Northern Territory public holidays 2026 and 2027: dates and substitute days
Reviewed 5 November 2026
The NT Government’s public holidays page lists, for 2027: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027), Australia Day (Tuesday 26 January 2027), Good Friday (Friday 26 March 2027), Easter Saturday (Saturday 27 March 2027), Easter Sunday (Sunday 28 March 2027), Easter Monday (Monday 29 March 2027), Anzac Day (Monday 26 April 2027), May Day (Monday 3 May 2027), King's Birthday (Monday 14 June 2027), Picnic Day (Monday 2 August 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: Christmas Eve (24 December), 7pm to midnight (Friday 24 December 2027). Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. New Year's Eve (31 December), 7pm to midnight (Friday 31 December 2027). Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. The 5 show days are not in that list because each is a regional holiday for its own region only.
Northern Territory public holidays 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Substitute or additional day | Applies to and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January 2026 | Friday 1 January 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January 2026 | Tuesday 26 January 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Saturday 27 March 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 | Sunday 28 March 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April 2026 | Monday 26 April 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| May Day | Monday 4 May 2026 | Monday 3 May 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| King's Birthday | Monday 8 June 2026 | Monday 14 June 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Alice Springs Show Day | Friday 3 July 2026 | Friday 2 July 2027 | — | Regional holiday: applies only in the region that holds that show day, not across the whole Territory. |
| Tennant Creek Show Day | Friday 10 July 2026 | Friday 9 July 2027 | — | Regional holiday: applies only in the region that holds that show day, not across the whole Territory. |
| Katherine Show Day | Friday 17 July 2026 | Friday 16 July 2027 | — | Regional holiday: applies only in the region that holds that show day, not across the whole Territory. |
| Darwin Show Day | Friday 24 July 2026 | Friday 23 July 2027 | — | Regional holiday: applies only in the region that holds that show day, not across the whole Territory. |
| Picnic Day | Monday 3 August 2026 | Monday 2 August 2027 | — | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Borroloola Show Day | Friday 14 August 2026 | Friday 13 August 2027 | — | Regional holiday: applies only in the region that holds that show day, not across the whole Territory. |
| Christmas Eve (24 December), 7pm to midnight | Thursday 24 December 2026 | Friday 24 December 2027 | — | Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 | Saturday 25 December 2027 | Monday 27 December 2027 | Territory-wide, full day. |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December 2026 | Sunday 26 December 2027 | Monday 28 December 2026; Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Territory-wide, full day. |
| New Year's Eve (31 December), 7pm to midnight | Thursday 31 December 2026 | Friday 31 December 2027 | — | Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. |
Dates are as the Northern Territory sources print them; “Substitute or additional day” lists the extra days in 2026 and 2027, and “Applies to and notes” says when a holiday is not statewide or not a full day.
Substitute days: the rule, in the source’s words
Under the Public Holidays Act 1981 (version as in force at 1 June 2023), and as the official sources word it:
“25 December (Christmas Day) and, if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday 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 or Monday – the following Tuesday”
“25 April (Anzac Day) or, if that day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday”
“1 January (New Year's Day) and, if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday 26 January (Australia Day) or, if that day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday”
Show days: regional holidays
The five show days apply only in the region that holds them.
“There are also regional holidays which only apply to regions celebrating their annual show days.”
“Regional holiday - to find out which show day applies to your area, check the map of NT show day regions.”
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: part-day holidays
“Part day holiday - from 7pm to midnight only.”
May Day, the King’s Birthday and Picnic Day
“The first Monday in May (May Day) The second Monday in June The first Monday in August (Picnic Day)”
Other Australian states and territories
- Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027: national overview and state-by-state differences
- New South Wales public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Victoria public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Queensland public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Western Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027
- South Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Tasmania public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Australian Capital Territory public holidays 2026 and 2027
All Australian pages are listed on the Australia hub.
Other countries' holiday lists: UK bank holidays 2027, Canada statutory holidays 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What are the NT public holidays in 2027?
The NT Government’s public holidays page lists, for 2027: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027), Australia Day (Tuesday 26 January 2027), Good Friday (Friday 26 March 2027), Easter Saturday (Saturday 27 March 2027), Easter Sunday (Sunday 28 March 2027), Easter Monday (Monday 29 March 2027), Anzac Day (Monday 26 April 2027), May Day (Monday 3 May 2027), King's Birthday (Monday 14 June 2027), Picnic Day (Monday 2 August 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: Christmas Eve (24 December), 7pm to midnight (Friday 24 December 2027). Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. New Year's Eve (31 December), 7pm to midnight (Friday 31 December 2027). Part day holiday: from 7pm to midnight only. The 5 show days are not in that list because each is a regional holiday for its own region only.
