday calendar ahead of time, because Australia does not follow one single nationwide holiday schedule for every state and territory. Some holidays are observed across the country, while others depend on where you are.

Australia has 7 public holidays that are observed nationwide in 2026, and the country’s 8 states and territories add their own public holidays on top of those. That is why a long weekend in Sydney may not line up with one in Perth, Adelaide, or Darwin.

If you are planning time off, business travel, or banking and government errands, it is worth checking both the national dates and the state or territory list for your destination. In Australia, holiday rules also vary for substitute days when a holiday falls on a weekend.

Bank Holidays in Australia in 2026

The table below covers the main public holidays in Australia in 2026, including the nationwide dates and the state or territory-wide holidays that most people are likely to need for travel or work planning. Regional-only holidays such as show days are not included in the main list.

Australia-wide public holidays are New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. State and territory governments then add their own holidays, such as Labour Day, King’s Birthday, Reconciliation Day, and Western Australia Day.

A few special rules matter in 2026. In the ACT, Anzac Day is observed on Saturday, April 25, with an additional public holiday on Monday, April 27, and Boxing Day also gets an additional public holiday on Monday, December 28. NSW and WA also have an extra Monday observance for Anzac Day in 2026.

How many public holidays are observed in Australia?

Australia does not have one uniform total for the whole country, because each state and territory adds its own public holidays and, in some cases, regional holidays as well. The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that public holidays can be different depending on where you are.

In practice, everyone gets the nationwide holidays, but your total number of days off depends on your state or territory. NSW, for example, also lists a separate August bank holiday for banks and certain financial institutions, which is different from the broader public holiday calendar.

The most popular public holidays in Australia

Australia Day

Australia Day on January 26 is one of the country’s best-known public holidays. It is observed nationwide and often marks one of the first major long-weekend-style breaks of the year when it falls near a weekend.

Easter

The Easter period is especially important in Australia because Good Friday and Easter Monday are national public holidays, and several states and territories also recognize Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. That makes Easter one of the busiest holiday travel periods of the year.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day on April 25 is observed nationwide and is one of the most significant commemorative days in Australia. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, and some jurisdictions add an extra Monday public holiday while others do not.

Christmas and Boxing Day

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are national public holidays across Australia. In 2026 Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so several states and territories add a substitute public holiday on Monday, December 28.

What are Australia’s public holidays and days off?

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day is observed across Australia on January 1. It is one of the standard national public holidays under Australia’s workplace framework.

Australia Day

Australia Day falls on January 26 each year and is observed nationwide. It is one of the fixed-date public holidays that appears on every Australian calendar.

State Labour Day holidays

Labour Day is not held on the same date everywhere. In 2026 it falls on March 2 in Western Australia, March 9 in Victoria, May 4 in Queensland, and October 5 in the ACT, NSW, and South Australia.

Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day

The ACT has its own distinctive public holidays, including Canberra Day on March 9 and Reconciliation Day on June 1 in 2026. These do not apply across the rest of Australia.

Easter holidays

Good Friday and Easter Monday are national public holidays. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are also public holidays in several states and territories, although not in exactly the same way across every jurisdiction.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is always April 25. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, and whether there is an extra Monday public holiday depends on the jurisdiction. NSW, WA, and the ACT have an additional public holiday on Monday, April 27 in 2026.

King’s Birthday

King’s Birthday is observed on different dates depending on the state or territory. In 2026 it falls on June 8 in the ACT, NSW, NT, SA, Tasmania, and Victoria, on September 28 in Western Australia, and on October 5 in Queensland.

Western Australia Day

Western Australia Day is a state-only public holiday observed on June 1 in 2026. It does not apply outside WA.

Northern Territory holidays

The Northern Territory has May Day on May 4 and Picnic Day on August 3 in 2026. These are territory-specific public holidays.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays across Australia. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so many jurisdictions add a substitute holiday on Monday, December 28.

NSW Bank Holiday

In New South Wales, there is also a separate Bank Holiday on Monday, August 3, 2026. This is not a general public holiday for everyone, but it is relevant for banks and some financial-sector offices.

Bank Holidays in Australia in 2027

The national pattern stays familiar in 2027, but some weekend holidays trigger substitute days in several jurisdictions. The table below focuses on the nationwide public holidays only. State and territory holidays still vary.

Bank Holidays in Australia in 2028

For 2028, the nationwide holiday framework stays the same, but some future state dates can still be updated by individual governments. Victoria already lists its 2028 dates, while Western Australia says its 2028 public holiday dates will be published when confirmed.

Summary

Australia’s 2026 holiday calendar is straightforward at the national level, but the state and territory differences matter a lot in real life. Easter rules, substitute days, Labour Day dates, and King’s Birthday dates can all shift depending on where you are.

For travel or work planning, the safest approach is to start with the nationwide holidays, then check the state or territory calendar for your exact destination. That is especially important for 2026 because Anzac Day and Boxing Day weekend rules are not handled the same way everywhere.

Last Updated on 03/29/2026