NSW Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Every public holiday in New South Wales for 2026 and 2027 — dates, days, long weekends, Easter Saturday, Labour Day, the Bank Holiday, penalty rates and annual leave rules.
NSW Public Holidays 2026 — Full List of Dates
All 13 official statewide public holiday dates in New South Wales for 2026 — including the new additional Anzac Day holiday — sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman and NSW Government. The Bank Holiday (3 August) is also listed — see note below.
Notes: Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 — the NSW Government has declared Monday 27 April as an additional public holiday for 2026 and 2027, a new arrangement that aligns NSW with WA and the ACT. Easter Saturday (4 April) is a public holiday in NSW but not in all states. The Bank Holiday (3 August) applies only to banks and certain financial institutions under the Retail Trading Act 2008 — it is not a declared public holiday for all workers. Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026; Monday 28 December is declared an additional public holiday. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman and NSW Government.
NSW has 11 standard public holidays each year, rising to 13 in 2026 because of the weekend substitutions for Anzac Day and Boxing Day. After removing 104 weekend days and the 9 public holidays that fall on a weekday, NSW has 252 working days in 2026. To count the exact number of business days between any two dates — for a notice period, contract deadline or probation end date — use the Work Date Calculator with New South Wales selected.
NSW Public Holidays 2027 — Full List of Dates
All 14 statewide public holiday dates in NSW for 2027, including additional holidays where Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on weekends. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman.
2027 note: Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 December and Boxing Day on Sunday 26 December — the NSW Public Holidays Act 2010 therefore declares Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December as additional public holidays. Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April 2027; Monday 26 April is an additional public holiday, continuing the arrangement introduced for 2026. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman 2027.
NSW Long Weekends 2026 & 2027
Plan ahead with these NSW long weekends — all the dates you need for travel, leave planning and rostering.
2026 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Easter
+ Easter Saturday (public holiday in NSW)
Anzac Day
Sat + additional Mon PH
King's Birthday
Labour Day
Christmas–New Year
+ 1 Jan 2027 (New Year's Day, Friday)
2027 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Easter
Anzac Day
Additional public holiday declared
King's Birthday
Labour Day
Christmas–New Year
4 days — Mon & Tue additional public holidays
Public holidays that fall inside an approved annual leave period are not deducted from your leave balance, so booking leave around these long weekends stretches your time off further for fewer leave days. Check what you have accrued with the Annual Leave Calculator, or work out the value of a leave payout with the Annual Leave Payout Tax Calculator.
NSW Public Holiday Questions — Quick Answers
Direct answers to the most common public holiday questions for New South Wales.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Easter Saturday is an official public holiday in NSW under the Public Holidays Act 2010. In 2026: Saturday 4 April. In 2027: Saturday 27 March. Not every state observes it: it's not a public holiday in WA or Tasmania.
✓ Yes — NSWIs Good Friday a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Good Friday is a national public holiday in all Australian states. In 2026: Friday 3 April. In 2027: Friday 26 March. Most shops must remain closed — it's one of the most restricted trading days in NSW.
✓ Yes — NationalIs the Bank Holiday a public holiday in NSW?
Not for most workers. The Bank Holiday (first Monday August) only applies to retail banks and certain financial institutions under the Retail Trading Act 2008. Schools and most businesses remain open. In 2026: Monday 3 August. In 2027: Monday 2 August.
⚑ Banks onlyIs Labour Day a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. NSW Labour Day is the first Monday in October. In 2026: Monday 5 October. In 2027: Monday 4 October. It commemorates the 8-hour workday movement and is a full public holiday for all covered employees.
✓ Yes — NSWIs Easter Sunday a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Easter Sunday has been a national public holiday in all Australian states since the Fair Work Amendment (Easter Sunday) Act 2011. In 2026: Sunday 5 April. In 2027: Sunday 28 March.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Good Friday a restricted trading day in NSW?
