Easter in Australia
Easter is a national public holiday period running from Good Friday to Easter Monday, with Good Friday and Easter Monday observed as public holidays in every state and territory.
Which states observe each Easter holiday
Good Friday and Easter Monday anchor the break across Australia. The middle days differ by state. The 2026 entries below distinguish published dates, estimates and calendar coverage that is not yet available. A struck-through state has a complete published calendar without that holiday; a question mark means coverage is incomplete.
Friday
For 2026, official state calendars list Good Friday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT.
Easter Saturday
Saturday
For 2026, official state calendars list Easter Saturday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, NT, ACT. It is not listed in the published calendars for WA, TAS.
Easter Sunday
Sunday
For 2026, official state calendars list Easter Sunday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, NT, ACT. It is not listed in the published calendars for TAS.
Easter Monday
Monday
For 2026, official state calendars list Easter Monday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT.
Easter public holidays by state
Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays across Australia, which is why — for anyone on a standard Monday-to-Friday week — Easter delivers a four-day long weekend from Good Friday through Easter Monday without touching your annual leave. Dates without a published state calendar are marked as estimates above.
The middle days vary by jurisdiction and year. A state shown as estimated follows an existing rule, while a question mark means we do not have a complete calendar for that state and year. Check the table above before relying on weekend observance.
Tasmania is also the only state with an Easter Tuesday (7 April 2026), but it is a restricted public holiday that generally applies only to Tasmanian State Service (public sector) employees, not the general workforce.
Trading hours follow different rules again. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are among the most restricted retail trading days of the year: in most states large stores must close on Good Friday, with only exempt outlets such as pharmacies, small shops and some stores in tourist precincts open. Easter Saturday and Easter Monday usually have normal or near-normal trading. Because each state sets its own rules, check your state’s trading-hours authority for exact times.
For the current official position, see the Tasmanian public holiday list and the WA public holiday dates. For future WA weekend coverage, check the WA public holiday review.
History
Easter is the oldest and most important Christian festival, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Australia, the Easter public holidays span from Good Friday to Easter Monday, making it the longest national holiday period on the calendar.
How Australians celebrate
Australians celebrate Easter with hot cross buns, chocolate eggs, and the Easter bilby (a uniquely Australian twist on the Easter bunny). The autumn long weekend is the peak domestic travel period after Christmas, with road trips and camping being popular choices.
Easter dates 2024–2029
Easter shifts each year with the lunar calendar. Every date below is drawn from the holiday data, not hand-typed.
Explore Easter
Compare the holiday dates here, then open the guide for leave examples or the countdown for the time to Good Friday.
Frequently asked questions
When is Easter in 2026?
Easter 2026 runs from Good Friday, Friday 3 April 2026 to Easter Monday, Monday 6 April 2026. The public-holiday long weekend is four consecutive days, Good Friday through Easter Monday.
Why does the date of Easter change each year?
Easter is set by the lunar calendar — the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox — so Good Friday can land anywhere between late March and late April. That is why the Easter long weekend shifts by a week or more from one year to the next.
Is Good Friday a public holiday across Australia?
Yes. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays across Australia. Dates for state-years without published official calendars are marked as estimates here. Anyone on a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule gets the four-day Easter long weekend with no annual leave required; shift, retail, casual and other staff rostered across the break may still work some of those days.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday?
For 2026, official state calendars list Easter Saturday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, NT, ACT. It is not listed in the published calendars for WA, TAS.
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday?
For 2026, official state calendars list Easter Sunday in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, NT, ACT. It is not listed in the published calendars for TAS.
What is Easter Tuesday in Tasmania?
Tasmania is the only state with Easter Tuesday, and it is a restricted public holiday — it generally applies only to Tasmanian State Service (public sector) employees rather than the whole workforce.
What is open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday?
Good Friday and Easter Sunday are among the most restricted retail trading days of the year. In most states large stores must close on Good Friday, with only exempt outlets such as pharmacies and small shops trading, while Easter Saturday and Easter Monday have closer to normal hours. Each state sets its own trading rules.
How long is the Easter long weekend?
Easter spans four consecutive days on the calendar, Good Friday to Easter Monday — the longest run of gazetted public holidays in the Australian year. For anyone on a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule that is a four-day weekend needing no annual leave; shift, retail and casual staff may still be rostered across the break. Taking a few days either side can stretch it to nine days or more.
Related tools
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Printable calendar
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Leave planner
Find the best dates to book annual leave around public holidays.
