Victoria Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Every public holiday in Victoria for 2026 and 2027 — including Labour Day (March), AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup Day. Dates, long weekends, countdown and worker rights explained.
Victoria's unique public holidays
Victoria has three public holidays not observed in most other Australian states — making it the state with the most public holidays per year.
Second Monday in March. Celebrates Melbourne stonemasons' 1856 win of the 8-hour day — the world's first. NSW, the ACT and SA observe Labour Day in October; QLD in May; WA on the first Monday in March.
Friday before the AFL Grand Final — one of Australia's most unique public holidays. The 2026 holiday is Friday 25 September, the day before the Grand Final on Saturday 26 September. The 2027 date is set once the AFL confirms its Grand Final.
First Tuesday in November. Metropolitan Melbourne only — some regional areas observe Cup Day on a different date. One of the most famous race-day public holidays in the world.
Victoria Public Holidays 2026
All 13 official Victorian public holiday dates for 2026, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman. Includes AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup Day.
Notes: The Saturday before Easter (4 April) is a VIC public holiday — it is officially named "Saturday before Easter Sunday" in VIC, not "Easter Saturday" as in NSW. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 — Victoria does not declare an additional public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend (unlike NSW, WA and the ACT for 2026–27). AFL Grand Final Eve is Friday 25 September 2026, the day before the Grand Final. Melbourne Cup Day applies to metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas — check with your employer for your specific location. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman.
Victoria Public Holidays 2027
All 14 Victorian public holiday dates for 2027, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman. 2027 has extra days due to Christmas and Boxing Day falling on weekends.
In 2027, 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. Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April 2027; Victoria does not declare a substitute public holiday for Anzac Day when it falls on a weekend. The AFL Grand Final Eve date for 2027 is subject to AFL fixture confirmation. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman 2027.
Victoria Long Weekends 2026 & 2027
Plan annual leave, travel and events around every Victorian long weekend.
2026 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Labour Day
Easter
+ Sat before Easter (VIC public holiday)
King's Birthday
AFL Grand Final
Grand Final Eve = public holiday in VIC
Christmas–New Year
+ Fri 1 Jan 2027 (New Year's Day)
2027 Long Weekends
Australia Day
Labour Day
Easter
King's Birthday
AFL Grand Final
Christmas–New Year
4 consecutive public holidays
The AFL Grand Final Eve public holiday is declared on the Friday before the AFL Grand Final — making it the only public holiday in Australia that is subject to a sporting fixture. The date is announced once the AFL releases its finals schedule, typically in late July or August each year.
For 2026: the AFL Grand Final is on Saturday 26 September, so the public holiday is Friday 25 September. The 2027 date is not yet set. The public holiday is the preceding Friday. Once the AFL announces the Grand Final date, the Victorian Government confirms the public holiday date. Check AFL.com.au for fixture updates and the Business Victoria website for official confirmation.
Worker rights on AFL Grand Final Eve: Employees entitled to the public holiday receive their ordinary rate if absent, or penalty rates under their award if they work. The standard penalty rate under most Victorian awards for AFL Grand Final Eve is 225% to 250% of ordinary pay — the same as other public holidays. Use the Public Holiday Rate Calculator to check your rate.
Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday for metropolitan Melbourne and most of Victoria on the first Tuesday in November. Some regional Victorian areas observe Cup Day on a different date. Employees covered by a modern award are entitled to ordinary pay if absent, or penalty rates if they work.
Regional areas: some VIC regional employers are covered by different Cup Day dates set by local racing calendars. If you're not in metropolitan Melbourne, check with your employer and the Business Victoria website to confirm which date applies to your workplace.
VIC Public Holiday Questions — Quick Answers
Direct yes/no answers to the most common Victorian public holiday questions.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes, in effect. Victorian law calls it "the Saturday before Easter Sunday" rather than "Easter Saturday", but it is the same day and a full public holiday. In 2026: Saturday 4 April. In 2027: Saturday 27 March. Some awards still use the older name, so check yours.
⚑ Named differentlyIs Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes — for metropolitan Melbourne and most of Victoria. Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday November) is a public holiday in VIC. Some regional areas observe it on a different date. In 2026: Tuesday 3 November. In 2027: Tuesday 2 November.
⚑ Metro VICIs Labour Day a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes. Labour Day is an official Victorian public holiday on the second Monday in March. In 2026: Monday 9 March. In 2027: Monday 8 March. This is different from NSW (October) and QLD (May) — Victoria's Labour Day is in March.
