Qld Public Holiday 2026 – Official Dates & Key Rules

Queensland’s public holiday calendar for 2026 brings a familiar rhythm of long weekends, regional celebrations, and a few date-specific rules that are worth noting in advance. From the Australia Day public holiday in January to the extended Christmas period, the year offers ten statewide holidays plus the Brisbane-exclusive Royal Queensland Show holiday.

The official list, published under the Holidays Act 1983, is maintained by the Queensland Government and cross-checked by the Fair Work Ombudsman for employment purposes. For anyone planning travel, work schedules, or events, understanding which dates are fixed and which vary by region is essential well ahead of time.

This article covers the confirmed 2026 schedule, explains the rules behind specific holidays such as Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve, and clarifies where uncertainty remains for future years such as 2027.

What are the public holidays in Queensland for 2026?

Key insights for the 2026 calendar

• Queensland has ten statewide public holidays in 2026, plus the Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane only).
• Easter Sunday has been a public holiday in Queensland since 2017 and is included in the 2026 list.
• Anzac Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026, so the public holiday is observed on Monday 27 April.
• Christmas Eve is not a full public holiday in QLD – it is a part-day holiday from 6 pm to midnight for certain awards and agreements.
• Labour Day is fixed to the first Monday in May, which is 4 May 2026.
• King’s Birthday is fixed to the first Monday in October, which is 5 October 2026.

Complete Queensland public holidays table for 2026

The Queensland Government public holidays page is the authoritative source for this list, and the Fair Work Ombudsman 2026 page confirms the same statewide dates including Easter Sunday, the Ekka, and the additional Boxing Day holiday.

Is tomorrow a public holiday in Queensland?

For immediate verification, the quickest method is to compare the date against the official list published by the Queensland Government. The table above covers all 2026 dates, but there are nuances that affect whether a given day is a public holiday across the entire state or only in specific regions.

How to check if today or tomorrow is a public holiday

The most reliable approach is to consult the Queensland Government’s public holiday page, which always shows the current year’s table. For those asking “Is today a public holiday in Queensland?” or “Is Monday a public holiday in QLD?”, comparing the date against the gazetted list is the only definitive method.

The Fair Work Ombudsman also provides a state-by-state table that mirrors the government list. Both sources agree on all 2026 dates for Queensland, including the part-day Christmas Eve holiday and the additional Boxing Day holiday on Monday 28 December.

What about Anzac Day on Monday 27 April?

Because Anzac Day in 2026 falls on Saturday 25 April, the public holiday is observed on the following Monday, 27 April. This means Monday 27 April is a statewide public holiday in Queensland, which answers the common question “Is Monday 27th April a public holiday in QLD?” with a clear yes.

The same rule applies when other public holidays fall on weekends, though Queensland’s approach varies by holiday. For Anzac Day specifically, the observance date shifts to the next Monday when the actual date lands on a weekend.

Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in QLD?

Christmas Eve is not a full public holiday in Queensland. Instead, it is a part-day public holiday that runs from 6 pm to midnight. This applies to certain employees under specific awards or enterprise agreements, but not to all workers across the state.

Part-day holiday rules explained

The part-day status of Christmas Eve means that normal working hours before 6 pm are not affected by public holiday provisions. Only the period from 6 pm to midnight carries public holiday entitlements for eligible employees. This distinction is set out in the Holidays Act and confirmed by the Retail Association of Queensland and the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Other specific holidays that raise questions

Easter Sunday is a full public holiday in Queensland, having been added to the calendar in 2017. This affects retail trading hours and penalty rates, so businesses and workers should confirm their obligations under the relevant award. The Holidays Act 1983 (QLD) provides the legal basis for all appointed public holidays.

Boxing Day in 2026 creates an additional public holiday on Monday 28 December because 26 December falls on a Saturday. This means the Christmas period includes four consecutive days with public holiday status: Christmas Eve (part-day), Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the additional Monday holiday.

How have Queensland’s public holidays changed over time?

1. 2016 – Easter Sunday was not a public holiday in Queensland.
2. 2017 – The Holidays Act was amended, making Easter Sunday a public holiday effective from 2017 onwards.
3. 2021 – During the COVID-19 pandemic, some holidays were observed on alternate dates to manage public health requirements.
4. 2026 – Anzac Day falls on Saturday 25 April, observed on Monday 27 April; Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, with an additional public holiday on Monday 28 December.
5. 2027 – Public holidays for 2027 have not yet been gazetted by the Queensland Government. The official page is expected to be updated in late 2026.

The Education Queensland future school dates page provides some scheduling context from 2027 onwards, though it does not contain a full public holiday table for that year.

Which Queensland public holiday rules are clear and which need clarification?

How does Queensland’s public holiday calendar compare to other Australian states?

Queensland has ten statewide public holidays each year, which is fewer than New South Wales which has eleven. The most distinctive feature of Queensland’s calendar is the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) holiday, which is unique to the Brisbane area and does not have an equivalent in other states. South Australia has the Adelaide Cup holiday, which serves a similar regional function, and those planning cross-state travel may find the Adelaide Cup 2026 – Date Field Tickets and Predictions guide useful for comparison.

Each public holiday in Queensland commemorates specific historical events or provides a scheduled break for workers. Australia Day and Anzac Day mark national occasions, while Labour Day and the King’s Birthday offer fixed-date long weekends. The Easter period is especially significant because Queensland includes Easter Sunday as a public holiday, a practice that not all Australian states have adopted.

Public holidays affect business hours, penalty rates, school schedules, and event planning. The Ekka holiday has a particularly noticeable impact on Brisbane’s August calendar, drawing large crowds to the RNA Showgrounds and influencing traffic and accommodation availability across the city.

Which official sources should you trust for Queensland public holiday information?

The most authoritative source is the Queensland Government’s public holidays page, which publishes the gazetted list each year. The Queensland Government public holidays page is the definitive reference for both statewide and regional dates.

“Public holidays in Queensland are set by the Holidays Act 1983.”

– Queensland Government – Public Holidays

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides an independent cross-check for employment-related questions, including penalty rates and entitlement to paid time off. The Fair Work Ombudsman public holidays page is especially useful for employers and employees who need to understand their legal obligations.

“Employees are entitled to a paid day off on public holidays unless reasonable request to work.”

– Fair Work Ombudsman – Public Holidays

The Retail Association of Queensland offers industry-specific guidance, particularly around Easter Sunday trading. The Retail Association QLD public holidays page confirms that Easter Sunday has been a public holiday since 2017 and outlines retail trading implications.

“Easter Sunday is appointed as a public holiday since 2017.”

– Retail Association of Queensland

For employers specifically, the Business QLD public holiday guide for employers provides practical information about obligations on public holidays, including part-day rules for Christmas Eve.

What should you know before planning around Queensland public holidays?

The key takeaway is that the Queensland Government website remains the single authoritative source for all public holiday dates, with the Fair Work Ombudsman providing complementary employment guidance. For those planning around the Easter period, the Easter 2024 Dates – UK Bank Holidays in England article offers a useful comparison of how Easter holidays are structured in different jurisdictions. The 2026 calendar is fully confirmed, while 2027 dates will be published by the Queensland Government in late 2026.

Frequently asked questions about Queensland public holidays