Public Holiday Victoria 2026 & 2027: Complete Date
Planning your year around public holidays in Victoria can save you a lot of headaches — whether you’re booking a long weekend or just making sure the shop’s open. Victoria observes 13 official public holidays in both 2026 and 2027, with dates set by the state government and published on the Business Victoria website — the following list covers the full official list, answers common questions about Anzac Day, Melbourne Cup, and what to do when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Number of public holidays in Victoria in 2026: 13 ·
First public holiday in 2026: New Year’s Day (1 January) ·
Last public holiday in 2026: Christmas Day (25 December) ·
Unique Victorian holidays: Labour Day, Melbourne Cup Day, King’s Birthday ·
Official source: Business Victoria (business.vic.gov.au)
Quick snapshot
- 13 public holidays in 2026 and 2027 (Business Victoria (state government))
- Dates for both years published by Business Victoria (state government)
- Melbourne Cup Day is unique to Victoria (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
- Exact dates beyond 2027 not yet published (Business Victoria (state government))
- Friday before AFL Grand Final date depends on fixture (Business Victoria (state government))
- Potential one-off proclamations from the Governor (Business Victoria (state government))
- 2026 dates confirmed since late 2025 (Business Victoria (state government))
- 2027 dates now available on Business Victoria (state government)
- 2028 dates expected in late 2027 (Business Victoria (state government))
- Subscribe to Business Victoria alerts for updates
13 public holidays in each of the next two years, one pattern: Victoria’s list includes three holidays not seen in other states — Labour Day, the King’s Birthday, and Melbourne Cup Day — making calendar management essential for businesses operating across borders.
| Holiday | 2026 date | 2027 date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January (Thursday) | 1 January (Friday) |
| Australia Day | 26 January (Monday) | 26 January (Tuesday) |
| Labour Day | 9 March (Monday) | 8 March (Monday) |
| Good Friday | 3 April (Friday) | 26 March (Friday) |
| Easter Saturday | 4 April (Saturday) | 27 March (Saturday) |
| Easter Sunday | 5 April (Sunday) | 28 March (Sunday) |
| Easter Monday | 6 April (Monday) | 29 March (Monday) |
| Anzac Day | 25 April (Saturday) | 25 April (Sunday) |
| King’s Birthday | 8 June (Monday) | 14 June (Monday) |
| Friday before AFL Grand Final | Subject to AFL schedule | Subject to AFL schedule |
| Melbourne Cup Day | 3 November (Tuesday) | 2 November (Tuesday) |
| Christmas Day | 25 December (Friday) | 25 December (Saturday) |
| Boxing Day | 26 December (Saturday) | 26 December (Sunday) |
What are the public holidays in Victoria for 2026?
New Year’s Day
- 1 January 2026 (Thursday) — Business Victoria (state government)
Australia Day
- 26 January 2026 (Monday) — creates a long weekend.
Labour Day
- 9 March 2026 (Monday) — unique to Victoria and Western Australia.
Good Friday
- 3 April 2026 (Friday).
Easter Saturday
- 4 April 2026 (Saturday).
Easter Sunday
- 5 April 2026 (Sunday).
Easter Monday
- 6 April 2026 (Monday).
Anzac Day
- 25 April 2026 (Saturday).
King’s Birthday
- 8 June 2026 (Monday).
Friday before AFL Grand Final
- Date subject to AFL schedule — check Business Victoria closer to September.
Melbourne Cup Day
- 3 November 2026 (Tuesday).
Christmas Day
- 25 December 2026 (Friday).
Boxing Day
- 26 December 2026 (Saturday).
Victoria’s unique holidays — Labour Day, the King’s Birthday, and Melbourne Cup Day — create three long weekends that most other states don’t get. For employers, that means three extra days when penalty rates apply and staffing rosters need adjustment.
The implication: businesses operating across state lines must account for these three additional public holidays when scheduling, to avoid inadvertent understaffing or penalty-rate surprises.
What are the public holidays in Victoria for 2027?
New Year’s Day
- 1 January 2027 (Friday).
Australia Day
- 26 January 2027 (Tuesday).
Labour Day
- 8 March 2027 (Monday).
Good Friday
- 26 March 2027 (Friday).
Easter Saturday
- 27 March 2027 (Saturday).
Easter Sunday
- 28 March 2027 (Sunday).
Easter Monday
- 29 March 2027 (Monday).
Anzac Day
- 25 April 2027 (Sunday) — no substitute Monday in Victoria; observed on Sunday itself per Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator).
King’s Birthday
- 14 June 2027 (Monday).
Friday before AFL Grand Final
- Subject to AFL schedule — Business Victoria notes the date is not fixed.
Melbourne Cup Day
- 2 November 2027 (Tuesday).
Christmas Day
- 25 December 2027 (Saturday) — substitute Monday 27 December per Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator).
Boxing Day
- 26 December 2027 (Sunday) — substitute Tuesday 28 December.
The pattern: when Christmas and Boxing Day land on a weekend, the state observes two substitute weekdays, creating a five-day stretch that affects retail, hospitality, and logistics operations.
When is Anzac Day in Victoria?
