WA Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Every public holiday in Western Australia for 2026 and 2027 — WA Day, King's Birthday in September, Easter Sunday rules and answers to every specific question.
WA Public Holidays 2026
All 13 declared public holiday dates in Western Australia for 2026, sourced from wa.gov.au. Regional King's Birthday exceptions are covered separately below.
Notes: WA does not observe Easter Saturday — instead it has Easter Sunday, added as a public holiday in February 2022. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, and WA provides a substitute Monday (27 April). Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so Monday 28 December is a substitute public holiday. Karratha and Port Hedland observe King's Birthday on Monday 3 August 2026 instead of the statewide date — see the regional note below. Source: wa.gov.au and Fair Work Ombudsman.
WA Public Holidays 2027
All 14 declared public holiday dates in Western Australia for 2027, including substitute days where Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on weekends. Source: wa.gov.au.
2027 note: Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April 2027 — WA provides a substitute Monday (26 April). Christmas Day (Saturday) and Boxing Day (Sunday) trigger substitute public holidays on Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December respectively. Source: wa.gov.au.
WA Long Weekends 2026 & 2027
Plan ahead with these Western Australia long weekends.
2026 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Labour Day
Easter
Good Friday, Sat, Easter Sunday (PH), Easter Monday
Anzac Day
Sat + substitute Monday
Western Australia Day
King's Birthday
Christmas–New Year
+ 1 Jan 2027 (New Year's Day, Friday)
2027 Long Weekends
New Year's Day
Labour Day
Easter
Anzac Day
Sun (Anzac Day) + substitute Monday
Western Australia Day
King's Birthday
Christmas–New Year
4 days — Mon & Tue substitute public holidays
WA Public Holiday Questions — Quick Answers
Direct answers to the most common public holiday questions for Western Australia.
How many public holidays does WA have in 2026?
13 public holidays — 11 standard dates plus a substitute Monday for Anzac Day (falls Saturday) and a substitute Monday for Boxing Day (falls Saturday).
13 in 2026When is King's Birthday in WA?
The last Monday in September. In 2026: Monday 28 September. In 2027: Monday 27 September. Unique to WA — other states observe it in June or October. Karratha and Port Hedland observe an alternative August date.
✗ September — unlike NSW/VIC (June)Does WA have Easter Saturday as a public holiday?
No. WA does not observe Easter Saturday. Instead, WA added Easter Sunday as a public holiday in February 2022 — so WA has Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
✗ No — has Easter Sunday insteadWhat do you get paid for working a public holiday in WA?
WA operates under two employment systems. National system employees follow Fair Work Act rates — most awards pay 225%. WA state system employees follow their specific WA award. Use the Public Holiday Rate Calculator to estimate your rate.
⚑ Depends on your systemWhat if a public holiday falls during annual leave?
A public holiday within your approved annual leave is not deducted from your leave balance — you receive it in addition to your leave. Protected under section 116 of the Fair Work Act 2009.
✓ Not deducted from leaveWhat is the regional King's Birthday in WA?
Some regional areas observe an alternative date instead of the statewide date. In 2026: Karratha and Port Hedland observe Monday 3 August instead of 28 September.
⚑ Region-specificHow WA Public Holidays Affect Annual Leave
Important rules every Western Australian employee and employer needs to know about public holidays and leave periods.
Example: An employee takes 1 week of annual leave from Monday 25 May to Friday 5 June 2026. Western Australia Day falls on Monday 1 June 2026, within this period. The employee's annual leave balance is debited for 4 working days (not 5), because WA Day is deducted as a public holiday, not annual leave.
Working on a WA public holiday?
National system employees typically earn 225% for public holiday work. WA state system employees follow their specific WA award. Calculate your exact penalty rate.
Public Holiday Rights for WA Workers
Your entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 (national system) and WA's state industrial relations system when it comes to public holidays.
Right to be absent
Under Section 114 of the Fair Work Act 2009, national system employees have the right to be absent from work on a public holiday. An employer can request you work, but you may refuse if the request is unreasonable — for example, due to carer responsibilities, cultural or religious significance, or insufficient notice.
