Australian Capital Territory public holidays 2026 and 2027: dates and substitute days

The ACT Government’s public holidays page lists, for 2027: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027), Australia Day (Tuesday 26 January 2027), Canberra Day (Monday 8 March 2027), Good Friday (Friday 26 March 2027), Easter Saturday (the day after Good Friday) (Saturday 27 March 2027), Easter Sunday (Sunday 28 March 2027), Easter Monday (Monday 29 March 2027), Anzac Day (Sunday 25 April 2027; additional day Monday 26 April 2027), Reconciliation Day (Monday 31 May 2027), King's Birthday (Monday 14 June 2027), Labour Day (Monday 4 October 2027), Christmas Day (Saturday 25 December 2027; additional day Monday 27 December 2027), Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December 2027; additional day Tuesday 28 December 2027). Also listed, with limits: Bank holiday (first Monday in August) (Monday 2 August 2027). A bank holiday under the Holidays Act 1958, not on the ACT’s public holiday list. Bank holidays do not apply to everyone. The date is the first Monday in August, as the ACT page prints no date. The Holidays Act 1958 text read is the version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11.

The ACT Government’s page lists Canberra Day on Monday 8 March 2027 and Reconciliation Day on Monday 31 May 2027. The Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11) provides: “(ix) 27 May (Reconciliation Day), or, if that day is not a Monday, the following Monday;”

Yes. The ACT Government’s page says: “In the ACT, there is a bank holiday on the first Monday in August. Bank holidays do not apply to everyone.” In 2027 the first Monday in August is Monday 2 August 2027; the page prints no date, so the date is worked out from that rule. The Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11) provides: “(b) the 1st Monday in August of each year is a bank holiday in the ACT; and” The ACT’s public holiday list does not include it.

For 2027 the ACT Government’s page lists Sunday 25 April 2027; additional day Monday 26 April 2027. The Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11) provides: “(viii) 25 April (Anzac Day), or, if that day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday;” The page prints a Monday for 2026 as well (Saturday 25 April 2026; additional day Monday 27 April 2026) although 25 April 2026 is a Saturday. That Monday is a declared additional public holiday: “I declare Monday 27 April 2026 to be an additional public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory.” For 2027 the register lists a similar declaration: “I declare Sunday 25 April 2027 to be an additional public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory.” The register page also shows: “Proposed amendments by Holidays (Anzac Day) Amendment Bill 2026.” The Fair Work Ombudsman’s 2027 list shows Anzac Day for the ACT on Monday 26 April only.

In 2027, 25 December is a Saturday and 26 December a Sunday, and 25 April is a Sunday. The Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11) provides: “(xii) 25 December (Christmas Day) and— (A) if that day falls on a Saturday—the following Monday; or (B) if that day falls on a Sunday—the following Tuesday; (xiii) 26 December (Boxing Day) and— (A) if that day falls on a Saturday—the following Monday; or (B) if that day falls on a Sunday—the following Tuesday; and” The ACT Government’s page lists Saturday 25 December 2027; additional day Monday 27 December 2027 for Christmas Day and Sunday 26 December 2027; additional day Tuesday 28 December 2027 for Boxing Day.

The Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11), section 3 for public holidays and section 4 for bank holidays. For New Year’s Day and Australia Day it provides: “(i) 1 January (New Year’s day), and, if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday; (ii) 26 January (Australia Day), or, if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday;” The copy we read is Republication No 11, effective 1 January 2018, which the ACT legislation register labelled current.