When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend: Substitute Days

When a public holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday in Australia, most states add a substitute public holiday — an extra weekday off, usually the following Monday — so the day off isn't lost to the weekend. It's sometimes called a "day in lieu" or an "additional public holiday." But the rules vary by state, and one holiday breaks the pattern entirely.

How substitute public holidays work

The principle is simple: if a gazetted public holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday is observed on the next available weekday instead, or as well. New Year's Day, Australia Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day all follow this rule — when they fall on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute Monday (or Tuesday) public holiday is declared in most states and territories.

Christmas is the clearest example. When Christmas Day (25 December) is a Saturday and Boxing Day (26 December) a Sunday, most states add public holidays on the following Monday and Tuesday — which is exactly what happens in 2027.

Anzac Day is the exception

Anzac Day is different. Because it commemorates a specific date — 25 April — it is always marked on 25 April, whatever day that is. Whether you also get a weekday substitute depends on your state:

• NSW, the ACT and WA add a Monday substitute whenever Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
• Queensland and the NT substitute when it falls on a Sunday, but not a Saturday.
• Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania generally don't add a substitute — Anzac Day is observed only on 25 April.

So in 2026, when Anzac Day was a Saturday, only NSW, the ACT and WA got the Monday off. Good Friday and Easter Monday never need a substitute, because they're always on a Friday and a Monday.

Why it matters for pay and planning

The substitute day is the gazetted public holiday, so it's the day public-holiday pay and trading rules apply. If you work the actual weekend date in a state that has shifted the holiday to Monday, the penalty rates usually attach to the substitute day rather than the weekend — but this varies by award, so check yours. For counting working days, the substitute is what reduces the total.

Find the substitutes in your state

Each state's Public Holidays page lists every observed and additional date, and the Working Days Calculator already accounts for substitutes when it counts business days. To see which weekend holidays turn into long weekends, check Long Weekends.

Frequently asked questions

What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend in Australia?

For most holidays — New Year's Day, Australia Day, Christmas and Boxing Day — a substitute public holiday is declared on the next weekday (usually the Monday) so the day off isn't lost. Anzac Day is the main exception.

What is a substitute or "day in lieu" public holiday?

It's an extra weekday public holiday that replaces, or is added to, a public holiday that fell on a weekend. It carries the public-holiday entitlements — the day off, pay rules and trading rules — instead of the weekend date.

Does Anzac Day get a substitute day if it's on a weekend?

It depends on the state. NSW, the ACT and WA always add a Monday substitute; Queensland and the NT do when it's a Sunday; Victoria, SA and Tasmania generally don't, observing Anzac Day only on 25 April.

Do you get paid for a substitute public holiday?

Yes — the substitute is the gazetted public holiday, so public-holiday pay and entitlements apply to it. Exact penalty rates depend on your award or agreement, so check the specifics.