TAS Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Every statewide public holiday in Tasmania for 2026 and 2027 — plus Easter Tuesday, regional Show Days, Recreation Day and answers to every specific question.
TAS Public Holidays 2026
The 9 statewide public holidays in Tasmania for 2026, plus Easter Tuesday and Recreation Day. Sourced from WorkSafe Tasmania. Regional Show Day and Regatta holidays are covered separately below.
Notes: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are not gazetted statewide public holidays in Tasmania, unlike NSW and SA. Easter Tuesday (7 April) is a restricted holiday for the State Public Service and some awards only — most Tasmanian workers do not receive it. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 with no substitute Monday declared. Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so Monday 28 December is an additional public holiday. Source: WorkSafe Tasmania and Fair Work Ombudsman.
TAS Public Holidays 2027
The 9 statewide public holidays in Tasmania for 2027, including additional days where Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on weekends. Source: WorkSafe Tasmania.
2027 note: Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 December and Boxing Day on Sunday 26 December — additional public holidays are declared on Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December respectively, following the standard national pattern. Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April 2027; Tasmania does not declare a substitute for this. 2027 dates are subject to confirmation by government proclamation closer to the date — always verify with WorkSafe Tasmania before finalising rosters or leave plans. Source: WorkSafe Tasmania.
Tasmania's Regional Public Holidays
Unlike every other mainland state, Tasmania has public holidays that legally apply only in specific municipal areas — not statewide. Whether you get the day off depends on where you're located.
| Holiday | Typical timing | Where observed |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Hobart Regatta | Second Monday in February (date set annually) | Southern Tasmania — south of and including Oatlands and Swansea, excluding Bronte Park, Catagunya, Strathgordon, Tarraleah, Wayatinah and the West Coast |
| Recreation Day | First Monday in November | All areas of northern Tasmania not observing the Regatta — instituted specifically to offset the southern Regatta holiday |
| Royal Hobart Show | Late October (date set annually) | Southern Tasmania, excluding the West Coast |
| Launceston Cup | Late February (date set annually) | Generally State Public Service only, in Launceston and surrounding northern midlands areas — often a half-day observance |
| Devonport Cup | Date set annually, from 11am | Municipal area of Devonport, generally State Public Service only |
TAS Long Weekends 2026 & 2027
Plan ahead with these Tasmania long weekends — based on statewide public holidays only.
2026 Long Weekends
Eight Hours Day
Easter
4 days statewide — Easter Tuesday extends it for public service
King's Birthday
Recreation Day (northern TAS)
Christmas–New Year
+ 1 Jan 2027 (New Year's Day, Friday)
Anzac Day
Single-day only — no TAS substitute
2027 Long Weekends
Eight Hours Day
Easter
King's Birthday
Recreation Day (northern TAS)
Christmas–New Year
4 days — Mon & Tue additional public holidays
Anzac Day
No substitute — Mon 26 Apr is a normal day
TAS Public Holiday Questions — Quick Answers
Direct answers to the most common public holiday questions for Tasmania.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Tasmania?
No. Unlike NSW and SA, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are not gazetted as statewide public holidays in Tasmania. Only Good Friday and Easter Monday are statewide.
✗ No — unlike NSW/SAWhat is Eight Hours Day?
Tasmania's equivalent of Labour Day, observed on the second Monday in March. In 2026: Monday 9 March. In 2027: Monday 8 March. Commemorates the eight-hour workday movement.
✓ TAS's Labour DayDo all Tasmanians get Easter Tuesday off?
No. Easter Tuesday is restricted to the State Public Service and employees covered by specific awards or agreements. Most private-sector Tasmanian workers do not receive this day.
⚑ Restricted, not generalDoes Anzac Day get a substitute Monday in TAS?
No. Tasmania never declares a substitute public holiday for Anzac Day, whether it falls on Saturday or Sunday. This matches South Australia's approach.
✗ No — same as SAWhat is Recreation Day?
A public holiday observed in northern Tasmania on the first Monday in November, instituted to offset the Royal Hobart Regatta holiday observed only in the south.
✓ Northern TAS onlyIs the Royal Hobart Show a public holiday everywhere in TAS?
No. It's a regional holiday specific to southern Tasmania, excluding the West Coast. Workers in northern Tasmania do not receive this day off.
✗ Southern TAS onlyHow many statewide public holidays does TAS have?
9 gazetted statewide public holidays per year, plus the restricted Easter Tuesday and various regional holidays that apply only in specific municipal areas.
9 statewideIs Boxing Day a public holiday in Tasmania?
