- The NSW calendar for 2026 and 2027
- Rule 1: weekend holidays bring an extra weekday
- Rule 2: the Bank Holiday isn't a public holiday
- Rule 3: local holidays and local event days aren't the same
- Rule 4: the pay rules come from Fair Work, not the NSW list
- Long weekends in 2026
- Getting your business ready
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
NSW has 11 standard public holidays, and in 2026 they run from New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January to an additional Boxing Day holiday on Monday 28 December. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are both public holidays in NSW, Labour Day is in October (5 October 2026), and the August Bank Holiday isn't a public holiday for most workplaces.
The dates below come from the NSW Government's public holidays page as it read in October 2026. After the table, I've covered the four rules that cause most of the payroll and rostering mistakes in NSW.
The NSW calendar for 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January | Tuesday 26 January |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April | Saturday 27 March |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April | Sunday 28 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Monday 29 March |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April, additional day Monday 27 April | Sunday 25 April, additional day Monday 26 April |
| King's Birthday | Monday 8 June | Monday 14 June |
| Bank Holiday (banks only) | Monday 3 August | Monday 2 August |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October | Monday 4 October |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Saturday 25 December, additional day Monday 27 December |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December, additional day Monday 28 December | Sunday 26 December, additional day Tuesday 28 December |
Rule 1: weekend holidays bring an extra weekday
The Public Holidays Act 2010 sets a standard for the big three. When New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there's an additional public holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday. That's why 2026 ends with Monday 28 December off, and 2027 has both Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December.
Australia Day works differently. When 26 January falls on a weekend there's no holiday on the day itself, and the following Monday becomes the public holiday instead.
Anzac Day is its own case. The NSW Government says the Anzac Day holiday is always observed on 25 April, including when it falls on a weekend, and its 2026 to 2027 table also lists an additional day on Monday 27 April 2026 and Monday 26 April 2027. Plan for both dates.
Rule 2: the Bank Holiday isn't a public holiday
This is the one that catches employers out. The first Monday in August appears on the NSW list as Bank Holiday, but the government is clear that it isn't a declared public holiday for all of NSW. Only retail bank branches and certain financial institutions must close, unless exempt. Everyone else works a normal Monday on 3 August 2026, and normal pay rates apply unless your award or agreement says otherwise.
Rule 3: local holidays and local event days aren't the same
Regional and rural councils can apply to the Minister for Industrial Relations for a local day to mark something like an agricultural show or racing carnival, for a whole day or part of one. The NSW Government draws a sharp line between the two types:
- A local public holiday is a declared public holiday in that area for work purposes, so extra penalty payments may apply under your award or agreement.
- A local event day is not a declared public holiday for work purposes, even though it sits on the same list.
If you employ people in regional NSW, check which type your town has before you set rates for that day.
Rule 4: the pay rules come from Fair Work, not the NSW list
The NSW Act notes that two sections of the Commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009 apply: section 114, about the entitlement to be absent on a public holiday, and section 116, about payment for that absence. What your staff earn if they work the day depends on the award, agreement or contract that covers them. How public holiday loadings stack on base pay is covered in this guide to penalty rates in Australia.
Long weekends in 2026
Reading the table as a calendar, NSW gets a four-day Easter from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026, Monday off for Australia Day, Anzac Day, the King's Birthday and Labour Day, and a run from Christmas Day on Friday 25 December to the additional day on Monday 28 December. If you run a shop, a cafe or a service business, those are the weekends to staff early. They're also the weeks when leave requests pile up, so it's worth setting a cut-off date for requests well ahead of each one.
Getting your business ready
- Load both years into your payroll and rostering software, including the additional days.
- Mark Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday as public holidays, not ordinary weekend days.
- Leave 3 August as a normal workday unless you're a bank or your award treats it differently.
- Ask your local council whether your area has a local public holiday or a local event day.
- Check each employee's award or agreement for public holiday pay and penalty rates.
If you're also planning leave liabilities, my guides to long service leave in NSW and payroll tax in NSW cover the other NSW-specific costs.
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My verdict
NSW's list looks simple, but the traps are in the footnotes: an August Bank Holiday that isn't a public holiday for most businesses, local event days that don't change pay, and a stack of additional days at the end of both years. Get those three right and your calendar's done.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does NSW have?
NSW has 11 standard public holidays: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King's Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Is the August Bank Holiday a public holiday in NSW?
No. The NSW Government says it isn't a declared public holiday for all of NSW. Only retail bank branches and certain financial institutions must close, unless exempt.
When is Labour Day in NSW?
Monday 5 October 2026 and Monday 4 October 2027.
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are both standard public holidays in NSW.
Is there a public holiday on 28 December 2026 in NSW?
Yes. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, so Monday 28 December is an additional public holiday.
Is a local event day a public holiday?
No. The NSW Government says local event days are not a declared public holiday for work purposes, unlike local public holidays.
What happens when Australia Day falls on a weekend in NSW?
There's no public holiday on the day itself, and the following Monday becomes the public holiday instead.
