Tasmania's statewide public holidays in 2026 start with New Year's Day on 1 January and finish with Boxing Day, observed on Monday 28 December. On top of those, most Tasmanians get one regional day: Royal Hobart Regatta (9 February 2026) in the south or Recreation Day (2 November 2026) in the north.
Tasmania works differently from the mainland in three ways: Easter is shorter, Labour Day is called Eight Hours Day, and a long list of local holidays applies only to certain towns. These dates come from WorkSafe Tasmania's public holidays page as it read in October 2026, under the Statutory Holidays Act 2000.
Statewide days for 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | 1 January |
| Australia Day | 26 January | 26 January |
| Eight Hours Day | 9 March | 8 March |
| Good Friday | 3 April | 26 March |
| Easter Monday | 6 April | 29 March |
| Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only) | 7 April | 30 March |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April | 25 April |
| King's Birthday | 8 June | 14 June |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | 27 December |
| Boxing Day | 28 December | 28 December |
Notice what's missing: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday aren't on Tasmania's statewide list. And Easter Tuesday, which looks like a bonus, is generally for the Tasmanian Public Service only. Private employers shouldn't assume it's a day off.
Regatta or Recreation Day: you get one, not both
This is the detail mainland payroll teams miss. Royal Hobart Regatta applies south of and including Oatlands and Swansea, with some named exceptions. Recreation Day applies to all parts of the state that don't observe Regatta. So a business with staff in Hobart and Launceston has two different regional holidays to plan for.
| Regional day | 2026 | 2027 | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Hobart Regatta | 9 February | 8 February | South of and including Oatlands and Swansea, with exclusions |
| Recreation Day | 2 November | 1 November | Parts of the state that don't observe Regatta |
| Royal Hobart Show | 22 October | 21 October | South of and including Oatlands and Swansea, excluding the West Coast |
| Royal Launceston Show | 8 October | 7 October | Launceston and nearby municipal areas |
| Burnie Show | 2 October | 1 October | Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast |
| Devonport Show | 27 November | 26 November | Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe |
| Agfest | 8 May | 7 May | Circular Head only |
WorkSafe Tasmania lists more local days, including King Island Show, Flinders Island Show, the Launceston Cup and the Devonport Cup. The last two are generally Tasmanian Public Service only, and the Devonport Cup is a half day in the Devonport municipal area.
How substitute days work
- When New Year's Day, Australia Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, the holiday is held on the following Monday, or Tuesday in some cases.
- If Christmas Day is a Saturday, both the Saturday and the following Monday are holidays. If it's a Sunday, the Sunday and the following Tuesday are.
- If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, Monday is the public holiday. If it falls on a Sunday, Tuesday is.
- ANZAC Day never moves. There's no substitute or additional holiday when it falls on a weekend.
That's why Boxing Day 2026, a Saturday, is observed on Monday 28 December, and why Christmas 2027 shows as 27 December.
Long weekends and planning tips
For businesses in the south, February starts the run with Regatta on Monday 9 February 2026, followed by Eight Hours Day on Monday 9 March. Easter gives a Friday and Monday statewide, with the Tuesday off only for most public servants. In the north, Recreation Day on Monday 2 November is the extra long weekend instead of Regatta. Christmas 2026 runs Friday 25 December, then Boxing Day is observed on Monday 28 December.
- Decide which regional day each of your sites follows and note it in your payroll system.
- Check whether a show day applies to your municipal area, not just your nearest city.
- Don't copy a mainland calendar: Easter Saturday and Sunday aren't on Tasmania's statewide list.
- Confirm with your award whether staff who work a regional day earn public holiday rates.
A listed day isn't automatically a paid day off
WorkSafe Tasmania makes a point most calendars leave out: listing a day as a public holiday doesn't automatically mean employees can have it off or get paid more for working it. Whether a day applies to your workplace depends on the award, agreement or National Employment Standards that cover your staff. The National Employment Standards guide explains the baseline, and the Fair Work Ombudsman can confirm how a particular award treats a regional day.
If you're working through other Tasmanian employer costs, see my guides to long service leave in Tasmania and payroll tax in Tasmania.
My verdict
Tasmania rewards a closer read than most states. Drop Easter Saturday and Sunday, add Eight Hours Day in March, and decide which regional day each of your sites follows before the year starts. Then check the award before promising anyone Easter Tuesday off.
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in Tasmania?
No. WorkSafe Tasmania's statewide list includes Good Friday, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, but not Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday.
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Is Easter Tuesday a public holiday in Tasmania?
It's listed for 7 April 2026, but WorkSafe Tasmania says it's generally for the Tasmanian Public Service only.
What is Eight Hours Day in Tasmania?
It's Tasmania's name for Labour Day. It falls on 9 March 2026 and 8 March 2027.
When is Recreation Day in Tasmania?
Recreation Day is 2 November 2026 and 1 November 2027, in the parts of the state that don't observe Royal Hobart Regatta.
When is Royal Hobart Regatta in 2026?
Royal Hobart Regatta is on 9 February 2026, south of and including Oatlands and Swansea, with some exclusions.
Is ANZAC Day moved if it falls on a weekend in Tasmania?
No. WorkSafe Tasmania says no substitute or additional holiday is observed when ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
When is Boxing Day observed in Tasmania in 2026?
Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the public holiday is Monday 28 December.
When is the Royal Hobart Show holiday?
It's 22 October 2026 and 21 October 2027, for all of Tasmania south of and including Oatlands and Swansea, plus Bronte Park, Strathgordon, Tarraleah and Wayatinah, excluding the West Coast.
Does a public holiday in Tasmania mean staff get the day off?
Not automatically. WorkSafe Tasmania says employees should check their award, agreement or the National Employment Standards to see whether the holiday applies to their workplace.
