Public holidays

Public holidays can be different depending on the state or territory you work in.

On this page:

It's important to know when public holidays are because employees can get different entitlements on these days.

You can calculate these entitlements using our Pay and Conditions Tool. 

Go to our 2021 public holidays page for a full list of public holidays in your state or territory,

For a quick overview of public holidays, watch our short video to understand who is entitled to take a day off on a public holiday and what you should be paid.

Upcoming public holidays in your state or territory include.

Australian Capital Territory

  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

New South Wales

  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Northern Territory

  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day as Boxing Day falls on a Sunday)
  • Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Queensland

  • Friday 29 October - Show holiday (Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay and Scenic Rim Regional Council areas only)
  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to 12 midnight)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

South Australia

  • Friday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
  • Monday 27 December - Christmas Day (substitute day as Christmas Day falls on a Saturday)
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
  • Friday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to 12 midnight)
  • Monday 3 January - New Year's Day (substitute day as New Year's Day falls on a weekend)
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Tasmania

  • Monday 1 November - Recreation Day (all parts of the state which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day as Boxing Day falls on a weekend)
  • Monday 3 January - New Year's Day (substitute day as New Year's Day falls on a weekend)
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Victoria

  • Friday 24 September - Friday before AFL Grand Final (subject to AFL schedule)
  • Tuesday 2 November - Melbourne Cup
  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Western Australia

  • Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
  • Sunday 26 December - Boxing Day
  • Monday 27 December - Additional public holiday for Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 28 December - Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
  • Saturday 1 January - New Year's Day
  • Monday 3 January - Additional public holidays for New Year's Day
  • Wednesday 26 January - Australia Day

Working outside your state or region on a public holiday

An employee is entitled to public holidays depending on where they are based for work not where they are working on the day of the public holiday

Example: Employee working outside their state on a day that is a public holiday

Cass is an employee of a business located in Melbourne. She has been sent to Sydney to perform work during November. During her interstate visit, the Melbourne Cup public holiday is observed. As Cass's base of employment is Melbourne, she is entitled to the public holiday entitlements for that day, even though it is not a public holiday where she is physically working.

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