Yes. Good Friday is one of the most restricted trading days in NSW. Most retail shops must close for the entire day. Only exempt retailers (pharmacies, service stations, certain tourism and transport businesses) may trade. Different rules apply to hospitality.
✓ RestrictedIs Boxing Day a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Boxing Day is a national public holiday. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 26 December; Monday 28 December is declared an additional public holiday. In 2027 it falls on Sunday 26 December; Tuesday 28 December is the additional public holiday.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Christmas Eve a public holiday in NSW?
No. Christmas Eve (24 December) is not a public holiday in NSW. It is a public holiday in the NT and SA (from 7 pm to midnight) but not in New South Wales. Christmas Day (25 December) is the public holiday.
✗ NoIs New Year's Eve a public holiday in NSW?
No. New Year's Eve (31 December) is not a public holiday in NSW. It is a public holiday in the NT and SA (from 7 pm to midnight). New Year's Day (1 January) is the national public holiday.
✗ NoIs Easter Tuesday a public holiday in NSW?
No. Easter Tuesday is not a public holiday in NSW. It is only observed as a public holiday for the Tasmanian Public Service. The NSW Easter public holidays are Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday only.
✗ No — TAS onlyIs Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday in NSW?
No. Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) is a public holiday only in Victoria. NSW employees work a normal day. NSW has no November public holiday — the last public holiday before Christmas is Labour Day in early October.
✗ No — VIC onlyHow many public holidays in NSW per year?
NSW has 11 standard public holidays per year under the Public Holidays Act 2010. In years where Anzac Day, Christmas or Boxing Day fall on a weekend, additional substitute days are declared. In 2026: 13 declared public holidays (14 including Bank Holiday), following the new additional Anzac Day holiday. In 2027: 14 (including both Anzac Day and Christmas/Boxing Day additional days).
11 standardIs Anzac Day 2026 a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Anzac Day is a national public holiday, observed Saturday 25 April 2026. NSW has also declared Monday 27 April as an additional public holiday for 2026 (and 2027) — a new arrangement that aligns NSW with WA and the ACT.
✓ Yes — plus Mon 27 AprHow many working days are there in a year in NSW?
Around 250 to 252. A calendar year has 260–262 weekdays; after removing the 11 standard NSW public holidays plus any weekend substitute days, most NSW employees work about 250 business days. In 2026, 9 of NSW's 13 declared public holidays fall on a weekday, so NSW has 252 working days. Use the Work Date Calculator for an exact count between two dates.
~250 daysHow NSW Public Holidays Affect Annual Leave
Important rules every NSW employee and employer needs to know about public holidays and leave periods.
Example: An employee takes 2 weeks of annual leave from Monday 3 October to Sunday 18 October 2026. Labour Day falls on Monday 5 October 2026. The employee's annual leave balance is debited for 9 working days (not 10), because Labour Day is deducted as a public holiday, not annual leave.
Similarly, if your annual leave includes the Easter period, you do not lose Good Friday, Easter Saturday (in NSW), Easter Sunday or Easter Monday from your leave balance — those are public holidays. Your employer is required to credit them back or extend your leave by the equivalent number of days.
Working on a NSW public holiday?
Most modern awards pay 225%–250% for public holiday work. Calculate your exact penalty rate for any NSW public holiday — including Easter Saturday and Labour Day.
Public Holiday Pay Rates & Rights for NSW Workers
Your entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 and NSW Public Holidays Act 2010 when it comes to public holidays.
Right to be absent
Under Section 114 of the Fair Work Act 2009, you 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 (e.g. insufficient notice, caring responsibilities, or the work is not essential).
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.
NSW public holiday pay rates
If you work on a public holiday, your modern award or enterprise agreement sets the penalty rate. Most awards pay 225% (double time and a quarter) or 250% (double time and a half) on public holidays. Casual employees usually get a higher public holiday rate (often 250% or 275%) that already includes their casual loading. Check the NSW public holiday pay rates for your award or the Overtime Calculator.
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 substitute a leave day or extend your leave by the same number of public holidays in the period (Fair Work Act s.116).
