Ekka Public Holiday 2026: Date, Who Gets It & Leave Tips
The 2026 Ekka public holiday has passed — it was Wednesday 12 August. Brisbane's next Royal Queensland Show holiday is Wednesday 11 August 2027.
The 2026 Ekka public holiday has been and gone. It fell on Wednesday 12 August 2026 in the Brisbane City Council area, as the Royal Queensland Show holiday always does on People's Day. Brisbane's next one is Wednesday 11 August 2027.
Who got the day off in 2026
The Ekka holiday is local, not statewide. Only the City of Brisbane observed the Wednesday. Fifteen other councils, among them Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland and Toowoomba, took the Royal Queensland Show holiday on the Monday of that week instead.
| Where you work | 2026 show holiday |
|---|---|
| City of Brisbane | Wednesday 12 August |
| Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland, Toowoomba and 11 other councils | Monday 10 August |
| City of Gold Coast | Friday 28 August |
| Cairns, Townsville and the rest of regional Queensland | Its own local show day |
Regional Queensland spreads its show days from autumn through to spring, so a Cairns or Townsville date has nothing to do with the Brisbane one. The 2026 QLD show holidays guide lists them region by region.
The next one: Wednesday 11 August 2027
Queensland has published Wednesday 11 August 2027 as the Royal Queensland Show holiday for the Brisbane City Council area. It is the only 2027 show date confirmed so far, and the only Wednesday on Queensland's 2027 public holiday calendar.
Turning the Wednesday into a longer break
A mid-week holiday is the cheapest kind to build on, which is why the Ekka week is worth planning early. Working from Wednesday 11 August 2027 in Brisbane:
- Two leave days for five days off. Take Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 August, and the weekend before does the rest.
- Four leave days for nine days off. Add Thursday 12 and Friday 13 as well, and the break runs Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 August.
Run your own dates through the Leave Planner to see what the break costs on your roster.
What's open on Ekka day
Normal public-holiday trading applies in Brisbane. Supermarkets, petrol stations, hospitals and most cafes and pubs open, often with a surcharge, while banks, government offices and many businesses close for the day.
If you're rostered on, public-holiday penalty rates usually apply under your award or enterprise agreement. Casual and part-day rules vary, so check the instrument that covers you.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Ekka public holiday?
Wednesday 11 August 2027. The 2026 holiday was Wednesday 12 August, and the date moves with the show calendar each year.
Is the Ekka holiday a state-wide Queensland public holiday?
No. It is a local public holiday for the Brisbane City Council area. Everywhere else in Queensland observes its own show day, on a date its council sets.
What date is the 2027 Ekka holiday for Logan or Moreton Bay?
Not published yet. Those councils took Monday 10 August in 2026, but 2027 show holidays outside Brisbane have not been gazetted, so wait for the official notice rather than assuming the same week.
Do I get paid extra for working on the Ekka holiday?
Usually, if the holiday applies where you work and you're rostered that day. Public-holiday penalty rates come from your award or enterprise agreement, and the rate for casuals differs from the one for permanent staff.
Related tools
Picked for Queensland, 2026.
QLD show holiday finder
QLD2026Find the public holiday for your local Queensland show.
Is today a public holiday?
QLDCheck today's public holiday status in every state and territory.
Printable calendar
QLD2026Print a full year or a single month with public holidays and school terms, or save it as a PDF.
Daylight saving
QLDSee when the clocks change and which Australian states observe daylight saving.