✓ Yes — MarchIs the AFL Grand Final Eve a public holiday?
Yes — for metropolitan Victoria. AFL Grand Final Eve (Friday before the Grand Final) is an official public holiday. The date changes each year based on the AFL fixture. In 2026 it is Friday 25 September. The 2027 date is set once the AFL confirms its Grand Final.
⚑ VIC metroIs Easter Sunday a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes. Easter Sunday has been a national public holiday since 2011. In 2026: Sunday 5 April. In 2027: Sunday 28 March. This applies to all Australian states and territories including Victoria.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Remembrance Day a public holiday in Victoria?
No. Remembrance Day (11 November) is not a public holiday in Victoria or any other Australian state. A one-minute silence is observed at 11 am nationally, but it is a normal working day. Do not confuse it with Anzac Day (25 April) which IS a public holiday.
✗ NoIs Christmas Eve a public holiday in Victoria?
No. Christmas Eve (24 December) is not a public holiday in Victoria. It is a part-day public holiday only in Queensland (6pm to midnight), SA and the NT (7pm to midnight). Christmas Day (25 December) is the national public holiday.
✗ NoIs New Year's Eve a public holiday in Victoria?
No. New Year's Eve (31 December) is not a public holiday in Victoria. It is only a partial public holiday in the NT and SA. New Year's Day (1 January) is the national public holiday.
✗ NoIs Good Friday a public holiday in Victoria?
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 in Victoria — it is one of the most restricted trading days of the year.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Boxing Day a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes. Boxing Day is a national public holiday. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 26 December, with Monday 28 December as an additional declared public holiday. In 2027 it falls on Sunday 26 December, with Tuesday 28 December as the additional day.
✓ Yes — NationalIs Anzac Day a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes. Anzac Day (25 April) is a national public holiday in all Australian states including Victoria. In 2026 it falls on Saturday 25 April, and in 2027 on Sunday 25 April — Victoria does not declare a substitute public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend, unlike NSW, WA and the ACT for 2026–27.
✓ Yes — no weekend substituteIs King's Birthday a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes. Victoria observes the King's Birthday on the second Monday in June. In 2026: Monday 8 June. In 2027: Monday 14 June. Note: WA observes the King's Birthday in late September — a different date from VIC.
✓ Yes — JuneHow Victoria's public holidays differ from NSW
Victoria has
- Labour Day in March (second Monday March)
- AFL Grand Final Eve (Friday before Grand Final — metro)
- Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday November — metro)
- "Saturday before Easter Sunday" (not called Easter Saturday)
- No Bank Holiday (NSW has one in August)
- No Anzac Day weekend substitute (NSW added one for 2026–27)
NSW has instead
- Labour Day in October (first Monday October)
- Bank Holiday (first Monday August — banks only)
- No AFL Grand Final public holiday
- No Melbourne Cup public holiday
- "Easter Saturday" (same date, different official name)
- An Anzac Day Monday substitute for 2026 and 2027
- 5-year pro-rata LSL threshold (VIC is 7 years) — see the full state-by-state pro-rata guide
How Victorian Public Holidays Affect Annual Leave
What every Victorian employee needs to know about public holidays and leave entitlements.
Example: A Victorian employee takes annual leave from Monday 30 March to Sunday 12 April 2026. Easter Monday (6 April) falls within this period. The employee's leave balance is debited for 9 working days (not 10) because Easter Monday is a public holiday, not a leave day. If the employee is in metropolitan Melbourne and Melbourne Cup Day (3 November) falls during another leave period, that day is also not deducted.
Working on a Victorian public holiday?
AFL Grand Final Eve, Melbourne Cup Day and Labour Day all attract penalty rates. Calculate your exact rate for any Victorian public holiday under any modern award.
Victorian Public Holiday Worker Rights
Your entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 on Victorian 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. Your employer can request you work, but you may refuse if the request is unreasonable — considering your caring responsibilities, the notice given, and the nature of the work.
Right to ordinary pay
Under Section 116 of the Fair Work Act, if you don't work on a public holiday, you are paid your ordinary rate. Your employer cannot dock pay or require you to use annual leave to cover a public holiday you were absent from.
Penalty rates for working
If you work on a Victorian public holiday, your modern award sets the penalty rate. Most awards pay 225%–250% on public holidays. AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup Day attract the same penalty rates as other declared public holidays. Check the Victoria public holiday pay rates for your award.
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 (Fair Work Act s.116). This includes AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup for eligible VIC employees.
What happens when a Victorian 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 (Monday) | Additional 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 — Victoria does not declare an additional public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend | No substitute — the same rule applies for Sunday |
| 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) |
Always verify against the Business Victoria public holidays page or the Fair Work Ombudsman for the current year.
Victorian Public Holidays — Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive answers for Victorian employees, employers and HR teams.
What are the public holidays in Victoria 2026?
Victoria's 2026 public holidays are: New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan), Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan), Labour Day (Mon 9 Mar), Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Saturday before Easter Sunday (Sat 4 Apr), Easter Sunday (Sun 5 Apr), Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr), Anzac Day (Sat 25 Apr), King's Birthday (Mon 8 Jun), AFL Grand Final Eve (Fri 25 Sep), Melbourne Cup Day (Tue 3 Nov — metropolitan VIC), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), and additional Boxing Day public holiday (Mon 28 Dec). Source: Fair Work Ombudsman.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Victoria?
Not officially named that. Victoria observes the "Saturday before Easter Sunday" — the same calendar date as what NSW calls "Easter Saturday" — but the official name differs. In 2026: Saturday 4 April. In 2027: Saturday 27 March. VIC and NSW observe the same day, but some awards may interpret the entitlement differently depending on whether they reference "Easter Saturday" or "the Saturday before Easter Sunday" — check your specific modern award.
When is Labour Day in Victoria 2026?
Labour Day Victoria 2026 falls on Monday 9 March 2026. Victoria observes Labour Day on the second Monday in March. In 2027: Monday 8 March. NSW, the ACT and SA observe Labour Day in October; QLD and the NT (May Day) in May; WA on the first Monday in March.
Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?
Yes — for metropolitan Melbourne and most of Victoria. Melbourne Cup Day is observed on the first Tuesday in November. In 2026: Tuesday 3 November. In 2027: Tuesday 2 November. Some regional Victorian areas observe Cup Day on a different date. Employees in regional Victoria should check with their employer and the Business Victoria website for their specific location.
When is the AFL Grand Final public holiday in Victoria?
The AFL Grand Final Eve public holiday falls on the Friday before the AFL Grand Final. The date is confirmed once the AFL announces its finals fixture — typically late July or August. For 2026, the public holiday is Friday 25 September (Grand Final on Saturday 26 September). The 2027 date is not yet confirmed. Check AFL.com.au for fixture announcements and Business Victoria for the official public holiday date.
How many public holidays does Victoria have per year?
Victoria has 13 public holidays in 2026 (the most of any Australian state), including the AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup Day. When substitute public holidays are declared (such as the additional Boxing Day day in 2026), the count reaches 14. In 2027: 14 declared public holiday dates, including additional Christmas/Boxing Day substitute days — Victoria does not add a substitute for Anzac Day. Victoria's high count is due to its three unique public holidays — Labour Day, AFL Grand Final Eve and Melbourne Cup.
What is the June public holiday in Victoria?
The June public holiday in Victoria 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 June. Note: Western Australia observes the King's Birthday in late September, not June.
What is the March public holiday in Victoria?
The March public holiday in Victoria is Labour Day, observed on the second Monday in March. In 2026: Monday 9 March. In 2027: Monday 8 March. Labour Day in Victoria commemorates the 1856 victory of Melbourne stonemasons who won the 8-hour workday — the first successful campaign for the 8-hour day anywhere in the world.
How does a public holiday affect annual leave in Victoria?
If a public holiday falls during approved annual leave in Victoria, that day is not deducted from your leave balance. You receive the public holiday at your ordinary rate in addition to your leave. This right is protected under Section 116 of the Fair Work Act 2009 and applies whether the holiday is AFL Grand Final Eve, Melbourne Cup or any other declared Victorian public holiday. Use the Annual Leave Calculator to check your current balance.
Is Remembrance Day a public holiday in Victoria?
No. Remembrance Day (11 November) is not a public holiday in Victoria or any Australian state. It is a day of national commemoration with a one-minute silence at 11 am, but it is a normal working day. Do not confuse it with Anzac Day (25 April), which is a national public holiday in all states.
Public holidays in other states and territories
Each state and territory sets its own public holidays. Compare the 2026 and 2027 dates.