Sundays and holidays
Public holidays in New South Wales
The NSW public holidays for 2026 and 2027, how "additional days" work when a holiday falls on a weekend, why the August Bank Holiday is not a public holiday for most people, and what public holidays mean at work.
What newcomers often notice
Public holidays in NSW are set under the NSW Public Holidays Act 2010, so the list can differ from other parts of Australia. A few NSW rules are worth knowing:
- Weekend holidays move. When Australia Day falls on a weekend, the holiday moves to the following Monday. When New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, an additional day is added on the following Monday or Tuesday. In 2026, for example, Boxing Day is a Saturday, so Monday 28 December 2026 is an additional public holiday.
- Easter is long. Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are all public holidays in NSW.
- The Bank Holiday is not a public holiday. On the first Monday in August, retail bank branches and some financial institutions must close, but it is not a declared public holiday for other workers.
Context
NSW public holidays 2026 and 2027
- New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January 2026; Friday 1 January 2027
- Australia Day: Monday 26 January 2026; Tuesday 26 January 2027
- Good Friday: 3 April 2026; 26 March 2027
- Easter Saturday: 4 April 2026; 27 March 2027
- Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026; 28 March 2027
- Easter Monday: 6 April 2026; 29 March 2027
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April 2026, with an additional day on Monday 27 April 2026; Sunday 25 April 2027, with an additional day on Monday 26 April 2027
- King's Birthday: Monday 8 June 2026; Monday 14 June 2027
- Labour Day: Monday 5 October 2026; Monday 4 October 2027
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026; Saturday 25 December 2027, with an additional day on Monday 27 December 2027
- Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December 2026, with an additional day on Monday 28 December 2026; Sunday 26 December 2027, with an additional day on Tuesday 28 December 2027
The Bank Holiday is on Monday 3 August 2026 and Monday 2 August 2027.
Public holidays at work
Public holidays are one of the National Employment Standards. Your award or agreement sets whether you are paid penalty rates if you work on a public holiday. On Opal, public holidays count as off-peak, with a lower daily cap.
How it varies
In regional and rural NSW, a local public holiday or local event day can be declared for an event such as an agricultural show or racing carnival, at a council's request; a local event day is not a public holiday.
Practical tips
Check the NSW Government public holidays page before planning leave; dates for later years are published there. Plan banking for the first Monday in August, when retail bank branches are closed. If you work on a public holiday, check your award or agreement for penalty rates. Public transport is cheaper on public holidays: the adult Opal daily cap is $9.65 (October 2026).
Sources
Our editors base these descriptions on research, official information and newcomers’ reports.
- NSW GovernmentOfficial sourceNSW public holidays
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026 - Fair Work OmbudsmanOfficial sourceNational Employment Standards
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026 - Fair Work OmbudsmanOfficial sourceMinimum wages (penalty rates in awards)
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026 - Transport for NSWOfficial sourceOpal benefits (travel caps)
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 8 Oct 2026