Public Holidays in Australia
Statutory public holidays in Australia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Australia at a glance
Australia’s public holidays are set partly nationally and partly by each state, so the calendar varies by location. Australia Day on 26 January and Anzac Day on 25 April are observed everywhere.
When a holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day is usually added, and the Christmas-to-New-Year period is the longest break.
Australia public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Australia’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Epiphany | Jan 6Tue | 2026 |
| Orthodox Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | 2026 |
| Orthodox New Year | Jan 14Wed | 2026 |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Jan 16Fri | 2026 |
| Australia Day | Jan 26Mon | 2026 |
| Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) | Feb 2Mon | 2026 |
| Royal Hobart Regatta | Feb 9Mon | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 110 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Australia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Australia.
Canberra
A planned capital of a lake, national institutions and bushland hills.
Sydney
A harbour city of an opera house, a bridge and ocean beaches.
Melbourne
A city of laneways, coffee, galleries and a sporting calendar.
Brisbane
A subtropical river city with a South Bank and islands in the bay.
Perth
A sunny Indian Ocean city of beaches, a river and a wine region nearby.
Adelaide
A city of churches, parklands and close wine regions.
Top attractions in Australia
The places that draw most visitors to Australia.
Sydney Opera House
A sail-roofed performing arts centre on a harbour peninsula.
Great Barrier Reef
The largest coral reef system on earth, visible from space.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
A vast red monolith and a group of domed rocks in the desert centre.
Great Ocean Road
A coastal road past the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles.
Kakadu National Park
A park of wetlands, escarpments and tens of thousands of years of rock art.
Fraser Island
The largest sand island in the world, with rainforests and perched lakes.
Festivals, food and getting around Australia
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Orthodox Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
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🎉
Orthodox New Year
Falls on Jan 14
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🎉
Isra and Mi'raj
Falls on Jan 16
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🎉
Australia Day
Falls on Jan 26
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights cover the huge distances; trains and coaches serve the populated southeast.
Travelling around Australia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Australia tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Australia's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Australia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Australia have?
Australia has 110 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Australia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Australia's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Australia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Australia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Australia?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.