Strategically planning vacations can allow Australians to extend their standard 20-day annual leave into over 50 days of relaxation in 2026.
By tactically selecting days around key holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s, Australia Day, Easter, the King’s Birthday, and Labour Day (or the equivalent holiday for their state or territory), employees who normally work Monday through Friday can enjoy up to 53 days off.
This impressive figure doesn’t even include additional regional public holidays.
Below is a comprehensive list of public holidays for 2026, along with advice on how to maximize your annual leave next year.
Secure four days of leave from January 27 to 30, and you’ll enjoy a nine-day break from Saturday, January 24 to Sunday, February 1, applicable across all states and territories.
Australia’s public holidays by state and territory for 2026
Public holidays during this month include:
Public holidays for the month fall on:
- Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 26: Australia Day
Book four days of leave from February 10 to 13 for nine days off between Saturday, February 7 and Sunday February 15 (parts of Tasmania only).
Public holidays for the month fall on:
- Monday, February 9: Royal Hobart Regatta (parts of Tasmania)
Book four days of leave from March 3 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, February 8 (WA only).
Book four days of leave from March 10 to 13 for nine days off between Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 15 (ACT, SA, Tasmania and Victoria only).
Public holidays for the month fall on:
- Monday, March 2: Labour Day (WA)
- Monday, March 9: Canberra Day (ACT), Adelaide Cup Day (SA), Eight Hours Day (Tasmania), Labour Day (Victoria)
Book four days of leave from November 3 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 8 (parts of Tasmania only).
Book four days of leave on November 2 and November 4 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 8 (Victoria only).
Public holidays for the month fall on:
- Monday, November 2: Recreation Day (parts of Tasmania)
- Tuesday, November 3: Melbourne Cup (Victoria)
Book eight days off from December 21 to 24 and December 28 to 31 for 16 days off between Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, January 3, 2026 (all states and territories).
Public holidays for the month fall on:
- Thursday, December 24: Christmas Eve – 6pm to midnight (Queensland), 7pm to midnight (NT, SA)
- Friday, December 25: Christmas Day
- Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day (all states and territories except Tasmania)
- Monday, December 28: Boxing Day (day in lieu)
- Thursday, December 31: New Year’s Eve – 7pm to midnight (NT, SA)
- Friday, January 1, 2027: New Year’s Day
