Boxing Day
Saturday 26 December 2026
Australian Eastern time
Boxing Day on 26 December is a national public holiday and the biggest shopping day of the year.
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About Boxing Day
Boxing Day on 26 December is a national public holiday and the biggest shopping day of the year.
How Australians Observe Boxing Day
Boxing Day is Australia's biggest retail event, with major department stores running their largest sales of the year. It's also the traditional start of the Boxing Day Test cricket match at the MCG, drawing crowds of 70,000-plus. For many Australians it's a continuation of Christmas — leftovers, family visits, and a trip to the shops or the beach.
Frequently asked questions
When is Boxing Day 2026?
Boxing Day 2026 falls on Saturday 26 December 2026.
Is Boxing Day a public holiday?
Yes. Boxing Day is a public holiday in every state and territory. South Australia lists it as the Proclamation Day holiday. Because 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, Tasmania observes the public holiday on Monday 28 December instead, and every other state and territory also gets Monday 28 December as a public holiday.
When is Boxing Day 2027?
Boxing Day 2027 falls on Sunday 26 December 2027. Because 26 December 2027 is a Sunday, Tasmania observes the public holiday on Tuesday 28 December instead, and every other state and territory also gets Tuesday 28 December as a public holiday.
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Related tools
Boxing Day sits back-to-back with Christmas Day, giving you a natural two-day public holiday block. Combined with the weekend, you already have four days without touching any leave. If you want to extend through to New Year, using 2-3 days of leave between the holidays is often approved without question.
Leave planner
Find the best dates to book annual leave around public holidays.
Printable calendar
Print a full year or a single month with public holidays and school terms, or save it as a PDF.
Calendar subscriptions
Add public holidays to Apple Calendar, Google Calendar or Outlook.
Daylight saving
See when the clocks change and which Australian states observe daylight saving.
