NSW public holidays

Check the NSW public holidays for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Learn about worker entitlements on these days.

The next public holiday is

Monday 7 October 2024, Labour Day.

NSW public holidays 2024 to 2026

Holiday202420252026
New Year's DayMonday 1 January 2024Wednesday 1 January 2025Thursday 1 January 2026
3Additional DayNot applicableNot applicableNot applicable
2Australia DayFriday 26 January 2024Monday 27 January 2025Monday 26 January 2026
Good FridayFriday 29 March 2024Friday 18 April 2025Friday 3 April 2026
Easter SaturdaySaturday 30 March 2024Saturday 19 April 2025Saturday 4 April 2026
Easter SundaySunday 31 March 2024Sunday 20 April 2025Sunday 5 April 2026
Easter MondayMonday 1 April 2024Monday 21 April 2025Monday 6 April 2026
Anzac DayThursday 25 April 2024Friday 25 April 2025Saturday 25 April 2026
King's BirthdayMonday 10 June 2024Monday 9 June 2025Monday 8 June 2026
1Bank HolidayMonday 5 August 2024Monday 4 August 2025Monday 3 August 2026
Labour DayMonday 7 October 2024Monday 6 October 2025Monday 5 October 2026
Christmas DayWednesday 25 December 2024Thursday 25 December 2025Friday 25 December 2026
3Additional DayNot applicableNot applicableNot applicable
Boxing DayThursday 26 December 2024Friday 26 December 2025Saturday 26 December 2026
3Additional Day  Monday 28 December 2026

1 Retail bank branches and certain financial institutions are required to remain closed on the first Monday in August (Bank Holiday) unless otherwise exempt - see Part 3A of the Retail Trading Act 2008. ‘Bank Holiday’ is included in this list because it has implications for the staffing of these institutions. See the Banks and Financial Institutions page of the Fair Trading website. The Bank Holiday is not a declared public holiday.

2 The public holiday standard in the Public Holidays Act 2010 provides that when Australia Day (26 January) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no public holiday on that day and instead the following Monday is to be the public holiday. 

3The public holiday standard in the Act provides that when New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday there is to be an additional public holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday.

Download past and future Public Holiday dates

Public Holidays in NSW legislation

Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act 2010 (the Act) declares the standard public holidays that apply in NSW.

Section 5 of the Act provides for the declaration of additional public holidays including public holidays for a part of the State.

Section 8 of the Act provides for the declaration of a local event day in a local government area.
Note that the declaration of a local event day does not make the local event day a public holiday.

Employer and employee essentials

To find information on public holiday entitlements, employers and employees should check their industrial instrument, ie award, agreement, or employment contract. They should also refer to the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act 2009. Other essentials below.

NSW local public holidays or local event days

In addition to these standard public holidays for all of NSW, there are also some Local Public Holidays and Local Event Days declared in regional and rural NSW to recognise a significant annual event for the local community like an agricultural show or racing carnival.

These occasions may be declared by the Minister for Industrial Relations following an application made by a local council for a whole day or part of a day. 

Retail shop and bank trading restrictions

Ask about trading restrictions and exemptions for banks and retail shops by calling Fair Trading NSW at 13 32 20. 

You can also see Trading on public holidays page on Fair Trading NSW website.

Workplace rights and responsibilities for national system employers and employees

Public holidays, including local public days, will affect workplace entitlements for national system employers and employees. Information is provided by the Fair Work Ombudsman on the National Employment Standards for public holidays and in the awards and agreements that apply to your workplace.

The Public Holidays Act 2010 notes that the following provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 of the Commonwealth also apply to employees and employers in New South Wales—

Section 114, about the entitlement to be absent from employment on a public holiday, and

Section 116, about payment for absence on a public holiday.

For information and assistance, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman at www.fwo.gov.au.  

