Queensland Public Holidays 2026 & 2027

The 2026 Queensland public holidays are: New Year’s Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan), Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), The day after Good Friday (Sat 4 Apr), Easter Sunday (Sun 5 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), Anzac Day (Sat 25 Apr, no substitute), Labour Day (Mon 4 May), Royal Queensland Show/Ekka (Wed 12 Aug, Brisbane only), King’s Birthday (Mon 5 Oct), Christmas Eve part-day (Thu 24 Dec, 6pm–midnight), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day substitute (Mon 28 Dec). Source: Queensland Government, qld.gov.au, updated 16 January 2026.

Queensland’s Labour Day date has changed several times through history. It currently falls on the first Monday in May under the Holidays Act 1983 as amended in 2015, effective from 2016. Before that, QLD had briefly moved it to October. NSW observes Labour Day in October, VIC, ACT and SA observe it in March. The different dates reflect each state’s separate legislative history around the eight-hour day movement.

Yes, the Saturday itself is a public holiday — but Queensland does not provide a substitute Monday when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday. In 2026, Anzac Day is Saturday 25 April with no Monday substitute. A substitute is only provided when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday (as in 2027, where Monday 26 April is the observed holiday). Check your modern award for Saturday penalty rate entitlements if you work that day.

The Christmas Eve part-day holiday runs from 6pm to midnight on 24 December under the Holidays Act 1983 (introduced 2019). If your shift begins before 6pm and continues past that point, you are entitled to public holiday rates for the portion from 6pm onwards. If your entire shift falls after 6pm, the whole shift attracts public holiday rates. If you finish before 6pm, no public holiday applies. This is unique to Queensland.

No. The Ekka holiday on the Wednesday in August applies only to employees in the Brisbane area. Other Queensland regions observe their own local agricultural show holiday on a different date — sometimes weeks apart from the Brisbane Ekka. Check the Queensland Government show holiday dates page for your specific region.

Under section 114 of the Fair Work Act 2009, an employer can request an employee to work on a public holiday, but the employee may refuse if the request is not reasonable. A refusal is reasonable if, for example, you have carer responsibilities, the day has cultural or religious significance, or insufficient notice was given. If you work, you are entitled to the penalty rates in your modern award — typically 225% of your ordinary rate.

Under the Holidays Act 1983, Queensland provides substitute public holidays when Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend — the next available weekday is observed. Australia Day is observed the following Monday if it falls on a weekend. For Anzac Day: a substitute Monday is provided only when it falls on a Sunday; there is no substitute when it falls on a Saturday.