Planning your 2026 calendar? With Easter approaching in April 2026, now’s the perfect time to mark public holidays. This comprehensive guide details all 2026 bank holidays in Australia by state and territory, plus a full comparison to UK bank holidays. Whether you’re Down Under, a UK expat in Australia, or planning transcontinental travel, these dates will help you avoid surprises with closures, long weekends, and peak travel periods.
Australia’s public holidays aren’t uniform nationwide; they vary by state and territory, reflecting local history and events. We’ll list the common ones first, then break down state specifics. For the UK, we’ve used official-style references aligned with gov.uk projections. Note: Always verify with official government sites closer to the date, as rare changes can occur.
Australian Public Holidays 2026: Common Across Most States
These holidays are observed widely, creating long weekends perfect for getaways:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January 2026 – Kick off the year with celebrations and fireworks.
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January 2026 – National day with barbecues, citizenship ceremonies, and beach events (three-day weekend).
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April 2026 – Start of Easter long weekend; many businesses close.
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April 2026 – Family gatherings and chocolate hunts (four-day weekend from Good Friday).
- Anzac Day: Saturday, 25 April 2026 – Dawn services and marches honouring veterans; observed on the actual date, even on weekend.
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December 2026 – Festive family time.
- Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December 2026 – Substitute day (as 26 December falls on Saturday); shopping sales and sports.
State-by-State Breakdown for Australia 2026
Here’s a detailed list for major states and territories. Retail and hospitality may trade on some, but check awards.
New South Wales (NSW) & Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April 2026
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April 2026
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June 2026
- Labour Day: Monday, 5 October 2026 Total: Around 11 holidays.
Victoria (VIC)
- Labour Day: Monday, 2 March 2026
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April 2026 (retail restricted)
- AFL Grand Final Day: Saturday, 27 September 2026 (Melbourne region)
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June 2026 Total: 10-11.
Queensland (QLD)
- Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 5 October 2026
- Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Holiday: Thursday, 13 August 2026 (Brisbane area) Total: 10+ local.
Western Australia (WA)
- Labour Day: Monday, 2 March 2026
- WA Day: Monday, 1 June 2026
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 28 September 2026 Total: 11.
South Australia (SA)
- Adelaide Cup Day: Monday, 9 March 2026 (Adelaide)
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June 2026
- Proclamation Day: coincides with Boxing Day substitute Total: 10.
Tasmania (TAS) & Northern Territory (NT)
Similar to above with Easter Saturday/Sunday, King’s Birthday 8 June, plus local like Eight Hour Day (March) and Picnic Day (NT August).
Pro tip: Use state fair work or tourism sites for rostering and regional holidays like show days.
UK Bank Holidays 2026: Full Official List
The UK has fixed bank holidays with substitutes for weekends. England/Wales/NI share most, Scotland differs. All from official projections:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January 2026 (all UK).
- Scotland only: Friday, 2 January 2026.
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April 2026 (all UK) – Matches Australia’s Easter start.
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April 2026 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland; not statutory in Scotland) – Another match.
- Early May bank holiday: Monday, 4 May 2026 (all UK).
- Spring bank holiday: Monday, 25 May 2026 (all UK).
- Summer bank holiday (Scotland): Monday, 3 August 2026.
- Summer bank holiday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland): Monday, 31 August 2026.
- St Andrew’s Day: Monday, 30 November 2026 (Scotland).
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December 2026.
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December 2026; substitute bank holiday: Monday, 28 December 2026 (where applicable, e.g., England/Wales/NI/Scotland for Boxing).
Scotland enjoys up to 11 days, others 8. Banks, schools, and post offices close; travel peaks.
Comparing 2026 Bank Holidays: Australia vs UK
| Aspect | Australia | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Easter | 3-6 Apr (4 days most) | 3 & 6 Apr (similar) |
| Mid-year | State Labour/King’s (Mar-Jun) | May Spring (4 & 25 May) |
| Late year | Anzac Apr, Oct Labour | Summer Aug, Nov St Andrew’s (Scotland) |
| Year-end | 25-28 Dec (4 days) | Same |
| Total | 10-13/state | 8-11/nation |
Key notes: Both align on Easter and Christmas for easy travel syncing. Australia adds patriotic days like Australia Day (summer barbecues vs UK winter). UK has more ‘generic’ bank holidays for rest. No direct Australia Day equivalent in UK.
Practical Planning Tips for 2026
For Australians
- Easter April 2026: Book Sydney Harbour or Gold Coast now – expect traffic.
- Business impacts: Payroll teams, note penalty rates on holidays.
- Long weekends: Chain Australia Day (26 Jan) with prior weekend.
UK Visitors to Australia or Vice Versa
- Direct flights (e.g., London-Sydney) may have reduced schedules on holidays.
- Visa/ETAS valid; check COVID rules if lingering.
- Currency: AUD vs GBP fluctuates; holidays boost tourism spend.
General Advice
- Apps like Office Holidays or gov sites for calendars.
- History: UK bank holidays stem from 1871 Bank Holidays Act; Australia’s from colonial public holidays, evolving post-federation 1901.
- Significance: Anzac parallels Remembrance; May banks trace to Whitsun.
FAQs
Do Australian bank holidays affect superannuation? No direct link, but plan contributions around pay cycles. Are UK substitutes always Monday? Yes, following weekend holiday. Scotland vs England? Extra days like 2 Jan and earlier summer.
This guide equips you for 2026 – from barbecues in Oz to pub crawls in the UK. Share with colleagues and safe travels!
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