Public Holidays in Australia
Complete list of official public holidays in Australia for , including national and state-specific holidays across all eight states and territories. Data sourced live from official government records.
Found … public holidays in Australia for .
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About Public Holidays in Australia
Australia's public holiday system is one of the more complex in the world, with significant variation between the six states and two territories. While a handful of holidays are observed nationally, many are specific to individual states, and even the dates of shared holidays can differ depending on location.
Australia Day (January 26) is one of the most nationally significant — and also one of the most debated — public holidays. It marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, but for many Indigenous Australians it is a day of mourning, often referred to as "Invasion Day." Some local councils have moved their civic celebrations to different dates, though January 26 remains the national public holiday.
ANZAC Day (April 25) is widely considered the most solemn and respected public holiday in Australia. It commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who served in the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Dawn services are held across the country, followed by marches and commemorative events. ANZAC Day is observed uniformly across all states and territories on April 25.
The Easter weekend gives most Australians four consecutive days off — Good Friday, Easter Saturday (in some states), Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday — making it one of the longest public holiday periods of the year. The exact makeup of Easter public holidays varies by state.
One of the most unusual Australian public holidays is the Melbourne Cup Day, which is declared a public holiday only in the Melbourne metropolitan area of Victoria. It marks the famous horse race known as "the race that stops a nation," held on the first Tuesday in November. The rest of Victoria and all other states and territories work normally. The Queen's Birthday holiday is observed on different dates across states, with most states observing it in June but Queensland in October and Western Australia in September.
Frequently Asked Questions — Australia Holidays
How many public holidays does Australia have?
Australia has 8 national public holidays observed in all states and territories: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday (most states), Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Additionally, each state and territory has additional public holidays specific to them, meaning the total number of public holidays per year typically ranges from 8 to 13 depending on which state you're in.
Is Australia Day a public holiday everywhere?
Yes, Australia Day (January 26) is a public holiday in all states and territories. However, if January 26 falls on a weekend, the holiday is moved to the following Monday. Some local councils have chosen to move their Australia Day celebrations to different dates in recognition of its significance to Indigenous Australians, but the official government public holiday date remains January 26.
When is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day is always on April 25 every year, observed nationally across all Australian states and territories. Unlike many Australian public holidays, ANZAC Day does not shift to a Monday if it falls on a weekend — it is always observed on April 25 itself. Dawn services begin as early as 4:30am at memorials around the country, followed by marches and community events throughout the morning.
Does every state have the same public holidays?
No. While there are 8 national public holidays shared across all states and territories, each state also has unique additional holidays. For example, Victoria has the Melbourne Cup Day holiday (first Tuesday in November, Melbourne metro only) and AFL Grand Final Friday. Queensland has the Brisbane Show Day (Ekka). Western Australia has the Western Australia Day. The Queen's Birthday holiday is observed on different dates in different states, and not all states observe Easter Saturday.
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