Are the NT show days public holidays across the whole Territory?
No. The NT Government’s page says: “There are also regional holidays which only apply to regions celebrating their annual show days.” Its footnote says: “Regional holiday - to find out which show day applies to your area, check the map of NT show day regions.” For 2027 it lists Alice Springs Show Day (Friday 2 July 2027), Tennant Creek Show Day (Friday 9 July 2027), Katherine Show Day (Friday 16 July 2027), Darwin Show Day (Friday 23 July 2027) and Borroloola Show Day (Friday 13 August 2027), each a regional holiday.
Are Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve public holidays in the NT?
Only for part of the day. The NT Government’s page lists Christmas Eve on Friday 24 December 2027 and New Year’s Eve on Friday 31 December 2027 and says: “Part day holiday - from 7pm to midnight only.”
What happens in the NT when Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend?
In 2027, 25 December is a Saturday and 26 December a Sunday, and 25 April is a Sunday. The Public Holidays Act 1981 (version as in force at 1 June 2023) provides: “25 December (Christmas Day) and, if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday 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 or Monday – the following Tuesday” The NT 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.
Is Anzac Day moved in the NT when it falls on a Sunday?
Yes. In 2027 Anzac Day is on a Sunday and the NT Government’s page lists Monday 26 April 2027. The Public Holidays Act 1981 (version as in force at 1 June 2023) provides: “25 April (Anzac Day) or, if that day falls on a Sunday, the following Monday” The page lists only the Saturday date for 2026 (Saturday 25 April 2026), as the Act gives a Monday only when 25 April is a Sunday.
When are May Day, Picnic Day and the King’s Birthday in the NT in 2027?
The NT Government’s page lists May Day on Monday 3 May 2027, the King’s Birthday on Monday 14 June 2027 and Picnic Day on Monday 2 August 2027. Schedule 2 of the Public Holidays Act 1981 lists: “The first Monday in May (May Day) The second Monday in June The first Monday in August (Picnic Day)” The Public Holidays Act 1981 text read is the version as in force at 1 June 2023.
More Australia pages
- Australia: all pages
- Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027
- New South Wales public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Victoria public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Queensland public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Western Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027
- South Australia public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Tasmania public holidays 2026 and 2027
- Australian Capital Territory public holidays 2026 and 2027
Sources
- NSW Government: NSW public holidays
- Business Victoria: Victorian public holidays 2027 (Internet Archive exact capture of 26 April 2026 read)
- Business Victoria: Victorian public holidays 2026 (Internet Archive exact capture of 13 October 2026 read)
- Business Victoria: Victorian non-metropolitan public holidays 2026 (Internet Archive exact capture of 26 April 2026 read)
- Victorian Legislation: Public Holidays Act 1993 (version as at 6 April 2020, Authorised Version No. 027)
- Queensland Government: Public holidays
- Queensland Government: Show holiday dates
- Queensland Legislation: Holidays Act 1983 (version as at 15 September 2022)
- Western Australian Government: Public holidays in Western Australia
- Western Australian Legislation: Public and Bank Holidays Act 1972 (version as at 28 October 2026)
- SafeWork SA: Public holidays (Internet Archive exact capture of 16 July 2026 read)
- South Australian Legislation: Public Holidays Act 2023 (version as at 28 March 2024; Internet Archive exact capture of 19 April 2026 read)
- WorkSafe Tasmania: Public holidays (Internet Archive exact capture of 13 October 2026 read)
- Tasmanian Legislation: Statutory Holidays Act 2000 (version as at 9 October 2026)
- ACT Government: Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving (Internet Archive exact capture of 16 October 2026 read)
- ACT Legislation Register: Holidays Act 1958 (version as at 1 January 2018, Republication No 11)
- ACT Legislation Register: Holidays (Anzac Day Additional Public Holiday 2026) Declaration 2026 (No 1), NI2026-154
- ACT Legislation Register: Holidays (Anzac Day Additional Public Holiday 2027) Declaration 2026 (No 1), NI2026-387
- NT Government: NT public and regional holidays (Internet Archive exact capture of 8 October 2026 read)
- NT Legislation: Public Holidays Act 1981 (version as in force at 1 June 2023)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: 2027 public holidays (Internet Archive exact capture of 8 June 2026 read)
Reviewed 5 November 2026 against the sources in the list. FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the Australian Government, any state or territory government, or the Fair Work Ombudsman; the sources in the list are the official sources, and any later change they publish overrides this site. Pages fetched with plain curl were retrieved on 5 November 2026; where a government site refused plain curl, the page read is an Internet Archive exact capture, dated in its label.