Public Holidays and School Calendars: Planning in Australia (2026)
Find the right official calendar, avoid state and substitute-day mistakes, and coordinate work leave, school attendance and travel.
In this guide
Start with the year, location and purpose
This is a planning guide and official-calendar directory, not a complete list of every school term or regional holiday. For exact 2026 public holidays use Fair Work’s state-by-state calendar; for another year choose that year’s official calendar.
Keep three calendars separate: public holidays where you work, student attendance dates at the school, and the service opening hours you rely on. A public holiday does not tell you whether a particular childcare centre, shop, bus route or attraction will operate.
2026 dates that are easy to mix up
| Location | Verified 2026 detail | Planning consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | King’s Birthday: Monday 5 October | Do not copy the June date used elsewhere |
| South Australia | Proclamation Day holiday: Saturday 26 December and additional holiday Monday 28 December | Check both dates for work and closures |
| ACT | Reconciliation Day: Monday 1 June | Use the current named holiday in the ACT calendar |
| Western Australia | King’s Birthday: Monday 28 September in most areas; regional dates can differ | Check the specific place |
| Christmas Eve | Queensland: 6pm–midnight; SA and NT: 7pm–midnight | These are part-day holidays, not automatic full days off |
Source: 2026 public holidays. The calendar also lists substitute/additional days, Victorian regional alternatives and Tasmanian local holidays. Do not create a Monday substitute yourself when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Check the year before copying dates
An old 2025 planner cannot establish a 2026 or 2027 school date. Use the year selector or downloadable calendar on the education department’s site, and write the year on any dates you copy into a household plan.
Also check whether the listed start is for teachers, new students or all students. A pupil-free or school development day can sit inside a term.
Find your official school calendar
| State / territory | What to verify with the school |
|---|---|
| NSW | Check the relevant division and student development days. |
| Victoria | Distinguish teacher commencement from students’ return. |
| Queensland | Use the state-school calendar and local show-day information. |
| WA | Check school development days with the school. |
| SA | Check the school’s pupil-free days as well as term dates. |
| Tasmania | School and college finishing dates may differ. |
| ACT | New and continuing students may have different start dates. |
| NT | Teacher and student dates differ; Gunbalanya has a separate calendar. |
These links concern government-school calendars. Confirm non-government, specialist or flexible school dates directly with the school. University and TAFE teaching calendars are separate.
Work, leave and pay
Fair Work explains public-holiday absence and reasonable work requests. An employer can make a reasonable request to work; an employee may refuse if the request is unreasonable or their refusal is reasonable. The circumstances matter.
Under the national-system rules, full-time and part-time employees generally receive base pay for ordinary hours they would have worked on the holiday. Casuals do not automatically receive pay for a day not worked. If you work, the award or agreement determines applicable penalties and other entitlements. Use Fair Work’s pay guidance and confirm your employment coverage.
A household planning checklist
- Choose the exact dates and places. Include your work location, destination and the school’s actual attendance dates.
- Confirm leave before paying. A long weekend suggestion is not leave approval.
- Check care and transport. Ask about vacation-care bookings, centre closures, public-holiday charges and altered timetables.
- Compare real quotes. Check cancellation rules, parking, luggage and travel costs. School holidays may affect demand, but this guide does not promise a saving percentage or cheapest date.
- Recheck before departure. Confirm opening hours, bookings, weather and disruption notices.
Example: if your household has a Queensland worker and an ACT school student, a public holiday on 5 October 2026 does not establish the student’s term-four return date. The ACT calendar lists the student return as Tuesday 13 October; confirm school-specific arrangements before booking care or travel.
Holiday names are not opening-hours guarantees
Some dates have cultural, religious or commemorative significance as well as a legal holiday status. Check the organiser’s information if attending an event, and respect local guidance. Shops and services can have different trading rules even on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is a public holiday the same everywhere in Australia?
No. Check the state or territory, the year and any regional or part-day limitation. Even a shared holiday name may have a different date.
When is Queensland’s King’s Birthday holiday in 2026?
Monday 5 October 2026. Do not use a last-Monday rule or another state’s date.
When is South Australia’s Proclamation Day holiday in 2026?
Saturday 26 December, with an additional public holiday on Monday 28 December. It is not a holiday before 24 December.
Do these links give my child’s exact return date?
The department calendar gives the government-school framework. Confirm the actual student return date, year-level arrangements and pupil-free days with the school. Non-government schools may set different dates.
Does working a public holiday always mean double pay?
No. Pay depends on the applicable award, agreement and employment circumstances. Check the correct classification and public-holiday provisions with Fair Work rather than assuming one national multiplier.