📍 VIC · PH · 2026 Calendar

VIC Public Holidays 2026.

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

VIC 2026 Calendar

VIC public holidays for 2026.

Victoria has 14 public holidays in 2026 (including a substitute Monday for Boxing Day) including state-specific AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup. Labour Day falls in March, not October. 14 full-day public holidays. Source: Business Victoria - Victorian public holidays 2026.

HolidayDayDateScope
New Year's Day
Thursday1 JanuaryNational
Australia Day
Monday26 JanuaryNational
Labour Day
Monday9 MarchState
Good Friday
Friday3 AprilNational
Saturday before Easter Sunday
Saturday4 AprilNational
Easter Sunday
Sunday5 AprilNational
Easter Monday
Monday6 AprilNational
Anzac Day
Saturday25 AprilNational
King's Birthday
Monday8 JuneState
Friday before AFL Grand Final
Subject to AFL schedule, typically last Friday in September
Friday25 SeptemberState
Melbourne Cup
Statewide except where alternate local holiday is arranged
Tuesday3 NovemberState
Christmas Day
Friday25 DecemberNational
Boxing Day
Saturday26 DecemberNational
Boxing Day substitute
Additional public holiday because Boxing Day fell on a Saturday
Monday28 DecemberState
VIC 2027 Calendar

VIC public holidays for 2027.

Confirmed dates from Public Holidays Act 1993 (Vic). Some 2027 dates may be subject to government proclamation.

HolidayDayDateScope
New Year's Day
Friday1 JanuaryNational
Australia Day
Tuesday26 JanuaryNational
Labour Day
Monday8 MarchState
Good Friday
Friday26 MarchNational
Saturday before Easter Sunday
Saturday27 MarchNational
Easter Sunday
Sunday28 MarchNational
Easter Monday
Monday29 MarchNational
Anzac Day
Sunday. VIC does not gazette a substitute Monday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
Sunday25 AprilNational
King's Birthday
Monday14 JuneState
Friday before AFL Grand Final
Not yet gazetted. Victoria confirms the date when the AFL releases the 2027 schedule; 24 September is the last Friday in September.
Friday24 SeptemberState
Melbourne Cup
Some regional areas hold the Melbourne Cup public holiday on a different date, set by the local council.
Tuesday2 NovemberState
Christmas Day
Saturday25 DecemberNational
Boxing Day
Sunday26 DecemberNational
Christmas Day substitute
Monday27 DecemberNational
Boxing Day substitute
Tuesday28 DecemberNational

Statute: Public Holidays Act 1993 (Vic). All dates verified against the VIC 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 VIC and across Australia.

Melbourne Cup Day and regional substitutions

Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday across all of Victoria, with one twist that no other Australian holiday has: a non-metropolitan council can substitute an alternative local holiday instead, typically a local show day or race day. That is why some regional Victorians work Cup Day and take a different day off, while metropolitan Melbourne always gets the Tuesday.

Victoria is also the only state that stops for the football: the Friday before the AFL Grand Final is gazetted statewide with no regional substitution at all, and it is the only Australian public holiday whose date is set by a sporting fixture rather than a calendar rule. Dates, the Cup substitution rule and public holiday pay are on the Melbourne Cup public holiday page.

A public holiday that falls inside booked annual leave is not deducted from your balance under section 89 of the Fair Work Act, so a week containing Cup Day costs you four days rather than five. Victoria is also the most generous long service leave jurisdiction in the country, paying an unconditional entitlement at 7 years rather than 10: work out what you have accrued with the Victorian long service leave calculator, or start from the Victoria leave calculator for annual leave and final pay under Victorian rules.

Penalty Rate Calculator

Working a VIC public holiday?

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

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

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VictoriaVICChange state →
Standard FT week is 38 hours.
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Here's your entitlement

14
Public holidays in VIC for 2026.
10
Weekday holidays
5 × Monday
Most common day
$266
Pay per day off
See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114
ComponentFormulaValue
New Year's DayThursday1 January
Australia DayMonday26 January
Labour DayMonday9 March
Good FridayFriday3 April
Saturday before Easter SundaySaturday4 April
Easter SundaySunday5 April
Easter MondayMonday6 April
Anzac DaySaturday25 April
King's BirthdayMonday8 June
Friday before AFL Grand FinalFriday25 September
Melbourne CupTuesday3 November
Christmas DayFriday25 December
Boxing DaySaturday26 December
Boxing Day substituteMonday28 December

ⓘ 2026 calendar for Victoria. Source: state public holiday legislation. Dates verified against state government and Fair Work Ombudsman.

Sarah Reid, CAHRI
Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Melbourne 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 VIC.

How much long service leave do I get in VIC?
6.07 weeks after 7 years of continuous service with the same employer, under the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (VIC). Pro-rata payout becomes available after 7 years on termination. Calculate your VIC LSL →
When does VIC long service leave become payable on termination?
Pro-rata payout is available after 7 years of continuous service in VIC however the employment ends, including a plain resignation. Under the Long Service Leave Act 2018 the only exclusion is dismissal for serious or wilful misconduct. VIC is one of the minority of states where the threshold alone is enough.
What's the VIC pro-rata LSL formula?
VIC 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.