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Public Holidays in Australian Capital Territory (ACT) 2026 — Dates & Your Rights

Last updated: March 2026

Australian Capital Territory has 13 public holidays in 2026. Under the National Employment Standards, all employees (including part-time and casual workers) are entitled to be absent from work on a public holiday, and permanent employees are entitled to be paid their base rate for ordinary hours they would have worked.

If you work on a public holiday, you're generally entitled to penalty rates — typically double time and a half for full-time and part-time employees under most awards.

Public holidays vary significantly between states, with each state having unique holidays in addition to the national ones.

ACT Public Holidays 2026

DateHoliday
1 January 2026New Year's Day
26 January 2026Australia Day
9 March 2026Canberra Day
3 April 2026Good Friday
4 April 2026Saturday before Easter Sunday
5 April 2026Easter Sunday
6 April 2026Easter Monday
25 April 2026Anzac Day
1 June 2026Reconciliation Day
8 June 2026Queen's Birthday
28 September 2026Family & Community Day
25 December 2026Christmas Day
26 December 2026Boxing Day

Key Facts: Public Holidays in ACT

  • ✓ACT has 13 public holidays in 2026
  • ✓Permanent employees are paid their base rate for public holidays they don't work
  • ✓Working on a public holiday typically attracts double time and a half (most awards)
  • ✓Employers can request employees to work on public holidays, but the request must be reasonable
  • ✓Employees can refuse an unreasonable request to work on a public holiday
  • ✓Casual employees are not entitled to paid time off but do receive penalty rates if they work
  • ✓Part-time employees are only entitled to public holiday pay if the holiday falls on a day they'd normally work

Calculate Your Entitlements

Use our free public holiday rate checker to calculate your specific entitlements based on your circumstances.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays are there in Australian Capital Territory in 2026?▼
Australian Capital Territory has 13 public holidays in 2026, including national holidays (such as Australia Day, Anzac Day, and Christmas Day) and state-specific holidays.
What are the penalty rates for working on a public holiday in ACT?▼
Under most awards, full-time and part-time employees receive double time and a half (250%) for working on a public holiday. Casual employees typically receive 275% (including their 25% casual loading). Check your specific award or enterprise agreement as rates can vary.
Can my employer make me work on a public holiday in Australian Capital Territory?▼
Your employer can request you to work on a public holiday, but the request must be reasonable. Factors considered include the nature of the workplace, the employee's personal circumstances, the notice given, and whether the employee could reasonably expect to be asked to work. You can refuse an unreasonable request.
What if a public holiday falls on a weekend in ACT?▼
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, an additional day off is usually given on the next Monday (or sometimes the preceding Friday). However, this depends on the specific holiday and ACT government gazette declarations for that year. Employees who work on the actual day receive public holiday penalty rates.

Public Holidays in Other States

NSWNew South WalesVICVictoriaQLDQueenslandWAWestern AustraliaSASouth AustraliaTASTasmaniaNTNorthern Territory

More Workplace Rights in ACT

Redundancy PayRedundancy Pay rights in Australian Capital TerritoryNotice PeriodNotice Period rights in Australian Capital TerritoryLong Service LeaveLong Service Leave rights in Australian Capital TerritoryUnfair DismissalUnfair Dismissal rights in Australian Capital TerritoryWorkers CompensationWorkers Compensation rights in Australian Capital Territory

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.