Yes, on 26 December, using the standard "Boxing Day" name (unlike SA's "Proclamation Day"). In 2026 it falls on Saturday, with Monday 28 December as an additional public holiday.
✓ Yes — standard nameIs King's Birthday the same date as NSW in TAS?
Yes. Tasmania observes King's Birthday on the second Monday in June, identical to NSW and SA. In 2026: Monday 8 June. In 2027: Monday 14 June.
✓ Same as NSW/SAWhat is the legal basis for TAS public holidays?
The Statutory Holidays Act 2000 (Tas), which governs both the 9 statewide holidays and the framework for regional and restricted holidays like Easter Tuesday and the various Show Days.
Statutory Holidays Act 2000Do I get both Regatta Day and Recreation Day?
No — you get one or the other, never both. Southern Tasmania (Hobart area) observes the Royal Hobart Regatta; northern Tasmania observes Recreation Day instead, on a different date.
✗ Mutually exclusive by regionHow TAS Public Holidays Affect Annual Leave
Important rules every Tasmanian employee and employer needs to know about public holidays and leave periods.
Example: An employee in Launceston takes 1 week of annual leave from Monday 26 October to Friday 6 November 2026. Recreation Day falls on Monday 2 November 2026, within this period. If the employee's location observes Recreation Day, their annual leave balance is debited for 4 working days (not 5), because Recreation Day is deducted as a public holiday, not annual leave.
This regional variation adds a layer of complexity in Tasmania that doesn't exist in other states — the same leave period can be debited differently for two employees of the same company, depending on which municipal area they're based in.
Working on a TAS public holiday?
Most modern awards pay 225%–250% for public holiday work. Calculate your exact penalty rate for any TAS public holiday — including Eight Hours Day and Boxing Day.
Public Holiday Rights for TAS Workers
Your entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 and Statutory Holidays Act 2000 (Tas) 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.
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
If you work on a TAS 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). 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 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 TAS 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 | Additional 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) | No substitute — Tasmania does not declare one | No substitute — Tasmania does not declare one |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec) | Additional PH declared — typically Mon 27 Dec | Additional PH declared — typically Mon 26 or 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day (26 Dec) | Additional PH declared — typically Mon 28 Dec | Additional PH declared — typically Tue 28 Dec |
These rules are set by the Statutory Holidays Act 2000 (Tas). Exact substitute dates are confirmed by government proclamation each year — always verify against WorkSafe Tasmania or the Fair Work Ombudsman before rostering or planning.
TAS Public Holidays — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to every specific public holiday question for Tasmania.
What are the TAS public holidays in 2026?
The 9 statewide TAS public holidays in 2026 are: New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan), Eight Hours Day (Mon 9 Mar), Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), Anzac Day (Sat 25 Apr, no substitute), King's Birthday (Mon 8 Jun), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec, with an additional public holiday Mon 28 Dec). Easter Tuesday (Tue 7 Apr) is restricted to the State Public Service. Regional Recreation Day, Regatta and Show Day holidays apply by location. Source: WorkSafe Tasmania.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Tasmania?
No. Unlike NSW and SA, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are not gazetted as statewide public holidays in Tasmania. Tasmania's statewide Easter holidays are limited to Good Friday and Easter Monday.
What is Eight Hours Day in Tasmania?
Tasmania's equivalent of Labour Day, observed on the second Monday in March. In 2026: Monday 9 March. In 2027: Monday 8 March. It commemorates the campaign for an eight-hour working day.
Is Easter Tuesday a public holiday for everyone in Tasmania?
No. Easter Tuesday is a restricted public holiday, observed by the State Public Service and employees covered by specific awards or agreements — not a general public holiday for all Tasmanian workers.
What are Tasmania's regional public holidays?
Several holidays apply only in specific municipal areas: the Royal Hobart Regatta (southern TAS), Recreation Day (northern TAS, offsetting the Regatta), the Royal Hobart Show (southern TAS), and the Launceston Cup and Devonport Cup (generally State Public Service in their respective areas). These are legally binding within their designated boundaries under the Statutory Holidays Act 2000.
Does Tasmania get a substitute holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend?
No. Tasmania does not declare a substitute public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday — matching South Australia's approach, and differing from NSW and WA, which both declare substitute Mondays.
How does a public holiday affect annual leave in Tasmania?
If a public holiday falls within your approved annual leave period, that day is not deducted from your annual leave balance. This right is protected under Section 116 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Use the Annual Leave Calculator to check your leave balance.
Can my employer make me work on a public holiday in Tasmania?
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 — considering factors like notice given, the nature of the work, and your personal circumstances.