What happens when a NSW public holiday falls on a weekend?
| Holiday | If falls on Saturday | If falls on Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (1 Jan) | Additional public holiday declared (typically the following Monday) | Additional public holiday declared (typically the following Monday) |
| 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) | The NSW Government has declared a Monday additional PH for 2026 and 2027 | Additional public holiday on the following Monday for 2026 and 2027 |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec) | Additional public holiday on Monday 27 Dec | Additional public holiday on Tuesday 27 Dec (Monday 26 Dec is Boxing Day) |
| Boxing Day (26 Dec) | Additional public holiday on Monday 28 Dec | Additional public holiday on Tuesday 28 Dec (Monday 27 Dec is the extra Christmas Day holiday) |
These rules are set by the NSW Public Holidays Act 2010. The Anzac Day Monday holiday for 2026 and 2027 was a specific government decision rather than a standing automatic rule — unlike New Year's Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which have long had automatic weekend substitution. Always verify against the NSW Government public holidays page or the Fair Work Ombudsman before rostering or planning.
NSW Public Holidays — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to every specific public holiday question for New South Wales.
What are the NSW public holidays in 2026?
The 13 official NSW public holidays in 2026 are: New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan), Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Saturday (Sat 4 Apr — NSW only), Easter Sunday (Sun 5 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), Anzac Day (Sat 25 Apr, with an additional public holiday Mon 27 Apr), King's Birthday (Mon 8 June), Labour Day (Mon 5 Oct), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), and an additional public holiday for Boxing Day (Mon 28 Dec). The Bank Holiday (Mon 3 Aug) affects banks only. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman and NSW Government.
Is today a public holiday in NSW?
To check whether today is a public holiday in NSW, compare today's date against the declared NSW public holidays: New Year's Day 1 Jan, Australia Day 26 Jan, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, Anzac Day 25 April (plus an additional Monday holiday in 2026 and 2027), King's Birthday on the second Monday in June, Labour Day on the first Monday in October, Christmas Day 25 Dec and Boxing Day 26 Dec (plus additional days when they fall on a weekend). The Bank Holiday on the first Monday in August is not a public holiday for most workers. The countdown at the top of this page shows the next NSW public holiday and how many days away it is.
What is the next public holiday in NSW?
The next NSW public holiday depends on today's date. After the King's Birthday on Monday 8 June 2026, the next declared NSW public holidays are Labour Day on Monday 5 October 2026, Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026, and the additional Boxing Day public holiday on Monday 28 December 2026. The first public holiday of 2027 is New Year's Day on Friday 1 January 2027. The live countdown at the top of this page shows the exact number of days, hours and minutes until the next NSW public holiday.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Easter Saturday is an official public holiday in NSW under the Public Holidays Act 2010. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 4 April; in 2027 on Saturday 27 March. Not all states observe Easter Saturday — it is not a public holiday in Queensland or Western Australia. If you work in retail, hospitality or another industry covered by a modern award in NSW, you may be entitled to penalty rates for working Easter Saturday.
When is Easter 2026 in NSW?
Easter 2026 in NSW runs from Good Friday 3 April to Easter Monday 6 April. All four days are public holidays in New South Wales: Good Friday (Fri 3 April), Easter Saturday (Sat 4 April), Easter Sunday (Sun 5 April) and Easter Monday (Mon 6 April). This gives NSW employees a four-day Easter long weekend. In 2027 Easter falls much earlier — Good Friday 26 March through Easter Monday 29 March.
Who gets the NSW Bank Holiday?
The NSW Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday in August — Monday 3 August 2026 and Monday 2 August 2027. It applies to retail banks and certain financial institutions under the Retail Trading Act 2008, and is not a declared public holiday for most NSW workers. Retail, hospitality, construction, healthcare and school employees generally do not receive the Bank Holiday. Whether you are entitled to it depends on your modern award, enterprise agreement or employment contract — check your award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website to confirm.
