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The upcoming Christmas season is the most important time of the year to spend time with your loved ones, but it’s also the busiest time for retail and fast food workers.

The SDA Union protects your right to enjoy public holidays because retail and fast-food workers deserve time off too. We pushed for voluntary work on public holidays and protect penalty rates for those who work unsociable hours and keep Australia running during December and January.

Below you can find the list of upcoming 2025-2026 Christmas season public holidays by state. Remember, for most retail and fast food workers work on public holidays is voluntary.

What are the 2025 Christmas public holidays?

DateDayHoliday
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
24 DecemberWednesdayChristmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
31 DecemberWednesdayNew Year's Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
24 DecemberWednesdayChristmas Eve (from 6 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
24 DecemberWednesdayChristmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayProclamation Day public holiday / Boxing Day
31 DecemberWednesdayNew Year's Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
DateDayHoliday
25 DecemberThursdayChristmas Day
26 DecemberFridayBoxing Day
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day

Read more about your rights when it comes to public holidays

Public holidays
National
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No One Deserves a Serve Campaign
National
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