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ACT public holidays 2026

The ACT recognises 15 public holidays in 2026, including Canberra Day (second Monday in March) and Reconciliation Day (Monday closest to 27 May).

Public holidays in 2026
15
ACT-only days
2
Days with penalty rates
15

Every public holiday in 2026

DateDayHolidayCoverage
Thursday 1 January 2026ThuNew Year's DayNational
Monday 26 January 2026MonAustralia DayNational
Monday 9 March 2026MonCanberra DayACT-only
Friday 3 April 2026FriGood FridayNational
Saturday 4 April 2026SatSaturday before Easter Sunday6 of 8
Sunday 5 April 2026SunEaster Sunday7 of 8
Monday 6 April 2026MonEaster MondayNational
Saturday 25 April 2026SatAnzac DayNational
Monday 27 April 2026MonAnzac Day (additional)3 of 8
Monday 1 June 2026MonReconciliation DayACT-only
Monday 8 June 2026MonKing's Birthday6 of 8
Monday 5 October 2026MonLabour Day3 of 8
Friday 25 December 2026FriChristmas DayNational
Saturday 26 December 2026SatBoxing Day6 of 8
Monday 28 December 2026MonBoxing Day (additional)6 of 8

Sources: The Holidays Act 1958 (ACT) sets the public holiday list. Penalty rates come from modern awards under the Fair Work Act 2009. Always cross-check with the current state gazette for any year-of substitutions when a holiday falls on a weekend.

Working it? Public holiday penalty rates depend on your award — check your public holiday rate or browse all penalty rates.

Next public holiday in ACT

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ACT public holidays 2027

Every ACT date below for 2027 is gazetted by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

DateDayHolidayCoverage
Friday 1 January 2027FriNew Year's DayNational
Tuesday 26 January 2027TueAustralia DayNational
Monday 8 March 2027MonCanberra DayACT-only
Friday 26 March 2027FriGood FridayNational
Saturday 27 March 2027SatEaster Saturday6 of 8
Sunday 28 March 2027SunEaster SundayNational
Monday 29 March 2027MonEaster MondayNational
Monday 26 April 2027MonANZAC Day3 of 8
Monday 31 May 2027MonReconciliation DayACT-only
Monday 14 June 2027MonKing's Birthday6 of 8
Monday 4 October 2027MonLabour Day3 of 8
Saturday 25 December 2027SatChristmas DayNational
Sunday 26 December 2027SunBoxing Day7 of 8
Monday 27 December 2027MonChristmas Day (additional)National
Tuesday 28 December 2027TueBoxing Day (additional)7 of 8

Sources: The Holidays Act 1958 (ACT) sets the public holiday list. Penalty rates come from modern awards under the Fair Work Act 2009. 2027 dates are from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s published 2027 public holidays list; provisional dates above are re-checked against that list as the year approaches.

Working it? Public holiday penalty rates depend on your award — check your public holiday rate or browse all penalty rates.

Is it a public holiday?

  • Is Monday 9 March 2026 a public holiday in Australian Capital Territory?

    Yes — Canberra Day is a public holiday only in ACT.

  • Is Monday 1 June 2026 a public holiday in Australian Capital Territory?

    Yes — Reconciliation Day is a public holiday only in ACT.

  • Is Monday 5 October 2026 a public holiday in Australian Capital Territory?

    Yes — 5 October 2026 is Labour Day in ACT.

  • Is Father's Day a public holiday?

    No — Father's Day is a Sunday in September with no public-holiday status anywhere in Australia.

  • Is New Year's Eve a public holiday?

    No — New Year's Eve is not a public holiday in ACT.

  • Is Christmas Eve a public holiday?

    No — Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in ACT.

ACT quirks worth knowing

  • Canberra Day on the second Monday in March is a unique ACT holiday.

  • Reconciliation Day on the Monday nearest to 27 May was introduced in 2018 — Australia's first state or territory to gazette a Reconciliation Day public holiday.

  • The ACT has NO Christmas Eve part-day public holiday. That is a South Australian, Northern Territory and Queensland arrangement — 24 December is an ordinary working day in the ACT.

Working a public holiday in ACT?

The penalty rate that applies depends on your modern award and employment type. Use our calculator to see the exact rate for your award + classification + state combination.

Calculate my public holiday rate →Work out my public holiday pay →Or all penalty rates →

Other states & territories

New South Wales (NSW)View →Victoria (VIC)View →Queensland (QLD)View →South Australia (SA)View →Western Australia (WA)View →Tasmania (TAS)View →Northern Territory (NT)View →

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