Australia public holidays and festivals: dates and closures

Eight holidays are observed nationwide, but the states and territories add their own. That means a Tuesday in March can be a normal working day in Sydney and a public holiday in Melbourne or Perth. If your trip depends on a specific shop, tour or market being open, check the state calendar, not just the national one.

The dates below are the 2026 pattern. Easter moves each year, so Good Friday and Easter Monday fall in late March or April; confirm the exact dates before booking.

Christmas Day and Good Friday are the two days when Australia genuinely shuts. Supermarkets, most cafés and restaurants, many museums and almost all shops close. Plan food and transport for those days in advance, especially if you are driving between towns where the next open petrol station may be far away.

On other public holidays the country mostly keeps moving. Supermarkets and fuel stations open, often with reduced hours. Many restaurants and cafés open, sometimes with a public holiday surcharge of around 10–15% (2026 estimate). Public transport runs a Sunday or reduced timetable in most cities. Anzac Day morning is the exception: in several states many shops do not open until after midday.

Australia Day, New Year's Eve and the Australia Day long weekend bring crowds to beaches, harbours and parks. Book accommodation and restaurant tables early if your trip lands on one of these.

Australia's festival calendar is strongest in the southern summer and autumn. Sydney Festival runs through January with theatre, music and outdoor events. The Australian Open tennis fills Melbourne in the second half of January. The Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe run through February and March and are the biggest arts events in the country. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs through April.

In winter, Vivid Sydney lights the harbour from late May to mid-June, and Dark Mofo takes over Hobart around the winter solstice in June. In the tropical north, the dry-season calendar (May to October) is the one to aim for: Darwin Festival in August, Cairns and the reef in the middle of the year.

Sport is its own calendar. The AFL and NRL seasons run from March to September, the Boxing Day Test cricket match is at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 December, and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts on Boxing Day. Melbourne Cup Day in early November stops Victoria for a horse race.

Domestic travel peaks from about 20 December to mid-January, again over Easter, and during school holidays in each state. Flights between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns cost most in those windows, and coastal accommodation books out months ahead. If your dates are fixed, book flights and the first and last nights early; if they are flexible, shift a week either side and prices drop.

On the road, public holidays mean more traffic on the popular coastal routes and around wine regions. Some small-town cafés and petrol stations close on Christmas Day and Good Friday, so fill up and carry water before those days. In remote areas, opening hours are limited at the best of times.

One practical note: many attractions and tours run reduced services on public holidays, and some small operators simply close. Confirm the day before, and keep a backup plan for Christmas Day and Good Friday.