2026 AUSTRALIA HOLIDAYS

2026 Public Holidays Australia Service

The above is the list of 2026 public holidays declared in Australia which includes federal, regional government holidays and popular observances. We also provide Australia holiday calendar for 2026 in Word, Excel, PDF and printable online formats.

Australia's six states, and two territories, each has its own set of holidays.

The most popular holidays shared across the states are five in number: Australia Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday and Anzac Day. The rest are declared and observed in specific states and within territory Governments.

Traditionally, both public and private sector employees in Australia have the right to take paid days off on holidays. However, this is gradually changing. Businesses that operate on holidays can request its employees to remain on duty.

After the Fair Act 2009 was implemented, most employees receive a 2.5 times overtime pay, based on the base pay rate, for any holiday worked. It is also worth noting that, if a Public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute holiday is observed on the next non-weekend day, usually a Monday. An employee who works on the substituted weekday is again entitled to overtime compensation. Interestingly, some states prevent the sale of alcohol on religious holidays like Good Friday. Other regions mark Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as half-day holidays. This means that the holidays are observed from 7 pm to midnight while the other hours remain like any other ordinary day.

During public holidays, offices, banks, and some businesses remain closed. When planning a visit to Australia during these peak periods, it is advisable to book your accommodation and domestic flights well in advance to avoid unnecessary inconveniences during this period.