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QLD public holidays 2026

Queensland has 10 public holidays in 2026, including the Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane region only) and Labour Day on the first Monday in May.

Public holidays in 2026
9
QLD-only days
1
Days with penalty rates
9

Every public holiday in 2026

DateDayHolidayCoverage
Thursday 1 January 2026ThuNew Year's DayNational
Monday 26 January 2026MonAustralia DayNational
Friday 3 April 2026FriGood FridayNational
Saturday 4 April 2026SatSaturday before Easter SundayNational
Monday 6 April 2026MonEaster MondayNational
Saturday 25 April 2026SatAnzac DayNational
Monday 8 June 2026MonQueen's BirthdayQLD-only
Friday 25 December 2026FriChristmas DayNational
Saturday 26 December 2026SatBoxing DayNational

Sources: The Holidays Act 1983 (Qld) 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.

QLD quirks worth knowing

  • Royal Queensland Show (the Ekka, mid-August) is a public holiday only in the Brisbane local government area — not statewide. Other LGAs may have local 'show day' substitutes on different dates.

  • Labour Day in Queensland is the first Monday in May — different from Victoria (March) and NSW (October).

  • If Christmas Day or Boxing Day fall on a weekend, the following Monday and/or Tuesday is also a public holiday in addition to the original days (so weekend-fall years generate 4 days of holiday treatment).

Working a public holiday in QLD?

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.

Other states & territories