Right to ordinary pay
Under Section 116 of the Fair Work Act, if you are absent on a public holiday, you are entitled to be paid your ordinary rate. Your employer cannot dock pay or require you to use annual leave to cover a public holiday you didn't work.
Penalty rates for working
National system employees earn penalty rates set by their modern award — most pay 225% (double time and a quarter) for public holiday work. WA state system employees should check their specific WA award via Wageline. Use the Public Holiday Rate Calculator to check yours.
Annual leave protection
If a public holiday falls within your approved annual leave period, that day cannot be deducted from your leave balance. Your employer must extend your leave by the same number of public holidays in the period (Fair Work Act s.116, national system).
What happens when a WA 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 | Substitute public holiday declared |
| Australia Day (26 Jan) | No PH on Sat — following Monday is the public holiday instead | No PH on Sun — following Monday is the public holiday instead |
| Anzac Day (25 Apr) | Substitute Monday declared | Substitute Monday declared |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec) | Substitute PH declared — typically Mon 27 Dec | Substitute PH declared — typically Mon 26 or 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day (26 Dec) | Substitute PH declared — typically Mon 28 Dec | Substitute PH declared — typically Tue 28 Dec |
These rules are set by the Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972 (WA). WA provides a substitute for Anzac Day whichever weekend day it falls on — unlike Queensland, which only substitutes when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. Always verify against wa.gov.au or the Fair Work Ombudsman before rostering or planning.
WA Public Holidays — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to every specific public holiday question for Western Australia.
What are the Western Australia public holidays in 2026?
The 2026 WA public holidays are: New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan), Labour Day (Mon 2 Mar), Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Sunday (Sun 5 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), Anzac Day (Sat 25 Apr), Anzac Day substitute (Mon 27 Apr), Western Australia Day (Mon 1 Jun), King's Birthday (Mon 28 Sep), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), Boxing Day substitute (Mon 28 Dec). Source: Western Australian Government, wa.gov.au.
Why does WA observe King's Birthday in September instead of June?
WA has historically observed the sovereign's birthday on the last Monday in September, differing from most other states which observe it in June. This dates back to WA's separate legislative arrangements under the Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972. There has been periodic discussion about aligning with other states, but as of 2026 WA continues to observe King's Birthday in September statewide, with some regional exceptions.
Does WA provide a substitute public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend?
Yes — WA provides a substitute Monday when Anzac Day falls on either Saturday or Sunday. In 2026 (Saturday): substitute Monday 27 April. In 2027 (Sunday): substitute Monday 26 April. This distinguishes WA from Queensland, which only provides a substitute when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday and not when it falls on a Saturday.
When was Easter Sunday made a public holiday in WA?
Easter Sunday was established as a public holiday in Western Australia in February 2022. Before that, WA observed Good Friday and Easter Monday but not Easter Sunday. WA does not have Easter Saturday as a public holiday — instead it has Easter Sunday, making it the only mainland state with this arrangement (the others have Easter Saturday instead).
What is the two-system employment law issue for WA public holidays?
Western Australia is unique in having two systems of employment law for private sector employees: the national Fair Work system (covering most constitutional corporations) and the WA state industrial relations system (covering sole traders, partnerships, and non-constitutional corporations). Public holiday entitlements and pay rates differ between the two systems. Most large employers in WA are covered by the national system. If you are unsure which system applies to you, contact Wageline on 1300 655 266 or visit wa.gov.au.
What are the regional King's Birthday dates in WA?
Some regional local government areas observe King's Birthday on an alternative date. In 2026, Karratha (City of Karratha) and Port Hedland (Town of Port Hedland) both observe Monday 3 August 2026 instead of the statewide Monday 28 September 2026. On the alternative date, the statewide King's Birthday date is not a public holiday for employees in those areas.
Can my employer ask me to work on a WA public holiday?
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 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 award. WA state system employees should check their WA award via Wageline on 1300 655 266.