Australia doesn’t have a single national holiday law: each state and territory declares its own public holidays. In practice, a core set is observed everywhere, and each state adds a few of its own. Knowing the difference makes it much easier to plan leave and long weekends.
National public holidays
- New Year’s Day — 1 January
- Australia Day — 26 January
- Good Friday and Easter Monday — around Easter
- Anzac Day — 25 April
- King’s Birthday — second Monday in June in most states (it was the Queen’s Birthday until 2022)
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day — 25 and 26 December
Substitute days
When New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is normally given — for example, Christmas on a Saturday means Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December off. Anzac Day is different: when it falls on a weekend, only some states add a Monday holiday.
National public holidays in 2027
| Holiday | Date | Substitute day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | — |
| Australia Day | Tuesday 26 January | — |
| Good Friday | Friday 26 March | — |
| Easter Monday | Monday 29 March | — |
| Anzac Day | Sunday 25 April | — |
| King's Birthday | Monday 14 June | — |
| Christmas Day | Saturday 25 December | Monday 27 December |
| Boxing Day | Sunday 26 December | Tuesday 28 December |
All 2027 Australian holidays and observances →
State and territory differences
Labour Day is on a different date almost everywhere — March in Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, May in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and October in New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia. Western Australia and Queensland celebrate the King’s Birthday in spring rather than June. Victoria has the Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday in November) and the AFL Grand Final Friday, and many states treat Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday as public holidays too. Check your state government’s list for local dates and add them in the notes area.
Printable Australian calendars
Download the 2026 Australia calendar or the 2027 Australia calendar with national public holidays, Monday-first weeks and A4 paper by default.