Which Australian State Has the Most Public Holidays in 2026?

Every Australian state shares the same national public holidays — New Year's Day, Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day, Christmas, and Boxing Day. But once you get past those, the picture splits significantly. Each state adds its own holidays, and the total count varies enough to genuinely affect how many working days you have in a year.

Here's how 2026 stacks up across every state and territory.

2026 public holiday count by state

• New South Wales: 14 public holidays
• Western Australia: 14 public holidays
• ACT: 14 public holidays
• Victoria: 13 public holidays
• South Australia: 13 public holidays
• Queensland: 12 public holidays
• Tasmania: 12 public holidays
• Northern Territory: 12 public holidays

In 2026, the three states and territories with 14 holidays get there through a mix of state-specific holidays and substitution rules. Anzac Day falls on Saturday 25 April, but the Monday 27 April public holiday applies only in ACT, NSW and WA. Boxing Day also falls on a Saturday, adding a Monday public holiday on 28 December in most states; in South Australia that Monday is Proclamation Day holiday observed.

Why 2026 is unusual

When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the substitute or additional weekday depends on the state. In 2026, Monday 27 April is an Anzac Day public holiday in ACT, NSW and WA only. Monday 28 December is the broader year-end substitute: Boxing Day observed in most states, and Proclamation Day holiday observed in South Australia.

For the full breakdown of dates in your state, visit the Public Holidays page and select your state.

State-specific holidays explained

Victoria: Melbourne Cup Day (3 November)

The first Tuesday of November is a public holiday in Victoria only. It's one of the most culturally distinctive state holidays in the country — a day off to watch a horse race. Victoria is one of the few places in the world to have legislated a public holiday for a sporting event.

New South Wales: Bank Holiday (3 August)

NSW has a Bank Holiday on the first Monday of August — a legacy of financial sector working conditions that has since broadened to cover most workers. It's one of the less well-known state holidays, but it does appear in most modern awards and enterprise agreements.

South Australia: Adelaide Cup Day (9 March)

SA observes a public holiday for the Adelaide Cup horse racing carnival, held in March. SA also has Proclamation Day holiday on 26 December, with the Monday 28 December public holiday observed in 2026 because the 26th falls on a Saturday. South Australia does not get the Monday 27 April Anzac Day substitute.

Western Australia: Western Australia Day (1 June)

WA Day celebrates the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. It falls on the first Monday of June and provides a useful winter long weekend that other states don't share.

ACT: Reconciliation Day (25 May) and Canberra Day

The ACT has Reconciliation Day in late May, which no other state observes. Combined with Canberra Day in March, the ACT has two unique holidays that are completely invisible to the rest of the country.

Queensland: Labour Day (4 May)

QLD holds its Labour Day on the first Monday of May, unlike NSW, ACT, and SA (first Monday of October) and VIC and TAS (second Monday of March). The May timing puts it in an otherwise sparse part of the QLD calendar.

Northern Territory: Picnic Day (3 August)

The NT's Picnic Day on the first Monday of August is a particularly relaxed public holiday — originally intended for community picnics, and still observed in that spirit. It falls on the same date as NSW's Bank Holiday.

Tasmania: No unique state-wide holiday in 2026

Tasmania doesn't have a state-wide unique holiday in 2026 beyond the shared national and Labour Day entitlements. Note that the Royal Hobart Regatta and Launceston Cup are observed as public holidays in specific regions of Tasmania — but they are local, not state-wide, so the total depends on where in TAS you live and work.

Does the holiday count actually matter?

For most workers, yes — especially if you're calculating working days for project timelines, payroll, or leave planning. A difference of one public holiday translates to one fewer working day, which compounds across a project or a financial year budget.

Use the Working Days Calculator to get an exact count between any two dates for your specific state. It accounts for all public holidays, including observed dates — so you get the accurate number rather than a rough estimate.