There is no single national list. Each state and territory sets its own public holidays and decides whether to add a substitute day when one falls on a weekend. The dates below are from the Fair Work Ombudsman, the federal workplace regulator.
Remaining holidays in 2026
- Fri 25 December — Christmas Day (everywhere)
- Sat 26 December — Boxing Day (South Australia: Proclamation Day holiday)
- Mon 28 December — additional public holiday for Boxing Day in most states and territories; in Tasmania, Boxing Day itself is on this Monday
2027: the dates that apply everywhere
- Fri 1 January — New Year's Day
- Tue 26 January — Australia Day
- Fri 26 March — Good Friday
- Mon 29 March — Easter Monday
- Sat 25 December — Christmas Day, with Mon 27 December as an additional public holiday
2027: where states differ
- Easter Saturday (27 March) and Easter Sunday (28 March) are not listed for Tasmania; Western Australia does not list Easter Saturday
- Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April. NSW and WA add Monday 26 April; the ACT, NT and Queensland hold it on Monday 26 April; SA, Tasmania and Victoria keep the Sunday only
- King's Birthday is Monday 14 June in most states — but Monday 27 September in Western Australia and Monday 4 October in Queensland
- Labour Day ranges from March (WA, Victoria, Tasmania) to May (Queensland, NT) and October (NSW, ACT, SA)
- Boxing Day is Sunday 26 December with Tuesday 28 December as an additional day in most places; in Tasmania, Boxing Day is on Tuesday 28 December
The 2027 dates are as published in advance by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Victoria's Friday before the AFL Grand Final is not yet fixed. Some regional and city-only holidays (for example show days) are not listed here.
What it means for a visitor
Banks and government offices close. In cities many shops, cafés and restaurants stay open, sometimes with a public holiday surcharge on the bill. Public transport usually runs to a reduced timetable. Long weekends and the Christmas–January summer holidays are peak domestic travel periods, so book accommodation and car hire early.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman — 2026 public holidays
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman — 2027 public holidays
Common questions
Is King's Birthday on the same day across Australia?
No. Most states hold it on the second Monday in June, but Western Australia holds it in late September and Queensland in early October.
Is Boxing Day a public holiday everywhere?
Yes, though South Australia calls it the Proclamation Day holiday, and when it falls on a weekend the substitute day differs between states.
More on the eVisitor
Money, cards and tipping
Prices include 10% GST, card surcharges are banned from 1 October 2026, and tipping is optional. Cash of AUD 10,000+ must be declared.
Driving
Each state sets its own rules: NSW allows up to 6 months on an overseas licence, the NT 3. Non-English licences need a translation or an IDP.
Three months per visit
The eVisitor lasts twelve months, but each visit is capped at three months. The two numbers are separate, and mixing them up is the most common planning error.
What is the eVisitor
The eVisitor is a full visitor visa granted electronically to holders of eligible European passports. What it covers and how it differs from the ETA.
How to apply
Applications are made free of charge through ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. The order of the steps and the mistakes that cause delays.
Cost
The Australian government charges AUD $0 for the eVisitor: no visa application charge and no service fee. The ETA for other passports costs AUD $20.