2026 Easter (& Other) Public Holidays – Eastern States

With the Festive Season already a distant memory and Easter little more than a month away, it’s time to confirm employee entitlements for the numerous public holidays that will be in force across Australia in the coming months.

Upcoming public holidays for Queensland, NSW, the ACT and Victoria are set as follows:

DateDayHoliday
3 April 2026FridayGood Friday
4 April 2026SaturdayThe day after Good Friday
5 April 2026SundayEaster Sunday
6 April 2026MondayEaster Monday
25 April 2026SaturdayAnzac Day (excl. ACT)
27 April 2026*MondayAnzac Day Holiday (ACT/NSW)
4 May 2026MondayLabour Day (QLD only)
1 June 2026MondayReconciliation Day (ACT only)
8 June 2026MondayKing’s Birthday (excl. QLD)

Early notice:  The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) holiday for Brisbane City Council LGA will occur on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. Not in Brisbane? Check the designated show holiday date for your LGA here. 

*NOTE:  This date was only announced as an additional public holiday for New South Wales on 15 February 2026. Both 25 and 27 April will be public holidays for Anzac Day in New South Wales. The ACT will only observe a public holiday for Anzac Day on 27 April 2026.

As highlighted in our December news post, there is no substitute or additional public holiday for Anzac Day in Queensland; Saturday, 25 April 2026 is the designated public holiday. Restrictions on trading hours will apply on 25 April; Queensland employers can check the rules for trading on Anzac Day here. 

Under the Modern Awards, all work performed on a public holiday will attract the designated public holiday penalty (often, double time and a half). Permanent (full-time and part-time) employees who are not required to work because of a public holiday will be entitled to be absent without loss of pay for the day. A small number of Modern Awards, including the Registered & Licensed Clubs Award 2020 and the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, also entitle full-time employees to the benefit of a public holiday falling on a non-working day.

Subscribers who have questions about the public holiday entitlements of their employees are invited to contact the ES advice line on (07) 3220 3500 for clarification.