Australian Public
Holidays
Complete public holiday calendar for every Australian state and territory. Know exactly when penalty rates apply to your employees.
New South Wales Public Holidays 2026
Penalty rates apply on public holidays
Under most Modern Awards, employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to penalty rates (typically 200-250% of their base rate). Use our pay rate calculator to check exact rates for your award.
Regional holidays
Some holidays only apply to specific regions (e.g. Melbourne Cup in metro Melbourne, show days in NT towns). Look for the orange location badge on regional holidays. Workers outside the specified region are not entitled to these holidays unless their award says otherwise.
Disclaimer: This public holiday calendar is general information only. Dates are sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman and state/territory government gazettes. Some dates (e.g. AFL Grand Final Friday) are subject to change. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman.