Updated · Apr 2026
Plan Your Time Off
Long weekends in Australia.
The public holidays that land on a Friday or Monday, giving you a three-day break (four days at Easter). Here is every long weekend for 2026 and 2027, and which states get it. Holidays on a Tuesday or Thursday are not listed: bridge those with a day of annual leave.
Long weekends in 2026.
Public holidays falling on a Friday or Monday across Australia in 2026. For the full list of dates by state, see the public holidays hub.
| Long weekend | When | Holiday day |
|---|---|---|
Australia Day (All states) | Sat 24 January to Mon 26 January | Monday |
Labour Day (WA) | Sat 28 February to Mon 2 March | Monday |
Labour Day (VIC) Adelaide Cup Day (SA) Eight Hours Day (TAS) Canberra Day (ACT) | Sat 7 March to Mon 9 March | Monday |
Easter (Good Friday) (All states) Part of the four-day Easter break | Fri 3 April to Sun 5 April | Friday |
Easter Monday (All states) Part of the four-day Easter break | Sat 4 April to Mon 6 April | Monday |
Additional Anzac Day public holiday (NSW) Anzac Day substitute (WA, ACT) | Sat 25 April to Mon 27 April | Monday |
Labour Day (QLD) May Day (NT) | Sat 2 May to Mon 4 May | Monday |
Western Australia Day (WA) Reconciliation Day (ACT) | Sat 30 May to Mon 1 June | Monday |
King's Birthday (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, NT, ACT) | Sat 6 June to Mon 8 June | Monday |
Picnic Day (NT) | Sat 1 August to Mon 3 August | Monday |
Friday before AFL Grand Final (VIC) | Fri 25 September to Sun 27 September | Friday |
King's Birthday (WA) | Sat 26 September to Mon 28 September | Monday |
Labour Day (NSW, SA, ACT) King's Birthday (QLD) | Sat 3 October to Mon 5 October | Monday |
Christmas Day (All states) | Fri 25 December to Sun 27 December | Friday |
Additional Boxing Day public holiday (NSW) Boxing Day substitute (VIC, QLD, WA, TAS, ACT) Proclamation Day additional public holiday (SA) Boxing Day Monday (NT) | Sat 26 December to Mon 28 December | Monday |
Long weekends in 2027.
The same view for 2027. Anzac Day falls on a Sunday, so it does not create a national long weekend.
| Long weekend | When | Holiday day |
|---|---|---|
New Year's Day (All states) | Fri 1 January to Sun 3 January | Friday |
Labour Day (WA) | Sat 27 February to Mon 1 March | Monday |
Labour Day (VIC) Adelaide Cup Day (SA) Eight Hours Day (TAS) Canberra Day (ACT) | Sat 6 March to Mon 8 March | Monday |
Easter (Good Friday) (All states) Part of the four-day Easter break | Fri 26 March to Sun 28 March | Friday |
Easter Monday (All states) Part of the four-day Easter break | Sat 27 March to Mon 29 March | Monday |
Anzac Day (NSW) Anzac Day (observed) (QLD, NT, ACT) Anzac Day substitute (WA) | Sat 24 April to Mon 26 April | Monday |
Labour Day (QLD) May Day (NT) | Sat 1 May to Mon 3 May | Monday |
Reconciliation Day (ACT) | Sat 29 May to Mon 31 May | Monday |
Western Australia Day (WA) | Sat 5 June to Mon 7 June | Monday |
King's Birthday (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, NT, ACT) | Sat 12 June to Mon 14 June | Monday |
Picnic Day (NT) | Sat 31 July to Mon 2 August | Monday |
Friday before AFL Grand Final (VIC) | Fri 24 September to Sun 26 September | Friday |
King's Birthday (WA) | Sat 25 September to Mon 27 September | Monday |
Labour Day (NSW, SA, ACT) King's Birthday (QLD) | Sat 2 October to Mon 4 October | Monday |
Christmas Day substitute (All states) | Sat 25 December to Mon 27 December | Monday |
Turn a public holiday into a four-day break.
When a holiday falls mid-week, a single day of annual leave bridges it to the weekend. Check your balance with the annual leave calculator, or see the full 2027 public holiday calendar and your state's dates on the public holidays hub.
Long weekend questions.
Planning time off around Australian public holidays.
What counts as a long weekend?
A long weekend is created when a public holiday falls on a Friday or a Monday, giving a three-day break next to the weekend. Easter is the longest: Good Friday and Easter Monday combine with the weekend for a four-day break in most states.
Are long weekends the same in every Australian state?
No. National holidays like Australia Day, Easter and Christmas apply everywhere, but each state and territory also sets its own holidays (for example Labour Day, Melbourne Cup, WA Day and Picnic Day), which fall on different dates. So the long weekends you get depend on which state you work in.
How can I turn a public holiday into a longer break?
When a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, taking a single day of annual leave on the Monday or Friday bridges it to the weekend for a four-day break. Use the annual leave calculator to check your balance before you book.