New South Wales holidays 2026
New South Wales has 12 public holidays in 2026: 8 national public holidays and 4 New South Wales-specific holidays, plus 1 optional or partial-staffing day. Dates below show the actual date and, where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day it is observed.
National public holidays observed in New South Wales
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thu | New Year's Day National public holiday | — | |
| Jan 26 | Mon | Australia Day National public holiday | — | |
| Apr 3 | Fri | Good Friday National public holiday | — | |
| Apr 6 | Mon | Easter Monday National public holiday | — | |
| Apr 25 | Sat | Anzac Day National public holiday | — | No standing substitute rule, but NSW gazetted one-off additional public holidays on Monday 27 April 2026 and Monday 26 April 2027 (see anzac-day-additional-day-nsw). |
| Jun 8 | Mon | King's Birthday National public holiday | — | |
| Dec 25 | Fri | Christmas Day National public holiday | — | |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Boxing Day National public holiday | Mon, Dec 28 |
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.
Holidays only in New South Wales
Public holidays in New South Wales that the rest of Australia does not share.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4 | Sat | Easter Saturday State/territory holiday | — | |
| Apr 5 | Sun | Easter Sunday State/territory holiday | — | Public holiday since 2011. |
| Apr 27 | Mon | Anzac Day Additional Public Holiday State/territory holiday | — | |
| Oct 5 | Mon | Labour Day State/territory holiday | — |
Optional and partial-staffing holidays
Days New South Wales recognizes in law but where offices stay open with reduced staff, employees may choose the day, or the holiday depends on an annual proclamation.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3 | Mon | Bank Holiday State/territory holiday | — | Applies only to banks and certain financial institutions under the Retail Trading Act 2008; not a general public holiday. |
Observances (not days off)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14 | Sat | Valentine's Day Observance | — | |
| Mar 21 | Sat | Harmony Week / Harmony Day Observance | — | |
| May 10 | Sun | Mother's Day Observance | — | |
| Jul 5 | Sun | NAIDOC Week (first day) Observance | — | |
| Sep 6 | Sun | Father's Day Observance | — | |
| Oct 31 | Sat | Halloween Observance | — | |
| Nov 11 | Wed | Remembrance Day Observance | — |
Long weekends in New South Wales, 2026
What closes
Government offices, courts and most schools close on the public holidays above. Shops usually open with reduced hours, subject to local trading rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does New South Wales have in 2026?
New South Wales has 12 public holidays in 2026: 8 national public holidays plus 4 New South Wales-specific holidays (Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day Additional Public Holiday, Labour Day). One more day is an optional or partial-staffing holiday.
What is the next holiday in New South Wales?
The next holiday in New South Wales is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, 2026 (53 days away).
Are New South Wales holidays the same as the rest of Australia?
Mostly. New South Wales observes the national public holidays shared across Australia, plus its own: Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day Additional Public Holiday, Labour Day. Other states and territories have different regional days, so check the page for the state you need.