Essential guides

NSW Guide to Public Holidays

How you can prepare your business:

  • Get to know which public holidays may affect your business.
  • Ensure you have a leave calendar or a staff log of available staff.
  • Find out about the Industrial Relations implications and obligations for staff working on a Public Holiday i.e. loading or penalty.
  • Take time to understand what additional staffing needs may be required

Access the:

NSW Guide to Public Holidays and NSW Industrial Relations public holiday presentation.

Also see the FAQs for employers and employees below on this page.

iCalendar Downloads

Download or print your new iCalendar, so you never miss an important Public Holiday. Making it easy to be organised.

Ready to download the iCal for NSW Public Holidays 2024?

Read more
Image of a calender icon on an apple home screen

Find out what events are happening in NSW

Find events, workshops, exhibitions and performances taking place in NSW to make the most of your public holidays. 

See all options in NSW events
presenter speaking to the crowd in theatre

Public Holiday FAQs

1. Public holidays in NSW

Holidays for NSW are gazetted under the Public Holidays Act 2010. They are state-wide or regional public holidays and apply to all businesses across NSW.

The standard public holidays across NSW include:

  • 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.
2. What is a local or regional public holiday?

Local public holidays may also be declared in regional and rural NSW. They are holidays that commemorate a day of special significance to a specific local community. These are in addition to the standard public holidays that apply to the whole of NSW.

Note: A local public holiday is a declared public holiday for that area for work purposes. Additional penalty payments may apply. Refer to your applicable industrial instrument for details.

3. What is a Local Event Day?

There are a small number of Local Event Days that can be for a whole day or part of a day. These are in addition to standard public holidays that apply to the whole of NSW. They might be for an event like an agricultural show or racing carnival.

Importantly, Local Event Days are not a declared public holiday for work purposes.

4. What is an Additional Day?

Every few years, New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday. When this happens, there will be an additional gazetted public holiday on the following available weekday.

5. Is a Bank Holiday a declared public holiday?

No, it is not a declared public holiday for all of NSW. Only retail bank branches and certain financial institutions are required to remain closed on the first Monday in August, unless otherwise exempt.

For more information refer to the NSW Fair Trading website.

6. When is Anzac Day public holiday observed?

The Anzac Day holiday is always recognised and observed on the 25 April every year. This includes when it falls on a weekend.

7. What about the Australia Day public holiday?

Where Australia Day falls on a weekend, there is no public holiday on that day. Instead, the following Monday is the public holiday.

8. Do I get extra pay to work on a public holiday?

In most cases an employee that works on a gazetted public holiday is entitled to extra payment. This is usually in the form of an additional penalty or loading.

Detailed information on public holiday entitlements is in your workplace industrial instrument. This could be an award, agreement or employment contract that covers your workplace.

For information on pay and conditions of employment in the national system visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website: www.fwo.gov.au.

If you work in the NSW Local Government industry, visit our Local Government Industry page. You can also call us on 131 628 for help with public holidays.

9. Do employees get paid for a public holiday that they do not work?

In most cases where an employee is off work on a public holiday, and that day is their regular working day, the employee would still be entitled for payment for the absence on a public holiday.

The Public Holidays Act 2010 also notes that the following provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 also apply to employees and employers in NSW:

  • Section 114, about the entitlement to be absent on a public holiday, and
  • Section 116, about payment for absence on a public holiday. 

Please refer to the relevant industrial laws and instruments including the specific Award or Agreement that covers your workplace for detailed information on public holiday entitlements.

For information on pay and conditions of employment in the national system, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website: www.fwo.gov.au.

10. What if a public holiday occurs while I am on Long Service Leave?

You may have a situation where you are on Long Service Leave when a gazetted public holiday occurs. If this is a normal working day for an employee, an extra day must be added to the Long Service Leave period.

11. Where to get more information on NSW public holidays?

For information on pay and conditions of employment in the national system, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

For information on pay and conditions of employment in the national system, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman at: www.fwo.gov.au.

For any NSW business trading hours information on public holidays (including Bank Holiday information) visit the NSW Fair Trading website: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/.

Related information

Top of page