ACT Public Holidays 2026.

15 gazetted public holidays in Australian Capital Territory for 2026, plus 15 confirmed for 2027. Full calendar below, penalty-rate calculator at the bottom.

ACT 2026 Calendar

ACT public holidays for 2026.

The ACT has 15 public holidays in 2026 (including substitute Mondays for Anzac Day and Boxing Day), including Canberra Day in March and Reconciliation Day in late May/early June, both of which are unique to the territory. 15 full-day public holidays. Source: ACT Government - Public holidays.

Holiday	Day	Date	Scope
New Year's Day	Thursday	1 January	National
Australia Day	Monday	26 January	National
Canberra Day ACT only, second Monday in March	Monday	9 March	State
Good Friday	Friday	3 April	National
Easter Saturday	Saturday	4 April	National
Easter Sunday	Sunday	5 April	National
Easter Monday	Monday	6 April	National
Anzac Day	Saturday	25 April	National
Anzac Day substitute Additional holiday because Anzac Day fell on a Saturday	Monday	27 April	State
Reconciliation Day ACT only	Monday	1 June	State
King's Birthday	Monday	8 June	State
Labour Day	Monday	5 October	State
Christmas Day	Friday	25 December	National
Boxing Day	Saturday	26 December	National
Boxing Day substitute Additional holiday because Boxing Day fell on a Saturday	Monday	28 December	State

ACT 2027 Calendar

ACT public holidays for 2027.

Confirmed dates from Holidays Act 1958 (ACT). Some 2027 dates may be subject to government proclamation.

Holiday	Day	Date	Scope
New Year's Day	Friday	1 January	National
Australia Day	Tuesday	26 January	National
Canberra Day	Monday	8 March	State
Good Friday	Friday	26 March	National
Easter Saturday	Saturday	27 March	National
Easter Sunday	Sunday	28 March	National
Easter Monday	Monday	29 March	National
Anzac Day (observed)	Monday	26 April	National
Reconciliation Day	Monday	31 May	State
King's Birthday	Monday	14 June	State
Labour Day	Monday	4 October	State
Christmas Day	Saturday	25 December	National
Christmas Day substitute	Monday	27 December	National
Boxing Day	Sunday	26 December	National
Boxing Day substitute	Tuesday	28 December	National

Statute: Holidays Act 1958 (ACT). All dates verified against the ACT government source linked above. Dates may change due to government proclamation. Local-government and regional show-day holidays not listed.

See all Australian public holidays for 2027, or find the long weekends in ACT and across Australia.

Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day

The ACT has two public holidays that exist nowhere else in Australia. Canberra Day falls on the second Monday in March and marks the naming of the city in 1913. Reconciliation Day is observed on the first Monday on or after 27 May, and the ACT is the only jurisdiction that has it.

Neither applies across the border. Because public holidays follow the jurisdiction you are based in for work, a Queanbeyan resident working in Civic gets Canberra Day and a Canberra resident working at a Queanbeyan site does not. Dates through 2028 are on the Canberra Day page.

Penalty Rate Calculator

Working a ACT public holiday?

Calculate penalty rates for a public holiday shift. Pre-configured for Australian Capital Territory.

✓ Free, no sign-up|Live|Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114

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Here's your entitlement

Public holidays in ACT for 2026.

Weekday holidays

8 × Monday

Most common day

$266

Pay per day off

See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114

Component	Formula	Value
New Year's Day	Thursday	1 January
Australia Day	Monday	26 January
Canberra Day	Monday	9 March
Good Friday	Friday	3 April
Easter Saturday	Saturday	4 April
Easter Sunday	Sunday	5 April
Easter Monday	Monday	6 April
Anzac Day	Saturday	25 April
Anzac Day substitute	Monday	27 April
Reconciliation Day	Monday	1 June
King's Birthday	Monday	8 June
Labour Day	Monday	5 October
Christmas Day	Friday	25 December
Boxing Day	Saturday	26 December
Boxing Day substitute	Monday	28 December

Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Canberra based

Verified expert

Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.

Q & A

Public holiday questions for ACT.

How much long service leave do I get in ACT?

6.07 weeks after 7 years of continuous service with the same employer, under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT). Pro-rata payout becomes available after 5 years on termination. Calculate your ACT LSL →

When does ACT long service leave become payable on termination?

Reaching 5 years of continuous service is necessary but not sufficient in ACT. Under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 a pro-rata payment before the full 7-year entitlement also requires a qualifying reason: illness, incapacity, a domestic or other pressing necessity, reaching retirement age, death, or termination by the employer for something other than serious misconduct. A plain resignation to take another job can pay nothing. Once you reach 7 years the entitlement is payable however you leave.

What's the ACT pro-rata LSL formula?

ACT uses the 1/60th formula: weeks of LSL = total weeks of service divided by 60. So 7 years of service equals (7 × 52) ÷ 60 = 6.07 weeks. The longer you stay, the more leave accrues, with no cap.

How many public holidays are there in Australia?

7 days are nationally recognised: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Every state and territory gazettes additional days, taking the total per state from 9 (TAS) to 15 (ACT) in 2026.

Do I get penalty rates for working a public holiday?

Almost always yes, the rate depends on your award. Most awards pay 200%-250% (i.e. 2-2.5x base rate) for hours worked on a gazetted public holiday. A small number absorb public-holiday work in an annualised salary instead. Calculate your public holiday pay →

Can I refuse to work on a public holiday?

Yes, under s.114 of the Fair Work Act. You can refuse a request to work a public holiday if the request is unreasonable or your refusal is reasonable. Factors include the work's nature, your personal circumstances, the type of employment and notice given.

What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?

Most states gazette a substitute weekday (usually the following Monday). The substitute IS the public holiday for legal purposes, penalty rates apply on the substitute, not the calendar date. Some states gazette both days for Anzac Day and Boxing Day.