Bank Holidays in Australia 2026: National and State-by-State Guide

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Australia’s public holidays dictate much more than long weekends. They directly influence business trading hours, payroll processing, government service availability, and banking transactions. This complex system comprises three distinct tiers: nationwide holidays, variable national holidays (like Easter), and state or territory-based holidays.

While some holidays are observed nationwide, others vary depending on the state or territory. Understanding which holidays apply where can help individuals and businesses plan, whether that's arranging annual leave, scheduling payments, or managing work commitments.

Public holiday arrangements can vary between jurisdictions, particularly where substitute holidays apply. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, Australians should refer to official sources such as the Fair Work Ombudsman's 2026 public holiday calendar and the Reserve Bank of Australia's annual bank holiday schedule, which are used by employers, financial institutions, and government agencies across the country.

National Public Holidays in Australia for 2026

The following holidays are observed nationally across Australia, although substitute holiday arrangements and trading rules may differ by state or territory.

*King’s Birthday – In 2026, the King's Birthday is celebrated on Monday, 8 June across most Australian states and territories. However, Queensland and Western Australia observe the public holiday on different dates: QLD on 5 October 2026, and WA on 28 September 2026

*Melbourne Cup Day – This is an official public holiday in Victoria on the first Tuesday of November (3 November 2026). Other states do not have a public holiday on this day, though the event is nationally renowned and many workplaces pause to watch the race.

Learn More About Australia’s Holidays

Australia Day

Australia Day occurs annually on 26 January, marking the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. For many Australians, the day is characterised by community events, citizenship ceremonies, sporting activities, and local celebrations. Simultaneously, the date remains a topic of profound national discussion, with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples recognising it as a day of reflection and mourning that marks the beginning of colonisation and dispossession.

The timing of the public holiday changes depending on the calendar year. In 2026, Australia Day falls on a Monday, meaning the public holiday is observed on the actual day itself. This contrasts with 2025, when the date fell on a Sunday and automatically required a substitute Monday holiday.

Australia Day is one of several nationally recognised public holidays. Other major national observances include Easter and Anzac Day, both of which feature unique timing arrangements and substitution rules that vary across individual state and territory jurisdictions.

Fun Fact: Australia Day marks the beginning of the European settlement of Australia, but it has also become a day of controversy, with some Indigenous Australians referring to it as “Invasion Day” due to the negative impact colonisation had on their communities.

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is observed annually on 25 April and honours members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. Today is a broader commemoration of all Australians and New Zealanders who have served in military conflicts, peacekeeping missions, and defence operations. Dawn services, marches, memorial ceremonies, and community events take place throughout the country each year.

Fun Fact: The dawn service, held at dawn to symbolise the landing at Gallipoli, is a significant part of Anzac Day commemorations, with ceremonies held across Australia and New Zealand.

Additional Anzac Day Public Holidays in 2026

Anzac Day falls on Saturday, 25 April 2026.

Because the holiday occurs on a weekend, some jurisdictions have introduced an additional public holiday on Monday, 27 April 2026.

Additional Anzac Day public holidays apply in:

• New South Wales

• Australian Capital Territory

• Western Australia

Other states and territories observe Anzac Day only on Saturday, 25 April.

Anzac Day is one of several national holidays that may shift in observance depending on the calendar year, similar to how the King’s Birthday and Melbourne Cup Day vary across states.

King's Birthday Holiday

Although known as the King's Birthday holiday, the date is not tied directly to the monarch's actual birthday.

Instead, Australia follows a long-standing convention of observing the holiday on designated dates throughout the year.

Most states and territories will observe King's Birthday on:

Monday 8 June 2026

However, there are exceptions:

Regional variations may also apply in some parts of Western Australia.

Melbourne Cup Day

Melbourne Cup Day is one of Australia's most recognised sporting events and is often referred to as "the race that stops a nation." The race attracts millions of viewers annually and remains a major fixture on the Australian sporting calendar. In Victoria, Melbourne Cup Day is an official public holiday. Most other states continue normal business operations, although many workplaces and businesses acknowledge the event.

