QLD Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Every public holiday in Queensland for 2026 and 2027 — Labour Day in May, King's Birthday in October, the Brisbane Ekka, the part-day Christmas Eve holiday, and the Anzac Day weekend rules explained.
Queensland's distinctive public holidays
Queensland runs its own calendar for three key dates, plus a part-day holiday found in only a few states.
First Monday in May. NSW and the ACT observe it in October; VIC and SA in March. QLD briefly moved it to October before returning to May from 2016.
The Wednesday of Brisbane's agricultural show. Regional QLD areas often have their own separate local show holidays on different dates.
Only the evening portion (6pm to midnight) is a public holiday. Shifts crossing 6pm attract penalty rates for the portion after 6pm only.
QLD Public Holidays 2026
All statewide public holiday dates in Queensland for 2026, sourced from the Queensland Government and Fair Work Ombudsman.
Notes: The Saturday after Good Friday is officially named "the day after Good Friday" in Queensland (not "Easter Saturday" as in NSW), but it functions as a full public holiday. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 — Queensland provides no substitute public holiday for a Saturday occurrence. The Ekka applies to the Brisbane area only; other regions have separate local show holidays. Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026; Monday 28 December is the additional public holiday. Source: qld.gov.au and Fair Work Ombudsman.
QLD Public Holidays 2027
All statewide public holiday dates in QLD for 2027 — extra days because Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall on a weekend, and Anzac Day's observance shifts to Monday.
In 2027, Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April — Queensland moves the observed public holiday to Monday 26 April rather than adding a second day, so only Monday is a public holiday that year. Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 December and Boxing Day on Sunday 26 December — additional public holidays are declared Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman 2027.
QLD Long Weekends 2026 & 2027
Plan annual leave and travel around every Queensland long weekend.
2026 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Easter
+ day after Good Friday (QLD public holiday)
Anzac Day
No substitute Monday this year
Labour Day
King's Birthday
Christmas–New Year
+ Fri 1 Jan 2027
2027 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Easter
Anzac Day
Observed Monday, since 25th is Sunday
Labour Day
King's Birthday
Christmas–New Year
4 consecutive public holidays
The Ekka public holiday falls on the Wednesday of Brisbane's annual Royal Queensland Show — one of Queensland's most distinctive public holidays. It applies only to the Brisbane metropolitan local government area, not statewide.
Outside Brisbane: Many other Queensland regions hold their own local agricultural show holidays on separate dates, declared by local government. If you're not in the Brisbane area, check with your employer or local council for your region's specific show holiday date — the statewide Ekka date does not apply to you.
Queensland's Holidays Act 1983 declares Christmas Eve a public holiday only for the hours between 6pm and midnight. Before 6pm, 24 December is a completely normal working day — no penalty rates apply for daytime hours.
If your shift crosses 6pm, only the portion of the shift after 6pm attracts public holiday penalty rates under your award — the earlier part of the shift is paid at your ordinary rate.
QLD Public Holiday Questions — Quick Answers
Direct answers to the most common Queensland public holiday questions.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Queensland?
Yes, in effect — though QLD officially calls it "the day after Good Friday" rather than "Easter Saturday." The practical result is the same: the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is a full public holiday every year in QLD. In 2026: Saturday 4 April.
✓ Yes — different nameDoes QLD get an extra holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend?
Only for Sunday. If Anzac Day falls on Saturday (as in 2026), there's no substitute. If it falls on Sunday (as in 2027), the observance moves to the following Monday instead — not an extra day, a moved day.
⚑ Sunday onlyWhen is Labour Day in Queensland?
First Monday in May. In 2026: Monday 4 May. In 2027: Monday 3 May. Different from NSW/ACT (October) and VIC/SA (March) — QLD's is one of the latest in the year.
✓ First Mon MayIs the Ekka a public holiday everywhere in QLD?
No — Brisbane metropolitan area only. In 2026: Wednesday 12 August. Other regions have their own separate local show holidays on different dates — check with your local council.
⚑ Brisbane onlyIs Christmas Eve a full public holiday in QLD?
No — only a part-day holiday from 6pm to midnight on 24 December. Daytime hours on Christmas Eve are a normal working day with no penalty rates.
⚑ Part-day onlyWhen is King's Birthday in Queensland?
First Monday in October. In 2026: Monday 5 October. In 2027: Monday 4 October. Different from most other states, which hold it in June (NSW, VIC, SA, ACT, TAS) or September (WA).
✓ First Mon OctoberIs Good Friday a public holiday in Queensland?
Yes. Good Friday is a national public holiday in all Australian states. In 2026: Friday 3 April. Most retail shops must remain closed on Good Friday.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Boxing Day a public holiday in Queensland?
Yes. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 26 December, with Monday 28 December as the substitute. In 2027 it falls on Sunday 26 December, with Tuesday 28 December as the substitute.
✓ Yes — NationalHow many public holidays does QLD have per year?
