NT Public Holidays 2026.

13 gazetted public holidays in Northern Territory for 2026, plus 14 confirmed for 2027. Full calendar below, penalty-rate calculator at the bottom.

NT 2026 Calendar

NT public holidays for 2026.

The Northern Territory has 13 public holidays plus part-day Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Picnic Day in early August is unique to the NT. 13 full-day public holidays plus 2 part-day holidays. Source: NT Government - Public holidays.

Holiday	Day	Date	Scope
New Year's Day	Thursday	1 January	National
Australia Day	Monday	26 January	National
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
May Day	Monday	4 May	State
King's Birthday	Monday	8 June	State
Picnic Day NT only, first Monday in August	Monday	3 August	State
Christmas Eve (part-day) 7pm to midnight only	Thursday	24 December	Part-day
Christmas Day	Friday	25 December	National
Boxing Day	Saturday	26 December	National
Boxing Day Monday Substitute because Boxing Day fell on a Saturday	Monday	28 December	State
New Year's Eve (part-day) 7pm to midnight only	Thursday	31 December	Part-day

NT 2027 Calendar

NT public holidays for 2027.

Confirmed dates from Public Holidays Act 1981 (NT). 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
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
May Day	Monday	3 May	State
King's Birthday	Monday	14 June	State
Picnic Day	Monday	2 August	State
Christmas Eve (part-day) 7pm to midnight only	Friday	24 December	Part-day
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
New Year's Eve (part-day) 7pm to midnight only	Friday	31 December	Part-day

Statute: Public Holidays Act 1981 (NT). All dates verified against the NT 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 NT and across Australia.

Northern Territory show days

The Territory gazettes five separate regional show days rather than one territory-wide show holiday. Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Darwin and Borroloola each get their own day across July and August, so which one you get depends entirely on the town you are based in for work. Picnic Day, on the first Monday in August, is the separate territory-wide holiday that everyone gets.

The five dates and the rules on which town covers which worker are on the Darwin Show Day page.

Penalty Rate Calculator

Working a NT public holiday?

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

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

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Here's your entitlement

Public holidays in NT for 2026.

Weekday holidays

6 × 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
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
May Day	Monday	4 May
King's Birthday	Monday	8 June
Picnic Day	Monday	3 August
Christmas Eve (part-day)	Thursday	24 December
Christmas Day	Friday	25 December
Boxing Day	Saturday	26 December
Boxing Day Monday	Monday	28 December
New Year's Eve (part-day)	Thursday	31 December

Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Darwin 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 NT.

How much long service leave do I get in NT?

13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service with the same employer, under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT). Pro-rata payout becomes available after 7 years on termination. Calculate your NT LSL →

When does NT long service leave become payable on termination?

Reaching 7 years of continuous service is necessary but not sufficient in NT. Under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 a pro-rata payment before the full 10-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 10 years the entitlement is payable however you leave.

What's the NT pro-rata LSL formula?

NT grants 13 weeks at 10 years, which works out to 1.3 weeks per year of service. So 7 years of service equals 9.10 weeks pro-rata. NT has one of the higher LSL entitlements in Australia.

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.