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SA public holidays 2026

South Australia recognises 15 public holidays in 2026 — 13 full days plus two part-day holidays (Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, 7pm to midnight) — including Proclamation Day on 26 December (or substituted day) and Adelaide Cup Day on the second Monday in March.

Public holidays in 2026
15
SA-only days
3
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 2026MonAdelaide Cup DaySA-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 8 June 2026MonKing's Birthday6 of 8
Monday 5 October 2026MonLabour Day3 of 8
Thursday 24 December 2026ThuChristmas Eve (part-day, 7pm to midnight)2 of 8
Friday 25 December 2026FriChristmas DayNational
Saturday 26 December 2026SatProclamation DaySA-only
Monday 28 December 2026MonProclamation Day (additional)SA-only
Thursday 31 December 2026ThuNew Year's Eve (part-day, 7pm to midnight)2 of 8

Sources: The Holidays Act 1910 (SA) 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.

SA quirks worth knowing

  • Adelaide Cup Day is the second Monday in March — a unique South Australian holiday.

  • Proclamation Day (26 December) is celebrated separately from Boxing Day in some industries — a quirk that leads to underpayment errors when employers assume only one is a public holiday.

  • Christmas Eve (24 December) is a part-day public holiday in SA from 7pm to midnight. SA is not alone in this — the Northern Territory has the same 7pm-to-midnight part-day, and Queensland has one from 6pm to midnight. Most other states have no Christmas Eve holiday at all.

  • New Year's Eve (31 December) is also a part-day public holiday in SA from 7pm to midnight, since 2012.

Working a public holiday in SA?

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 →Or all penalty rates →

Other states & territories

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