QLD has 11 standard statewide public holidays. In 2026 this reaches 12 with the Boxing Day substitute. In 2027 it reaches 13, including substitutes for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Brisbane employees get the Ekka on top of this count.
11 standardHow Queensland's public holidays differ from Western Australia
Queensland has
- Labour Day in May (first Monday)
- King's Birthday in October (first Monday, statewide, no regional exceptions)
- Anzac Day substitute only when it falls on Sunday — no substitute for Saturday
- The Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) — Brisbane only
- A part-day Christmas Eve holiday (6pm–midnight)
Western Australia has instead
- Labour Day in March (first Monday)
- King's Birthday in September (with real regional exceptions in some LGAs)
- Anzac Day substitute for both Saturday and Sunday occurrences
- Western Australia Day (June) instead of an Ekka-style holiday
- No part-day Christmas Eve provision — full-day only
How QLD Public Holidays Affect Annual Leave
What every Queensland employee needs to know about public holidays and leave entitlements.
Example: A Queensland employee takes annual leave from Monday 28 September to Sunday 11 October 2026. King's Birthday (Monday 5 October) falls within this period. The employee's leave balance is debited for 9 working days (not 10), because King's Birthday is deducted as a public holiday, not annual leave.
Working on a QLD public holiday?
Most modern awards pay 225%–250% for public holiday work. Calculate your exact rate — including the part-day Christmas Eve holiday and the Ekka.
Public Holiday Rights for QLD Workers
Your entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 on Queensland public holidays.
Right to be absent
Under Section 114 of the Fair Work Act, you have the right to be absent on a public holiday. Employers can request you work, but you may refuse an unreasonable request.
Right to ordinary pay
Under Section 116, if absent on a public holiday you're paid your ordinary rate. Your employer cannot dock pay or require annual leave to cover the day.
Penalty rates for working
If you work a QLD public holiday, your modern award sets the rate — most pay 225%–250%. For the Christmas Eve part-day holiday, penalty rates only apply after 6pm. Use the Public Holiday Rate Calculator.
Annual leave protection
Public holidays during approved annual leave cannot be counted as leave days — your employer must substitute or extend leave by the number of public holidays in the period.
What happens when a QLD public holiday falls on a weekend?
| Holiday | If falls on Saturday | If falls on Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (1 Jan) | Substitute public holiday declared (Monday) | Substitute public holiday declared (Monday) |
| Australia Day (26 Jan) | No PH on Saturday — Monday is the public holiday | No PH on Sunday — Monday is the public holiday |
| Anzac Day (25 Apr) | No substitute — Saturday is the only recognised day that year | Observance moves to the following Monday instead |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec) | Substitute PH declared (typically Monday 27 Dec) | Substitute PH declared (typically Monday 26 Dec) |
| Boxing Day (26 Dec) | Substitute PH declared (typically Monday 28 Dec) | Substitute PH declared (typically Tuesday, avoiding clash) |
Always verify against qld.gov.au or the Fair Work Ombudsman before rostering or planning.
QLD Public Holidays — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to every specific public holiday question for Queensland.
What are the QLD public holidays in 2026?
Queensland's 2026 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), the 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 (Sat 26 Dec), and an additional public holiday for Boxing Day (Mon 28 Dec). Source: qld.gov.au and Fair Work Ombudsman.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Queensland?
Yes, in practical effect. Queensland's Holidays Act 1983 doesn't use the name "Easter Saturday" — it's legislated as "the day after Good Friday" — but the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is a full public holiday every year, the same as in NSW and SA. In 2026: Saturday 4 April. In 2027: Saturday 27 March.
Does Queensland get an extra public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend?
It depends which day. On a Saturday (as in 2026), there's no substitute — Saturday is the only recognised day that year. On a Sunday (as in 2027), the observance moves to the following Monday instead of staying on Sunday. This is different from WA, which substitutes for both Saturday and Sunday.
When is Labour Day in Queensland?
First Monday in May. In 2026: Monday 4 May. In 2027: Monday 3 May. QLD briefly moved Labour Day to October decades ago before returning it to May under 2015 amendments to the Holidays Act 1983, effective from 2016.
When is King's Birthday in Queensland?
First Monday in October. In 2026: Monday 5 October. In 2027: Monday 4 October. Different from NSW, VIC, SA, ACT and Tasmania (June) and WA (September).
What is the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) public holiday?
A public holiday on the Wednesday of Brisbane's annual agricultural show — Brisbane metropolitan area only. In 2026: Wednesday 12 August. In 2027: Wednesday 11 August. Other Queensland regions have their own separate local show holidays on different dates — check with your local council.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in Queensland?
Only a part-day public holiday, from 6pm to midnight on 24 December. Shifts crossing 6pm attract penalty rates only for the portion after 6pm — daytime hours are a normal working day.
How many public holidays does Queensland have per year?
11 standard statewide public holidays. In 2026 this reaches 12 with the Boxing Day substitute. In 2027 it reaches 13, including substitutes for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Brisbane employees also receive the Ekka on top of this count, and all QLD employees receive the part-day Christmas Eve holiday.