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holidays12 min

Published on 2026-01-19

By BaseCalendar Editorial Team

Australia Public Holidays 2026 | State-by-State Calendar Guide

Complete list of Australian public holidays for 2026 with state-specific dates. Download free printable calendars with all national and state holidays marked.

Planning your 2026 in Australia? This guide covers every national and state public holiday across all Australian states and territories. Download a free 2026 Australia holidays calendar with all dates marked.

2026 National Public Holidays

HolidayDateDay
New Year's DayJanuary 1Thursday
Australia DayJanuary 26Monday
Good FridayApril 3Friday
Saturday before EasterApril 4Saturday
Easter MondayApril 6Monday
Anzac DayApril 25Saturday
Queen's BirthdayJune 8Monday
Christmas DayDecember 25Friday

State-Specific Holidays

New South Wales

NSW observes Bank Holiday (first Monday in August) and Queen's Birthday on June 8. Plan with our June 2026 calendar.

Victoria

Victoria has Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) — a unique state holiday. Check our November 2026 calendar.

Queensland

QLD observes Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) in August for Brisbane metro.

Western Australia

WA has WA Day (June 1) and celebrates the Queen's Birthday in September instead of June.

Long Weekend Opportunities in 2026

Maximize your annual leave with strategic planning. Use our Vacation Planner to find the best times:
  • Australia Day (Jan 26): Monday — natural 3-day weekend
  • Easter (April 3-6): 4-day weekend with Good Friday to Easter Monday
  • Anzac Day (April 25): Saturday — some states give Monday substitute
  • Queen's Birthday (June 8): Monday — 3-day weekend
  • Christmas (Dec 25-26): Friday-Saturday — take Mon-Thurs off for 10 days

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays does Australia have?

Australia has 8 national public holidays plus additional state-specific holidays. Most states have 10-13 total public holidays per year.

Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?

Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday only in metropolitan Melbourne (Victoria). It falls on the first Tuesday in November.

Do public holidays change dates each year?

Some holidays like Easter and Queen's Birthday change dates annually. Fixed-date holidays may have a substitute Monday if they fall on a weekend. Use our Date Calculator to check specific dates.

Start Planning Today

Download our free printable calendars and put these tips into practice immediately.

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