Long weekends 2026 in the Australian Capital Territory

Public holidays 2026 in the Australian Capital Territory and what each one gives you

Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.

AustraliaiPhoto: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

SydneyiPhoto: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

• Thursday 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day follows the fireworks over Sydney Harbour and other cities. It falls in the middle of summer holidays, peak time for the beach and camping. Take Friday 2 January off and you have 4 days in a row, 1 to 4 January.
• Monday 26 January: Australia Day. Australia Day on 26 January marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and is a day of barbecues, beach days and citizenship ceremonies, as well as reflection for many First Nations people. It falls in the middle of summer holidays. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 24 to 26 January.
• Monday 9 March: Canberra Day. Canberra Day on the second Monday of March celebrates the naming of the national capital. The ACT celebrates with festivals and the long weekend suits a trip to the coast or the Snowy Mountains. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 7 to 9 March.
• Friday 3 April: Good Friday. Good Friday opens the Easter long weekend, when most shops close. Easter often overlaps with autumn school holidays, so it is one of the busiest travel times of the year. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 3 to 6 April.
• Saturday 4 April: Easter Saturday. Easter Saturday, the day after Good Friday, is a public holiday in several states and territories. Most shops open with reduced hours as families start the long Easter weekend. It falls on a Saturday, and the Australian Capital Territory's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Sunday 5 April: Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is a public holiday in some states and territories. Families gather for egg hunts and long lunches in the middle of the four day Easter weekend. It falls on a Sunday, and the Australian Capital Territory's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2026.
• Monday 6 April: Easter Monday. Easter Monday closes the four day Easter weekend across Australia. Roads back from the coast and the bush are at their busiest in the afternoon. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 3 to 6 April.
• Saturday 25 April: Anzac Day. Anzac Day on 25 April remembers Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in war. Dawn services and marches come first, followed by two up games in pubs in the afternoon. It falls on a Saturday, so the Australian Capital Territory adds Anzac Day (additional) on Monday 27 April instead.
• Monday 27 April: Anzac Day (additional). An extra public holiday given when the holiday itself falls on a weekend. Workers get the weekday off instead, so the long weekend still happens. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 27 April.
• Monday 1 June: Reconciliation Day. Reconciliation Day in the ACT honours the relationship between First Nations and other Australians. It falls on or after 27 May, the anniversary of the 1967 referendum. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 30 May to 1 June.
• Monday 8 June: King's Birthday. The King's Birthday gives a long weekend in June in most states, and later in the year in Queensland and Western Australia. In June it marks the start of the ski season. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 6 to 8 June.
• Monday 5 October: Labour Day. Labour Day honours the labour movement and the eight hour day. Its date differs between states and territories, from March to October, and it always creates a long weekend. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 3 to 5 October.
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day. Christmas in Australia lands in summer: lunches outdoors, seafood and beach days. It opens the long summer school holidays, the peak season for coastal stays. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.
• Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day brings the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the Boxing Day cricket test in Melbourne and post Christmas sales, in the middle of the summer holidays. It falls on a Saturday, so the Australian Capital Territory adds Boxing Day (additional) on Monday 28 December instead.
• Monday 28 December: Boxing Day (additional). An extra public holiday given when the holiday itself falls on a weekend. Workers get the weekday off instead, so the long weekend still happens. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.

The maths: days of annual leave in, days off out

With 1 day of annual leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 1 to 4 January. Three days stretch to 10 days off (25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027). Five days, a typical week, become 10 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Boxing Day (additional) and New Year's Day, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

iPhoto: Frances76 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 17 days in a row, 25 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of annual leave.

Four weeks of annual leave is twenty working days. Two days at Easter and three over Christmas and New Year still leave three full weeks for a big trip.

The Australian Capital Territory compared with other states and territories

The Australian Capital Territory leads the list with 15 public holidays in 2026, Tasmania the fewest with 9.

TasmaniaiPhoto: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Its best break, 1 to 4 January, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other state or territory in our data does better this year.

The Australian Capital Territory in other years

2027 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.

iPhoto: Виктор Пинчук · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.