Which Australian State Has the Most Public Holidays in 2026?

The ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory share the top spot in 2026 with 15 public holidays each. Every jurisdiction gets the same national dates, so the gap comes entirely from what each one adds on top. Tasmania has the fewest declared state-wide holidays (9), because most of its extra days are regional.

2026 public holidays by state

These are the gazetted state-wide public holidays each jurisdiction publishes, the same basis as our state pages. Part-day evening holidays count, which is how Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve reach the Queensland, South Australian and Northern Territory totals.

The count leaves out regional show and race days that apply to a single district, Tasmania's Easter Tuesday because it is restricted to parts of the public sector, and the separately listed NSW Bank Holiday because it is not a declared public holiday.

It also sets aside Victoria's Friday before the AFL Grand Final. Victoria declares that date each year against the football fixture rather than a fixed calendar rule, so it sits outside the annual total. Count it and Victoria reaches 14.

The three-way tie at the top, and who really leads

The ACT, SA and the NT all reach 15, but not in the same way. The ACT gets there on two full days no one else has: Canberra Day in March and Reconciliation Day at the end of May.

South Australia and the Northern Territory make up part of their 15 with part-day Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve holidays, which cover the evening rather than the working day. Count only full days off and the ACT leads outright.

Why Tasmania looks lowest

Tasmania is not short of days off. The Royal Hobart Regatta, the Launceston Cup, the agricultural shows and northern Tasmania's Recreation Day are all real holidays, but each applies to a district rather than the whole state.

Add Easter Tuesday, which reaches parts of the public sector only, and Tasmania has more dates on the calendar than its state-wide total suggests. See the Tasmania public holidays list for which ones cover your region.

The holidays that create the gap

Does the count actually matter?

For payroll, project plans and working-day budgets, only full state-wide holidays move the number. Each one that lands on a weekday removes a working day; part-day evenings and the NSW Bank Holiday do not.

1. Work out the exact figure for your dates in the Working Days Calculator.
2. Check your own state's list on the Public Holidays pages before you commit a deadline.
3. Compare the year ahead in the 2027 state-by-state guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the most public holidays in Australia?

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Three jurisdictions tie in 2026: the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory, on 15 apiece. The ACT is ahead on full days off, since the other two use part-day evening holidays to get there.

Which state has the least public holidays?

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Tasmania, on 9. Its regattas, shows and Recreation Day are district holidays rather than state-wide ones, so they sit outside the total even though Tasmanians do get the day off.

How many public holidays does each Australian state have?

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Between 9 and 15 in 2026. Three jurisdictions sit on 15, four sit on 13 and Tasmania sits on 9 once regional and restricted-sector dates are set aside.

Does Queensland or NSW have more public holidays?

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Neither. Both land on 13 for 2026. Queensland has far more show holidays, but they are local to a city or district, so they never enter a state-wide count.

Why do public holiday counts differ between sources?

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Because there is no single rule for the edge cases. Part-day evenings, restricted-sector dates, regional shows and fixture-driven days are each in or out depending on the list, which is why a state total can move by one or two either way.