When is the NSW King's Birthday public holiday in 2026?
The NSW King's Birthday public holiday in 2026 falls on Monday 8 June 2026. In 2027 it falls on Monday 14 June 2027. NSW observes the King's Birthday on the second Monday in June. This differs from Western Australia, which observes it in late September.
What is the June public holiday in NSW?
The June public holiday in NSW is the King's Birthday, observed on the second Monday in June. In 2026: Monday 8 June. In 2027: Monday 14 June. This creates a 3-day long weekend in early-to-mid June each year.
Is Labour Day a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. NSW Labour Day is observed on the first Monday in October — a full public holiday for all covered employees. In 2026: Monday 5 October. In 2027: Monday 4 October. It commemorates the 1856 stonemasons' march for an 8-hour working day. NSW Labour Day is the October long weekend, unlike Victoria and Tasmania which observe theirs in March, or Queensland and the NT which observe May Day.
How does a public holiday affect annual leave in NSW?
If a public holiday falls within your approved annual leave period, that day is not deducted from your annual leave balance. You receive the public holiday at your ordinary rate in addition to your leave — your employer cannot count a public holiday as a leave day. This right is protected under Section 116 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and applies to all NSW employees covered by the NES. To check your leave balance, use the Annual Leave Calculator.
What are the NSW public holidays in 2027?
The 14 NSW public holiday dates in 2027 are: New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan), Australia Day (Tue 26 Jan), Good Friday (Fri 26 Mar), Easter Saturday (Sat 27 Mar), Easter Sunday (Sun 28 Mar), Easter Monday (Mon 29 Mar), Anzac Day (Sun 25 Apr), Additional Anzac Day PH (Mon 26 Apr), King's Birthday (Mon 14 Jun), Labour Day (Mon 4 Oct), Christmas Day (Sat 25 Dec), Additional Christmas PH (Mon 27 Dec), Boxing Day (Sun 26 Dec), Additional Boxing Day PH (Tue 28 Dec). 2027 has an unusually long Christmas–New Year period due to weekend dates. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend in NSW?
Under the NSW Public Holidays Act 2010: Australia Day on a weekend shifts the public holiday to the following Monday. Christmas Day and Boxing Day on weekends trigger additional declared public holidays (typically the following Monday and/or Tuesday). Anzac Day on a weekend now also triggers an additional Monday public holiday for 2026 and 2027, following a specific NSW Government decision — historically this wasn't automatic in NSW the way it is for the other holidays above. New Year's Day on a weekend typically triggers an additional Monday public holiday.
Can my employer make me work on a public holiday in NSW?
Under Section 114 of the Fair Work Act 2009, an employer can request you work on a public holiday, but you may refuse if the request is unreasonable. Factors include: the nature of the work, the notice given, your personal circumstances (such as caring responsibilities), and whether the request is consistent with your employment agreement. Employers cannot penalise you for a reasonable refusal. If your award permits the employer to roster you on public holidays, different conditions may apply — check your modern award.
How many public holidays does NSW have per year?
NSW has 11 standard public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 2010. In years where Anzac Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day fall on a weekend, additional substitute public holidays are declared. In 2026: 13 declared public holidays, now including the new Anzac Day Monday holiday. In 2027: 14 declared public holiday dates (due to Anzac Day and Christmas/Boxing Day weekend substitutions). Note: the Bank Holiday is listed by the NSW Government but is not a declared public holiday for most workers.
How many working days are there in a year in NSW?
NSW has approximately 250 to 252 working days per year. A calendar year contains around 260 to 262 weekdays; after deducting the 11 standard NSW public holidays — plus any additional substitute days declared when Anzac Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day fall on a weekend — most NSW employees work about 250 business days. In 2026, 9 of NSW's 13 declared public holidays fall on a weekday, so NSW has 252 working days. Use the Work Date Calculator to count business days between any two dates in NSW.
Public holidays in other states and territories
Each state and territory sets its own public holidays. Compare the 2026 and 2027 dates.