National Public Holidays in Australia 2024
Planning your time in Australia? Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, knowing about public holidays is essential. These are days when many businesses close, and public transportation schedules may be altered. This guide to National Public Holidays in Australia for 2024 will help you plan your trip or simply stay informed about upcoming closures.
Here are 11 Australian National Public Holidays with Easter Holidays occurring in 3 days (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) and each holiday will occur in a day. Moreover, depending on different states have specific holidays and this article will give you some details about these days.
| Calendar 2024 | Holidays |
| Monday, 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| Friday, 26 January | Australia Day |
| Friday, 29 March | Good Friday |
| Saturday, 30 March – Monday, 1 April | Easter Holidays |
| Monday, 10 June | King’s Birthday |
| Tuesday, 25 April | Anzac Day |
| Wednesday, 25 December | Christmas Day |
| Thursday, 26 December | Boxing Day |
Additional Public Holidays will be Observed in Each State and Territory in Australia in 2024
Beyond the national Australian public holidays, Australia’s states and territories offer a range of additional days off throughout the year. This can make planning trips or events a little more complex, but also presents exciting opportunities to experience unique local celebrations. Let’s dive into the additional public holidays observed in each Australian state and territory for 2024!
Australian Capital Territory
In the Australian Capital Territory, they have 15 Australian public holidays 2024, inclusive of 11 national holidays and 4 specific area holidays. Moreover, Canberra Day is a public holiday celebrated exclusively in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Jervis Bay Territory. It’s important to note that it’s a territory-wide holiday, meaning everyone in the ACT gets the day off, not just residents of Canberra City itself. Besides that, a celebration of Indigenous culture and history, Reconciliation Day is a young holiday, first observed in 2018, and marks the start of National Reconciliation Week.
| Australian Captial Territory’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 11 March | Canberra Day |
| Monday, 27 May | Reconciliation Day |
| Monday, 10 June | Queen’s Birthday |
| Monday, 7 October | Labour Day |
New South Wales
How many public holidays in NSW: Except for National Public holidays, here are some state-specific public holidays. In New South Wales, Labour Day is observed on a different date than in some other states. Moreover, New South Wales Bank Holiday – This holiday falls on the first Monday of August each year. While it primarily affects bank employees who get the day off, some businesses may also choose to close on this day.
Besides that, in New South Wales, there are plenty of regional holidays such as the Walcha Cup, Kangaroo Valley Show, Albury Gold Cup, Muswellbrook Cup, and Coonamble Annual Show,… and Clarence Valley residents also have more 4 public holidays and Parkes residents get more 3 days.
| New South Wales’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 10 June | King’s Birthday |
| Monday, August 5th | Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 7 October | Labour Day |
Northern Territory
Different from other states, in Northern Territory has May Day is another name for Labour Day. It’s a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday of May each year and NT residents also observe half-day holidays on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Picnic Day is a public holiday celebrated in the Northern Territory of Australia on the first Monday of August each year. It serves as an extra day of rest and relaxation for workers, often turning into a long weekend for many. It’s a relatively new public holiday, having first been observed in 2018.
| Northern Territory’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 6 May | May Day |
| Monday, 10 June | Queen’s Birthday |
| Friday, 5 July | Alice Springs Show Day |
| Friday, 12 July | Tennant Creek Show Day |
| Friday, 19 July | Katherine Show Day |
| Friday, 26 July | Darwin Show Day |
| Monday, 5 August | Picnic Day |
| Friday, 16 August | Borroloola Show Day |
Observed in Occurring Only Specific Regions
In Queensland
Queensland has its own twist on holidays! King’s Birthday and Labour Day fall on different dates compared to other states. They also celebrate Christmas Eve earlier, starting festivities at 6 pm, unlike the Northern Territory and South Australia. However, unlike some other places, New Year’s Eve isn’t a half-day holiday in Queensland. The Ekka, a beloved Brisbane tradition with roots as the Royal Queensland Show, celebrates agriculture, livestock, and rural life.
| Queensland’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 6 May | Labour Day |
| Wednesday, 14 August* | Royal Queensland Show |
| Monday, 7 October | King’s Birthday |
* Just in Brisbane
In South Australia
| South Australia’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 11 March* | Adelaide Cup Day |
| Monday, 10 June | Queen’s Birthday |
| Monday, 7 October | Labour Day |
*Announcement Forthcoming!
In Tasmania
Tasmania commemorates Eight Hours Day, a public holiday honoring the fight for better working conditions and the eight-hour workday, unlike other states that celebrate Labour Day. This day recognizes the achievements of the Australian labour movement. Tasmania also stands out by being the sole state in Australia to observe Easter Tuesday as a public holiday because it replaces Easter Sunday which is not a public holiday.
| Tasmania’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Wednesday, 10 January* | Devonport Cup |
| Monday, 12 February* | Royal Hobart Regatta |
| Wednesday, 28 February* | Launceston Cup |
| Tuesday, 5 March* | King Island Show |
| Monday, 11 March | Eight Hours Day |
| Tuesday, 2 April** | Easter Tuesday |
| Friday, 3 May* | AGFEST |
| Friday, 4 October* | Burnie Show |
| Thursday, 10 October* | Royal Launceston Show |
| Friday, 18 October* | Flinders Island Show |
| Thursday, 24 October* | Royal Hobart Show |
| Monday, 4 November* | Recreation Day |
| Friday, 29 November* | Devonport Show |
*Currently available in Tasmania areas
** This is a restricted public holiday in Tasmania, observed by some awards/agreements and the State Public Service.
In Victoria
Melbourne Cup, nicknamed “the race that stops the nation,” is a Victorian public holiday since 1876, celebrating horse racing. However, it faces growing criticism from animal rights activists. Notably, Taylor Swift cancelled her planned 2023 performance due to the protests.
| Victoria’s Holidays | Holidays Name |
| Monday, 11 March | Labour Day |
| Monday, 10 June | King’s Birthday |
| Tuesday, 5 November | Melbourne Cup Day |
In Western Australia
Western Australia marks its unique identity with Western Australia Day, a celebration that embraces its Aboriginal heritage, the legacy of European settlers, and the contributions of people from all corners of the globe who call WA home.