In 2026, Melbourne Cup Day falls on: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Fun Fact: The Melbourne Cup has been held since 1861 and is steeped in history and tradition. The event draws international competitors and has seen many surprising outcomes. For instance, in the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Knight’s Choice – a 5-year-old bay gelding ridden by jockey Robbie Dolan – won as a 90-1 outsider, paying a starting price of around $91 for the win, which stunned many racing fans.

Melbourne Cup Winners Over the Years

Source: punters.com.au

Easter Holidays in 2026

Easter is one of Australia's busiest travel periods and includes several public holidays observed across the country.

The Easter holiday dates for 2026 are:

While Easter creates a continuous holiday period across Australia, only Good Friday and Easter Monday are recognised as nationwide public holidays. The legal status of the remaining days varies significantly by jurisdiction. For example, some states and territories officially observe Easter Tuesday or designate additional regional Easter-related holidays.

Because many businesses close completely or operate on significantly reduced schedules during this period, planning is essential. Australians expecting banking payments or organising travel should prepare well in advance to avoid delays caused by these localised shutdowns. 

State-Specific Bank Holidays

Australia has a variety of bank holidays, with seven nationwide holidays and additional state-specific holidays. The total number of holidays varies by state, with the maximum being in states with unique holidays like the Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria and the Adelaide Cup Day in South Australia.

Key:

Non-working = public holiday (most businesses closed); Working = not a statewide public holiday (general business as usual, though some institutions may close).
“Working” day holidays above are niche or regional observances (not a day off for the general population statewide).

State-specific notes:

• Royal Queensland Show – Also known as the "Ekka," this is a public holiday for the Brisbane area only (regional show holidays in other parts of QLD fall on different dates).

• King's Birthday (WA) – In Western Australia the King's Birthday public holiday is held on a different date (late September — 28 September in 2026) than in other states, and some regional areas of WA observe it on yet another date, varying by local schedule.

• Royal Hobart Regatta – Observed in southern Tasmania (the Hobart area) only. Northern Tasmanian communities do not observe this February holiday.

• Easter Tuesday – Observed in Tasmania mainly by public service workers; it is not a public holiday for most businesses.

• Recreation Day – Observed in northern Tasmania (the regions that do not have the Royal Hobart Regatta holiday). In effect, southern TAS takes its holiday for the Regatta in February while the north gets Recreation Day later in the year instead. (These two Tasmanian holidays split the state by region.)

• Bank Holiday (NSW) – A day on which certain bank and financial-institution employees get a holiday (the first Monday in August in NSW). It is not a standard public holiday for most industries, so businesses outside the finance sector generally operate as normal on this day.

AU Holidays vs Other Countries

To put Australia’s bank holidays in perspective, here’s a comparison with 10 other major countries:

1. United States: 11 federal holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, etc., including the recently added Juneteenth). (The U.S. also has an Inauguration Day in DC every four years.)

2. United Kingdom: 8 public holidays in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have slight variations).

3. Canada: 9 national public holidays (with additional provincial holidays varying across Canada).

4. Germany: 9–13 public holidays, depending on the state (some German states have more holidays than others).

5. France: 11 public holidays nationwide.

6. Japan: 16 national holidays (Japan has one of the highest number of public holidays globally, including unique ones like Mountain Day).

7. China: 7 official public holidays, but these are often combined with weekends to create week-long holidays (e.g. Chinese New Year/Spring Festival Golden Week).

8. India: 3 national public holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti), but dozens of others observed at state or regional level due to religious and cultural diversity.

9. Brazil: 12 national public holidays, plus additional state holidays (such as Carnival which is widely observed).

10. Russia: 14 public holidays (including New Year holidays in early January and others spread throughout the year).

Australia’s mix of nationwide and state-specific holidays means residents of different states might enjoy a different number of days off. Overall, Australia’s total number of public holidays is about average compared to other countries – not as many as Japan, but more than the UK or US. These holidays reflect Australia’s history (e.g. Anzac Day, Australia Day), its ties to the Commonwealth (King’s Birthday), community events (like agricultural shows and sporting events in certain states), and religious observances (Easter and Christmas). They provide a balanced spread of breaks across the year, contributing to work-life balance and allowing Australians to come together in celebration, remembrance, or simply for some relaxation.