QLD public holidays 2026
Queensland has 14 public holidays in 2026 — 13 full days plus a Christmas Eve part-day from 6pm to midnight — including the Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane region only), Labour Day on the first Monday in May and the King's Birthday on the first Monday in October.
Every public holiday in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | Thu | New Year's Day | National |
| Monday 26 January 2026 | Mon | Australia Day | National |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Fri | Good Friday | National |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | Sat | Saturday before Easter Sunday | 6 of 8 |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | Sun | Easter Sunday | 7 of 8 |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Mon | Easter Monday | National |
| Saturday 25 April 2026 | Sat | Anzac Day | National |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Mon | Labour Day | QLD-only |
| Wednesday 12 August 2026 | Wed | Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only) | QLD-only |
| Monday 5 October 2026 | Mon | King's Birthday | QLD-only |
| Thursday 24 December 2026 | Thu | Christmas Eve (part-day, 6pm to midnight) | QLD-only |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Fri | Christmas Day | National |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | Sat | Boxing Day | 6 of 8 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Mon | Boxing Day (additional) | 6 of 8 |
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.