With public holidays lining up neatly across the calendar, 2026 shapes up as a strong year for time off. A little planning can turn a standard four weeks of leave into long breaks around Easter, the King’s Birthday and Christmas, with extra wins depending on your state.
The 2026 calendar is kind to anyone working a standard Monday to Friday week. With public holidays falling neatly around weekends, a bit of planning can turn the usual four weeks of annual leave into long stretches away from work.
The big wins come around Australia Day, Easter, the King’s Birthday and the Christmas to New Year period, with extra upside depending on where you live.
Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the smartest leave plays, and exactly which days to book to get the most time off.
New South Wales
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
Australia Day and Easter are the biggest opportunities. Taking four days off after Australia Day gives you nine straight days away. Easter already delivers a four-day break, and adding leave from Tuesday to Friday the following week turns it into a 10-day run. June and October both offer clean nine-day stretches by booking four days off. The end of December is the biggest win, where eight days of leave can deliver 16 days off through to early January.
Victoria
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March – Labour Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Saturday before Easter Sunday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Date TBC – Friday before the AFL Grand Final
Tuesday 3 November – Melbourne Cup
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
March delivers an early nine-day break around Labour Day with four days of leave. Easter can stretch to 10 days with minimal leave added. Melbourne Cup week is one of the strongest plays of the year, where four days off can unlock nine days away. Christmas to New Year mirrors NSW, with a 16-day stretch possible by booking leave either side of the public holidays.
Queensland
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – The day after Good Friday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 4 May – Labour Day
Wednesday 12 August – Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
Monday 5 October – King’s Birthday
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
Labour Day in May is a strong chance to take four days off and secure nine away. Easter again provides a natural long break. October’s King’s Birthday allows another nine-day stretch with minimal leave. For Brisbane workers, the Ekka holiday in August can be used to build a mid-year break with just a few days booked.
Australian Capital Territory
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March – Canberra Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Monday 27 April – Anzac Day
Monday 1 June – Reconciliation Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
March offers an early nine-day break around Canberra Day. June is a standout, with Reconciliation Day and the King’s Birthday falling a week apart, making it possible to stack two separate nine-day breaks. As with most states, Christmas and New Year deliver the longest continuous time off if leave is used well.
South Australia
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 March – Adelaide Cup Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Monday 5 October – Labour Day
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Proclamation Day holiday / Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day / Boxing Day
Thursday 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
How to maximise your leave
Adelaide Cup Day in March is an easy way to secure nine days off with four days of leave. Easter is again the key autumn break. October and June both allow clean nine-day runs. The late December public holidays give South Australians one of the longest end-of-year shutdowns if leave is used either side.
Western Australia
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 2 March – Labour Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 27 April – Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
Monday 1 June – Western Australia Day
Monday 28 September – King’s Birthday
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
March delivers a nine-day break around Labour Day. April is particularly strong in WA, with Easter followed closely by Anzac Day and a day in lieu, allowing multiple long stretches with limited leave. September’s King’s Birthday and the Christmas period also provide solid opportunities for extended time off.
Tasmania
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 9 February – Royal Hobart Regatta (selected areas)
Monday 9 March – Eight Hours Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Tuesday 7 April – Easter Tuesday (generally public service only)
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Thursday 22 October – Royal Hobart Show (selected areas)
Monday 2 November – Recreation Day (selected areas)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Monday 28 December – Boxing Day
How to maximise your leave
Tasmania offers several regional chances to build long breaks early in the year around February and March. Easter can stretch longer than most states for some workers. November also presents a late-year option, before the standard Christmas to New Year stretch.
Northern Territory
Public holidays 2026
Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Monday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 3 April – Good Friday
Saturday 4 April – Easter Saturday
Sunday 5 April – Easter Sunday
Monday 6 April – Easter Monday
Saturday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 4 May – May Day
Monday 8 June – King’s Birthday
Monday 3 August – Picnic Day
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
Saturday 26 December – Boxing Day
Monday 28 December – Additional public holiday for Boxing Day
Thursday 31 December – New Year’s Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
How to maximise your leave
May Day and Picnic Day are the key NT advantages, each offering nine-day breaks with four days of leave. June and April also provide strong options, while the late December public holidays allow a long run into the New Year if leave is booked carefully.
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