The best part about deciding to book a holiday is the dreaming, researching and planning. And the worst is undeniably calculating how much annual leave you’ll have to take to make that dream vacation a reality.
The good news is that with some clever planning around the public holiday dates you can maximise your break while minimising how much time you need to take off from work. A 10-day trip to Bali that only requires three days of annual leave? Totally achievable.
Read on for the nationwide public holiday dates, public holidays by state and territory, and our recommendations for which days to take off to make the most of your annual leave. And if you need travel inspiration for your trip, we’ve got that covered, too.
Australia public holidays 2025
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Jump to public holidays for each state
How to maximise your annual leave
January 2026
Use 4 days of leave to get a 9-day break.
Public holiday: Monday 26 January.
Take leave on: Tuesday 27 January – Friday January 30.
Annual leave used: 4 days
Book your trip: Depart the afternoon or evening of Friday 23 January 2026 and return on Sunday 1 February 2026.
Holiday inspiration: Taste your way through Tassie on a road trip along the cheese and wine trail with an afternoon or evening flight to Hobart.
Or for a beach getaway, head north to the Whitsundays for calm waters and hot beach days. Virgin Australia operates services to the Whitsundays (Proserpine) and Hamilton Island, the gateway to Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.
April 2026
Use 4 days of leave to get a 10-day break.
Public holidays: Friday 3 April – Monday 6 April
Take leave on: Tuesday 7 April – Friday 10 April.
Annual leave used: 4 days
Book your trip: Depart evening Thursday 2 April 2026 and return on Sunday 12 April 2026.
Holiday inspiration: Samoa’s weather begins to clear in April, making it a perfect time for an off-the-grid island escape just a few hours from Brisbane. Lounge in luxury beachfront fales or explore lush waterfalls and lava fields.
For those who’d prefer to stay local, the warm April temperatures in Cairns make it an ideal domestic tropical getaway. Book a night flight to Cairns to get the most out of the holiday, ensuring a full day of snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef on day one of your holiday.
December 2026/January 2027
Use 3 days of annual leave for a 10-day break.
Public holidays: Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December (Boxing Day public holiday substitute), Friday 1 January
Take leave on: Friday 24 December – Thursday 31 December
Annual leave used: 3 days
Book your trip: Depart the evening of Thursday 24 December 2026 and return on Sunday 3 January 2027.
Holiday inspiration: Take an evening flight to the Gold Coast for a festive family holiday in the sunshine. Devote days to beach-hopping and immerse yourself in an adrenaline-filled day at Dreamworld or Movie World.
Alternatively, plan a unique holiday to tropical Vanuatu. With direct flights from Brisbane to Vanuatu in under three hours, December is the perfect time to travel to this Pacific paradise. Among the things to do in Vanuatu, enjoy the wonderful local culture, explore pristine beaches, and try a tongue-numbing kava.
Public holidays by state and territory
There’s even more chance to hack your 2026 annual leave by taking advantage of the public holiday dates in your state. For example, both the King’s Birthday and Labour Day public holidays fall on a Monday, so taking the 4 days of annual leave from the Tuesday to Friday that follow can give you a 9-day break.
NSW public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
VIC public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March – Labour Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Saturday before Easter Sunday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Date TBC - Friday before the AFL Grand Final
Tuesday 3 November - Melbourne Cup
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
ACT public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March - Canberra Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 1 June - Reconciliation Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
QLD public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Day after Good Friday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 4 May - Labour Day
Wednesday 12 August - Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
Monday 5 October – King's Birthday
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
SA public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March – Adelaide Cup Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day/Proclamation Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day/Proclamation Day
NT public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 4 May - May Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Monday 3 August - Picnic Day
Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
Thursday 31 December - New Year's Eve (from 7 pm to midnight)
WA public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 27 April – Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
Monday 1 June - Western Australia Day
Monday 28 September - King's Birthday
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day
TAS public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 February - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart)
Monday 9 March - Eight Hours Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Tuesday 7 April - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King's Birthday
Monday 2 November - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December - observed holiday for Boxing Day