Anzac Day 2026 date
- 25 April 2026 falls on a Saturday — observed as Saturday, with no substitute Monday in Victoria.
Anzac Day 2027 date
- 25 April 2027 falls on a Sunday — observed on Sunday. Unlike some other states, Victoria does not shift Anzac Day to Monday when it lands on a weekend.
What is observed on Anzac Day?
- Anzac Day is a public holiday in Victoria under the Public Holidays Act 1993. It commemorates the landing at Gallipoli in 1915. The Anzac Day Commemoration Committee notes that dawn services and marches occur across the state.
The catch: because Victoria refuses to shift Anzac Day to a Monday, businesses that typically close on public holidays must operate on the actual date even if it falls on a weekend, though trading hours are restricted.
Is today a public holiday in Victoria?
How to check if today is a public holiday
- Visit Business Victoria (official public holidays page) for the current year’s list. The page also links to the Victorian Government Gazette for last-minute proclamations.
Current year public holiday dates
- For 2026 and 2027, the full schedules are published. For the current year, check the Business Victoria page directly.
No single dynamic tool tells you “is today a holiday” in real time. The most reliable method is bookmarking the Business Victoria page and checking before planning any time-sensitive closures or deliveries.
The implication: until a live API or widget is provided, the manual check remains the only reliable approach for time-critical decisions.
What are the Melbourne public holidays in 2026?
Melbourne public holidays vs Victoria-wide holidays
- Melbourne public holidays are the same as Victoria-wide holidays — there is no separate city list.
Unique Melbourne events
- Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in the Melbourne metropolitan area and some regional parts of Victoria. The Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator) notes that some regional areas observe Melbourne Cup on a different date.
- The Friday before the AFL Grand Final is a state-wide public holiday, not just for Melbourne.
Businesses in regional Victoria need to verify their local Melbourne Cup date annually — the Fair Work Ombudsman warns the holiday can be shifted for regional shows, creating a compliance risk if you assume the Melbourne date applies everywhere.
What this means: a single statewide calendar won’t suffice if you operate outside metro Melbourne; you need a secondary check for the regional Melbourne Cup date.
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- 2026 public holiday dates published by Business Victoria (state government)
- 2027 public holiday dates published by Business Victoria (state government)
- Anzac Day is always 25 April (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
What’s unclear
- Exact dates for 2028 and beyond are not yet officially confirmed (Business Victoria (state government))
- Potential one-off proclamations (e.g., mourning or celebration days) from the Governor (Business Victoria (state government))
- Exact date of Friday before AFL Grand Final in 2026 and 2027 — subject to AFL schedule (Business Victoria (state government))
“All public holiday dates are accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.”
— Business Victoria (state government)
“Some regional areas in Victoria hold the Melbourne Cup public holiday on a different date.”
— Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator)
For Victorian employers, the choice is clear: lock in the 13 guaranteed dates for 2026 and 2027, and build a process to check for last-minute proclamations from the Governor in Council each year. The official Business Victoria website remains the single most authoritative source, but combining it with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s employer guidance ensures you don’t miss regional variations or substitute holiday rules.
calendarlabs.com, publicholidays.com.au, qppstudio.net, newywithkids.com.au, australia.com
För den som planerar sin kalender finns en detaljerad guide till Victoria public holidays 2026 som listar alla datum inklusive Labour Day, Anzac Day och Melbourne Cup.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in Victoria?
When a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Victoria generally observes the next Monday as a substitute holiday. For example, Christmas Day 2027 (Saturday) is observed on Monday 27 December, and Boxing Day 2027 (Sunday) on Tuesday 28 December. However, Anzac Day is an exception — it is always observed on 25 April, even if it falls on a weekend, with no substitute day in Victoria.
Are public holidays the same across all of Victoria?
Most public holidays apply state-wide, but Melbourne Cup Day has a regional variation. While it is a public holiday throughout Victoria, some regional areas (such as those with agricultural shows) may observe it on a different date — check with your local council or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Is Anzac Day a public holiday in Victoria?
Yes, Anzac Day (25 April) is a public holiday in Victoria under the Public Holidays Act 1993. It is observed on the actual date, even if it falls on a weekend. Shops and businesses have restricted trading hours on this day.
Do I get paid extra for working on a public holiday?
Under the Fair Work Act, eligible employees who work on a public holiday in Victoria are entitled to penalty rates as set out in their award or enterprise agreement. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator) for your specific industry.
When is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?
Melbourne Cup Day is the first Tuesday in November. In 2026 it falls on 3 November, and in 2027 on 2 November. It is a public holiday in the Melbourne metropolitan area and most of regional Victoria, though some regional areas observe it on an alternative date tied to local shows.
How are public holidays in Victoria determined?
The Victorian Government, through the Governor in Council, declares public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 1993. The standard list is published annually on the Business Victoria website. Additional one-off holidays can be proclaimed for special events (e.g., mourning or celebration days).
Can a public holiday be declared at short notice?
Yes. The Governor in Council can declare a public holiday with short notice, for example a day of mourning or a royal celebration. Such proclamations are published in the Victorian Government Gazette and on the Business Victoria website.
Related reading: Official Victoria public holidays 2027 from Business Victoria
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