King's Birthday in Australia 2027
The King's Birthday is a public holiday in every Australian state and territory — but not on the same day. Most of the country takes the second Monday in June, while Queensland waits until the first Monday in October and Western Australia until late September.
King's Birthday dates by year
Dates computed from the governing statutes and last verified October 3, 2026. Years beyond officially published schedules are projected from the rule that sets the date.
Second Monday in June in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT and NT. Queensland and Western Australia observe it in September/October (see kings-birthday-qld and kings-birthday-wa).
One holiday, three different dates
The King's Birthday honors Australia's head of state — the reigning British monarch, currently King Charles III — and every Australian gets it as a paid public holiday. What almost no one outside Australia realzies is that the country cannot agree on when. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory all observe it on the second Monday in June. Queensland holds it on the first Monday in October! Western Australia has no fixed rule at all: the state's Governor proclaims the date each year, usually the last Monday in September. The closest American parallel is Presidents Day — a Monday holiday for the head of state that long ago dritfed from any actual birthday — except imagine Texas and California each picking a different month.
Why it is not the King's actual birthday
Charles III was born on November 14, but the holiday has never tracked the living monarch's birth date for long. The tradition of an official birthday was settled in 1936: until then Australia celebrated on the monarch's real birthday, but when King George V — born June 3 — died that year, the June timing was kept rather than reset for each new sovereign - the holiday was called the Queen's Birthday throughout Elizabeth II's sevnety-year reign and was renamed the King's Birthday after her death in 2022, when Charles III aceded.
The oldest holiday in Australia
The King's Birthday is arguably Australia's first public holiday. On June 4, 1788, months after the First Fleet landed, Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday for the birthday of King George III, complete with celebrations in the new penal colony at Sydney Cove. Colonial governments kept the custom, and it survived federation in 1901 as a holiday set by each state — which is exactly why the dates now differ.
Why Queensland and Western Australia broke away
- Queensland moved its observance to the first Monday in October, beginning in 2016, largely to fix a holiday drought — the state previously had a long stretch of the year with no day off, and the spring date spaces things out.
- Western Australia celebrates WA Day, its own foundation holiday, in early June, so it pushes the King's Birthday to a date the Governor proclaims annually — normally the last Monday in September, chosen around school terms and the Perth Royal Show. Legislation has been proposed to fix WA's date to the second Monday in June in future years, but until it passes, the proclaimed spring date stands.
How the day is marked
The King's Birthday Honours List, announcing new appointments to the Order of Australia, is published for the June weekend, alongside gun salutes and military ceremonies. Culturally the day belongs to sport and the season: the June long weekend traditionally opens the ski season in the alpine resorts of New South Wales and Victoria, and the Australian Football League's King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground routinely draws one of the biggest crowds of the season.
King's Birthday by state
King's Birthday is observed in 8 of 8 states and territories.
| State | Status | Local name / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Public holiday | |
| New South Wales | Public holiday | |
| Northern Territory | Public holiday | |
| South Australia | Public holiday | |
| Tasmania | Public holiday | |
| Victoria | Public holiday | |
| Queensland | Public holiday | First Monday in October in Queensland (since 2016). |
| Western Australia | Public holiday | Proclaimed each year by the WA Governor, usually the last Monday in September (2024, on 23 September, was an exception). Confirmed for 2026 (Mon 28 Sep) and 2027 (Mon 27 Sep). The Public and Bank Holidays Amendment Bill 2025 proposes moving it to the second Monday in June. |
Quick facts
- Date rule
- 2nd Monday in June (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT, NT); 1st Monday in October (QLD); late September by proclamation (WA)
- Legal status
- Public holiday in every state and territory, on its local date
- First celebrated
- 1788, when Governor Arthur Phillip marked King George III's birthday at Sydney Cove
- June date fixed
- 1936, after the death of King George V (born June 3)
- Renamed
- Queen's Birthday became King's Birthday in 2022 on the accession of Charles III
- Traditions
- King's Birthday Honours List, ski season opening, AFL Melbourne v Collingwood match
- US comparison
- Presidents Day — a head-of-state Monday holiday detached from any real birthday
- Also known as
- Sovereign's Birthday, Queen's Birthday (until 2022)
King's Birthday FAQ
Is the King's Birthday holiday the King's actual birthday?
No. King Charles III was born on November 14. Australia's holiday follows the official birthday tradition, fixed near the second Monday in June since 1936, when the date was kept after the death of King George V rather than reset for each monarch.
Why does Queensland celebrate the King's Birthday in October?
Queensland moved the holiday to the first Monday in October from 2016 to spread its public holidays more evenly across the year, ending a long mid-year stretch without a day off. The rest of the eastern states kept the June date.
Why is Western Australia's King's Birthday in September?
Western Australia already has WA Day, its own foundation holiday, in early June. The state Governor therefore proclaims a separate King's Birthday date each year, usually the last Monday in September, set around school terms and the Perth Royal Show.
When did the Queen's Birthday become the King's Birthday?
In 2022, after Queen Elizabeth II died and King Charles III acceded to the throne. The holiday had carried the name Queen's Birthday for the seventy years of her reign, and states updated the name for their next observances.
Which Australian states have the King's Birthday in June?
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory all observe it on the second Monday in June. Queensland uses the first Monday in October, and Western Australia proclaims a late-September date.
What is the King's Birthday Honours List?
A list of Australians appointed to the Order of Australia and other national honors, released for the June holiday weekend. It is one of the two major honors announcements each year, alongside the Australia Day list.
Is there an American equivalent of the King's Birthday?
The nearest match is Presidents Day, officially Washington's Birthday — a Monday federal holiday honoring the head of state that no longer falls on the actual birthday. Australia's version differs in that its date varies by state.
Do Australians get the King's Birthday off work?
Yes, on their state's date. It is a public holiday everywhere, so employees are entitled to a paid day off or penalty rates if they work, under Australia's National Employment Standards.
Sources
- fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/public-holidays
- nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/public-holidays
- business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays/victorian-public-holidays-2026
- safework.sa.gov.au/resources/public-holidays
- worksafe.tas.gov.au/topics/laws-and-compliance/public-holidays
- cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/holidays
- nt.gov.au/nt-public-holidays
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Dates for years beyond published official schedules are projected from the governing rule.