Father's Day is observed on the first Sunday of September across Australia, honouring fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and other father figures. It is a cultural observance rather than a public holiday, marked with cards, gifts, and family activities. Australia's Father's Day date differs from that observed in the United States and the United Kingdom, which fall in June.
Public Holidays & State Observances in Australia 2026
Discover the complete list of 2026 national and state public holidays in Australia. Plan your long weekends, school holidays, and business schedules with our accurate Australian holiday guide.
Last verified: June 2026
Public Holidays & Observances List
International Literacy Day is observed on September 8th under the auspices of UNESCO to highlight the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights. In Australia, libraries, schools, and literacy charities mark the day with reading events, storytelling sessions, and campaigns supporting adult and child literacy. It is not a public holiday.
Labour Day (ACT, NSW, SA) is a public holiday observed on the first Monday of October in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and South Australia, commemorating the achievements of the labour movement and the introduction of the eight-hour working day. South Australia refers to the same public holiday as Labour Day as well, aligning its observance date with the ACT and NSW rather than with other states. It marks one of several distinct Labour Day dates observed across the country depending on jurisdiction.
- Observed as a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and South Australia
- Enjoying a spring long weekend with community festivals and outdoor events
Halloween is observed on October 31st and has grown steadily in popularity across Australia over the past two decades, despite not being part of traditional Australian culture historically. Trick-or-treating, costume parties, and pumpkin-themed decorations are now common in suburbs across the country, particularly among families with young children. It is not a public holiday but is an increasingly significant date for Australian retailers.
Melbourne Cup Day (Victoria) is a public holiday observed on the first Tuesday of November exclusively in the state of Victoria, coinciding with Australia's most famous horse race, the Melbourne Cup, held at Flemington Racecourse. Often referred to as "the race that stops a nation," the event is watched and celebrated across the entire country even though the public holiday itself is limited to Victoria. Workplaces nationwide often hold Melbourne Cup lunches, sweepstakes, and fashion-themed events regardless of the public holiday's regional status.
- Observed as a public holiday exclusively in the state of Victoria
- Attending Melbourne Cup race-day events, lunches, and workplace sweepstakes held nationwide
Remembrance Day is observed on November 11th, marking the armistice that ended the First World War at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Across Australia, the day is marked by a minute of silence at 11:00 am, the laying of wreaths at war memorials, and the wearing of red poppies. It is not a public holiday, but services are widely attended at memorials, RSL clubs, and schools nationwide.
Christmas Eve falls on December 24th and, while not a formal public holiday in most of Australia, is treated as a part-day public holiday in some states, with many businesses closing early in the afternoon. It is a time for last-minute shopping, family gatherings, and church services ahead of Christmas Day. Beaches and outdoor venues remain popular on Christmas Eve given Australia's summer holiday season.
Christmas Day is a national public holiday observed on December 25th, marking the Christian feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ and celebrated broadly across Australian society. Given that Christmas falls during the Australian summer, festivities often combine traditional elements like roast dinners and gift-giving with beach visits, backyard cricket, and outdoor barbecues. Government offices, banks, and the vast majority of businesses close nationwide for the day.
- Sharing a Christmas lunch that often blends traditional roast dishes with seafood and salads suited to summer
- Spending the afternoon at the beach or playing backyard cricket, a distinctly Australian Christmas Day tradition
Boxing Day is a national public holiday observed on December 26th, widely associated in Australia with the start of major retail sales and the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It is also the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Australian cricket calendar, traditionally held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Crowds at the MCG and shoppers at retail centres make it one of the busiest and most distinctly Australian public holidays of the year.
- Attending or watching the Boxing Day Test cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Shopping the Boxing Day sales, among the largest retail events of the Australian calendar
New Year's Eve falls on December 31st and is observed across Australia with major fireworks displays, parties, and countdown events. Sydney Harbour hosts one of the world's most televised New Year's Eve fireworks displays, drawing huge crowds to vantage points around the harbour each year. It is not a public holiday, but many Australians take the evening off, and given the time zone, Australia is among the first countries in the world to welcome the new year. ---
Complete Australia Public Holiday Calendar for 2026
Planning around Australia's public holidays takes a bit more care than in many other countries, because the calendar is shaped heavily by state and territory legislation rather than a single national list. Whether you are scheduling annual leave, running a retail business with trading-hour restrictions, or simply planning a long weekend getaway, understanding exactly which holidays apply where in 2026 makes all the difference. This guide walks through every national and state-specific public holiday and observance across Australia for 2026.
National vs. State Public Holidays in Australia
Australia observes a small set of public holidays nationally — New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — that apply in every state and territory. Beyond these, each state and territory sets its own additional public holidays, which is why dates like Labour Day appear multiple times on the calendar under different names and on different days depending on where you live.
Western Australia and Victoria observe Labour Day in March, Queensland observes it in May, and the ACT, NSW, and South Australia observe it in October. Similarly, the King's Birthday is held on the second Monday of June in most jurisdictions but falls on different dates in Queensland and Western Australia. Victoria has its own unique Melbourne Cup Day holiday, while the Northern Territory has both Territory Day and Picnic Day, found nowhere else in the country. Employers operating across multiple states in 2026 need to track these variations carefully to ensure correct payroll processing and staffing, particularly around penalty rates that typically apply on gazetted public holidays.
Long Weekends and School Holidays in 2026
Australia's public holiday calendar produces several reliable long weekends throughout 2026, with the Easter period — spanning Good Friday through Easter Monday — typically the longest stretch, especially where Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are also recognised. The King's Birthday weekend in June and Labour Day weekends throughout the year are also heavily used for short breaks and interstate travel.
School holidays add another layer of complexity, as each state sets its own term dates independently of the national public holiday calendar. Families planning trips around both public holidays and school holidays in 2026 should check their specific state education department's calendar, since the timing can vary by one to two weeks between jurisdictions.
Plan Ahead with the Printable PDF Calendar
Given how much variation exists across states and territories, a printable PDF version of the 2026 Australia holiday calendar is one of the most useful planning tools you can keep on hand. It allows HR teams, retailers, and families to see every national and state-specific public holiday at a glance, without needing to cross-reference multiple government websites. Download our free printable 2026 Australia holiday calendar to keep every public holiday, state variation, and seasonal observance organised throughout the year.