Christmas Shutdown 2026: Public Holiday Dates & Leave Plan
Book 29, 30 and 31 December 2026 as leave for 10 days off through to Sunday 3 January 2027, with the same result in every state and territory.
Book Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December and you're off from Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. That's 3 leave days for 10 days off, and every state and territory gets the same result.
Where the 10 days come from
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day all sit against a weekend this year, which is what makes the window so cheap. The break runs on 4 weekend days, 3 weekday public holidays and the 3 days you request.
Weekend public holidays are counted once, as weekend days, so they don't inflate the total.
| State/territory | Leave days | Days off | Exact dates to request |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Victoria | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Queensland | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| South Australia | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Western Australia | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Tasmania | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Northern Territory | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 3 | 10 | Tue, 29 Dec 2026; Wed, 30 Dec 2026; Thu, 31 Dec 2026 |
Adding Monday 4 January makes it 4 leave days for 11 days off. That Monday is an ordinary working day, not a New Year's substitute, because New Year's Day already falls on Friday 1 January.
Calendar warning: Official VIC calendar data is estimated or incomplete for 2027. This plan may change when final dates are published. That flag covers the rest of the year; the Christmas and New Year dates used here are confirmed.
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday
| State/territory | Saturday 26 December | Monday 28 December |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
| Victoria | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
| Queensland | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
| South Australia | Proclamation Day holiday | Proclamation Day holiday (extra day) |
| Western Australia | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
| Tasmania | No public holiday | Boxing Day (moved from the weekend) |
| Northern Territory | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
| Australian Capital Territory | Boxing Day | Boxing Day (extra day) |
Tasmania is the odd one out: it moves Boxing Day to the Monday instead of keeping a Saturday holiday. South Australia calls the day Proclamation Day and lists both the Saturday and the Monday. Everywhere else keeps Saturday and adds Monday 28 December.
None of it changes how much leave a Monday-to-Friday worker spends. It matters if you're rostered on the Saturday, because that's the day penalty rates and public-holiday entitlements turn on.
The two eves are evening holidays only
| State/territory | Thursday 24 December | Thursday 31 December |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | No statewide public holiday | No statewide public holiday |
| Victoria | No statewide public holiday | No statewide public holiday |
| Queensland | 6pm to midnight only | No statewide public holiday |
| South Australia | 7pm to midnight only | 7pm to midnight only |
| Western Australia | No statewide public holiday | No statewide public holiday |
| Tasmania | No statewide public holiday | No statewide public holiday |
| Northern Territory | 7pm to midnight only | 7pm to midnight only |
| Australian Capital Territory | No statewide public holiday | No statewide public holiday |
Christmas Eve is a part-day holiday in Queensland from 6pm; South Australia and the Northern Territory from 7pm. New Year's Eve is one in South Australia and the Northern Territory from 7pm. Nowhere does the holiday start before the evening, so a daytime worker still spends leave on Thursday 31 December.
The eve holiday guide has the exact windows and what they mean if you work them.
Check the plan against your workplace
A Christmas shutdown is an employer arrangement, not a national closure. Confirm the dates, your leave balance, the approval and the return-to-work date before you book flights.
Whether your employer can direct you to take annual leave depends on your award or agreement, and the Fair Work Ombudsman's guidance on directing annual leave is the place to check that. The totals above count statewide public holidays only, so regional and part-day holidays are left out.
How to book the break
- Request Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December and Thursday 31 December as leave, and note the 3 public holidays so payroll doesn't deduct them.
- Change the window or test the extra Monday in the Leave Planner.
- Save the 2027 printable calendar or your state calendar for the January return.
- Sort the shopping separately with the Christmas and Boxing Day trading guide.
Official sources and verification
Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 dates checked 6 September 2026 against the official jurisdiction lists: NSW; Victoria 2026; Victoria 2027; Queensland; South Australia; Western Australia; Tasmania; Northern Territory; ACT. This is the article's verification date; the shared dataset retains its own source dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many leave days do I need between Christmas and New Year?
3, for a Monday-to-Friday worker: the working days between the Monday 28 December holiday and New Year's Day. Once approved, they join the public holidays and weekends around them into 10 consecutive days off.
Is Boxing Day a Saturday public holiday everywhere in 2026?
No. Tasmania substitutes Monday 28 December instead of holding a Saturday holiday. The other seven keep Saturday 26 December and add the Monday, and South Australia lists it under the name Proclamation Day.
Is 4 January 2027 a public holiday?
No. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January, so the Monday is an ordinary working day. Requesting it stretches the break to 11 days for 4 leave days.
Does a Christmas Eve part-day holiday give me the whole day off?
No. The holiday starts in the evening, so the working day before it is unchanged. Check your roster separately if you work those hours.
Related tools
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Printable calendar
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Leave planner
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Working days calculator
Count business days between dates, excluding your state's public holidays.
Date calculator
Count the days between dates, or add and subtract days, weeks and months.
