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Public holidays

The SDA will always protect your rights on public holidays

List of public holidays by state - 2026

The SDA Union protects your workplace rights on public holidays. They make sure workers have guaranteed days to rest and spend time with your loved ones.

For most fast food, retail and warehouse workers work on a public holiday is voluntary. If you are rostered on a public holiday, you should be paid extra through penalty rates.

This is especially important for retail and fast-food workers, who often give up their time-off during public holidays to keep stores and kitchens running.

Public holidays vary by state. Check below to see your local list:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
9 MarchMondayCanberra Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdayEaster Saturday – the day after Good Friday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
1 JuneMondayReconciliation Day
8 JuneMondayKing’s Birthday
5 OctoberMondayLabour Day
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day
New South Wales Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdayEaster Saturday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
8 JuneMondayKing’s Birthday
5 OctoberMondayLabour Day
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day
Northern Territory (NT) Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdayEaster Saturday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
4 MayMondayMay Day
8 JuneMondayKing’s Birthday
3 AugustMondayPicnic Day
24 DecemberThursdayChristmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day
31 DecemberThursdayNew Year's Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
Queensland Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdayThe day after Good Friday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
4 MayMondayLabour Day
12 AugustWednesdayRoyal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
5 OctoberMondayKing’s Birthday
24 DecemberThursdayChristmas Eve (from 6 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day
South Australia Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
9 MarchMondayAdelaide Cup Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdayEaster Saturday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
8 JuneMondayKing’s Birthday
5 OctoberMondayLabour Day
24 DecemberThursdayChristmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayProclamation Day holiday / Boxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Proclamation Day holiday / Boxing Day
31 DecemberThursdayNew Year's Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)

Two SDA members stand with an Easter bunny holding signs saying Make Easter Sunday A Public Holiday.

Tasmania Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
9 FebruaryMondayRoyal Hobart Regatta (Hobart only)
9 MarchMondayEight Hours Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
7 AprilTuesdayEaster Tuesday (Public Service only)
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
8 JuneMondayKing's Birthday
22 OctoberThursdayRoyal Hobart Show (Hobart only)
2 NovemberMondayRecreation Day (non-Hobart areas)
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
28 DecemberMondayBoxing Day
Victoria Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
9 MarchMondayLabour Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
4 AprilSaturdaySaturday before Easter Sunday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
8 JuneMondayKing's Birthday
TBCFridayFriday before the AFL Grand Final
3 NovemberTuesdayMelbourne Cup
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day
Western Australia Victoria Public Holidays 2026
DateDayHoliday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
26 JanuaryMondayAustralia Day
2 MarchMondayLabour Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
5 AprilSundayEaster Sunday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
25 AprilSaturdayAnzac Day
27 AprilMondayAdditional public holiday for Anzac Day
1 JuneMondayWestern Australia Day
28 SeptemberMondayKing's Birthday (regional variations apply)
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
26 DecemberSaturdayBoxing Day
28 DecemberMondayAdditional public holiday for Boxing Day

Public holidays won by SDA Union's campaigning:

Part-Day Public Holidays on Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve in South Australia and Northern Territory.

Christmas Eve as a part-day public holiday in Queensland.

Easter Sunday as a declared public holiday in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

 

No trading on ANZAC Day in NSW from 2025.

As a result of our campaigning and advocacy, we have not only protected your rights on public holidays but improved them.

The SDA believes that public holidays should be for everyone – retail and fast food workers deserve public holidays too.

Public holidays are important time off to spend with friends and family.

That’s why we will always protect them.

Local workers in Rundle Mall standing in a crowd with a big banner that says New Part-Day Public Holidays

Your rights on public holidays

For most SDA members, work on public holidays is voluntary.

You have a right to take time off to enjoy with friends and family.

If you’re rostered on and choose to work, you should be paid public holiday penalty rates.

These are higher rates of pay and will vary depending on your agreement or award.

Ask a question?

Have a problem at work and you are not sure what to do? If you are an SDA member you have access to one of our specialised case managers.

Not a member? Join the SDA 

Join the SDA today

Ask a question?

Have a problem at work and you are not sure what to do? If you are an SDA member you have access to one of our specialised case managers.

Not a member? Join the SDA 

Join the SDA today