Boxing Day is 26 December in most Australian states and territories. When 26 December falls on a weekend, the Boxing Day public holiday may be observed on a future weekday, usually the following Monday or Tuesday depending on how Christmas Day falls.
Boxing Day is 26 December. In most states and territories it is called Boxing Day. In South Australia, the 26 December public holiday is generally known as Proclamation Day.
If 26 December falls on a weekday, the public holiday is usually on 26 December. If it falls on a weekend, the public holiday may be observed on the next available weekday after Christmas Day.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day sit together. If one or both fall on a weekend, additional weekday holidays can shift the observed public holiday to Monday or Tuesday.
The most common question is not just “when is Boxing Day?” but “when is the Boxing Day holiday?” The table below separates the actual date from the weekday public holiday where it moves because of a weekend.
| Year | Actual Boxing Day date | Day | Observed Boxing Day public holiday | South Australia name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Monday 28 December 2026 | Proclamation Day / Proclamation Day holiday |
| 2027 | 26 December 2027 | Sunday | Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Proclamation Day / additional Proclamation Day public holiday |
| 2028 | 26 December 2028 | Tuesday | Tuesday 26 December 2028 | Proclamation Day |
| 2029 | 26 December 2029 | Wednesday | Wednesday 26 December 2029 | Proclamation Day |
| 2030 | 26 December 2030 | Thursday | Thursday 26 December 2030 | Proclamation Day |
| 2031 | 26 December 2031 | Friday | Friday 26 December 2031 | Proclamation Day |
Plain-English rule: Boxing Day is always 26 December. The observed public holiday can move to a later weekday when 26 December falls on a weekend, especially when Christmas Day also creates an additional weekday holiday.
The holiday after Christmas is not named the same way everywhere. Most of Australia calls the 26 December public holiday Boxing Day. South Australia generally calls the 26 December public holiday Proclamation Day. In some public holiday tables, the shifted weekday may be called Boxing Day Holiday, Additional public holiday for Boxing Day, Proclamation Day Holiday or Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day.
NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory generally refer to 26 December as Boxing Day.
South Australia generally uses Proclamation Day for the 26 December public holiday rather than Boxing Day.
When 26 December falls on a weekend, the weekday public holiday may be shown as Boxing Day Holiday, Additional public holiday for Boxing Day, Proclamation Day Holiday or an additional Proclamation Day public holiday.
Boxing Day is part of the Christmas public holiday period across Australia, but the name and the observed weekday can differ. The biggest naming difference is South Australia’s use of Proclamation Day.
| State or territory | 26 December name | When 26 December falls on a weekend | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Check NSW public holiday dates for the exact observed weekday. |
| Victoria | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Can create a long Christmas public holiday break. |
| Queensland | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Christmas Day and Boxing Day shifts can affect trading and penalty rates. |
| Western Australia | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Check WA public holiday tables for exact dates. |
| South Australia | Proclamation Day | Additional Proclamation Day public holiday may apply. | SA is the main naming difference around Australia. |
| Tasmania | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Check TAS public holidays when Christmas and Boxing Day fall on a weekend. |
| ACT | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | Can affect public service, business and travel planning. |
| Northern Territory | Boxing Day | Additional weekday public holiday generally applies. | The NT also has Christmas Eve part-day and New Year’s Eve part-day holidays. |
Quick answer for AEO: Boxing Day is 26 December in most of Australia. In South Australia the 26 December public holiday is generally called Proclamation Day. If 26 December falls on a weekend, the observed public holiday may fall on a later weekday.
The Boxing Day public holiday can appear on a later weekday because Christmas Day and Boxing Day are consecutive dates. If either falls on a Saturday or Sunday, governments usually provide additional weekday public holidays so workers still receive the public holiday benefit.
If 26 December is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, the Boxing Day public holiday normally falls on 26 December.
If Boxing Day falls on Saturday, the observed Boxing Day public holiday is commonly the following Monday.
If Boxing Day falls on Sunday, Christmas Day usually takes the Monday public holiday and Boxing Day is commonly observed on Tuesday.
Boxing Day has become one of Australia’s biggest post-Christmas days. For many households it is a day for leftovers, family visits, beach trips, sales shopping and sport.
Boxing Day sales are a major retail event across Australia. Many shoppers use the day to buy discounted clothing, electronics, homewares, appliances and Christmas clearance items.
The Boxing Day Test is one of Australia’s most recognised sporting traditions, beginning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 December.
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race traditionally starts on Boxing Day and is one of the most famous ocean races in the world.
The name Boxing Day is usually linked to older British and Commonwealth traditions. One common explanation is that churches opened alms boxes and distributed money to the poor after Christmas. Another is that servants and workers received gifts, food or money in boxes from employers or households after Christmas Day.
Despite the modern joke, Boxing Day is not named after throwing away Christmas present boxes.
Boxing Day is observed in many Commonwealth countries, although the customs and public holiday rules differ.
In Australia, Boxing Day is now strongly associated with the extended Christmas break, shopping, sport, travel and family time.
Boxing Day can affect public holiday pay, trading hours, retail staffing, hospitality rosters, transport, travel, family gatherings and accommodation bookings. The exact observed public holiday date matters for employers and employees.
Public holiday entitlements depend on your award, agreement, employment type and whether the observed public holiday is a normal work day for you.
Check payroll, penalty rates, trading restrictions, rosters and customer notices carefully when Boxing Day or Christmas Day falls on a weekend.
Boxing Day can be one of the busiest travel and shopping days of the year. If it creates a long break, book accommodation, flights and activities early.
Use these related pages to plan the full Christmas public holiday period, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and state-specific public holiday calendars.
Use this page for general planning and quick answers. For payroll, penalty rates, trading hours, workplace closures, travel bookings or employment decisions, confirm the observed public holiday date with the relevant official source.
Boxing Day is 26 December every year.
If 26 December falls on a weekday, the Boxing Day public holiday is usually on 26 December. If 26 December falls on a weekend, the public holiday may be observed on the next available weekday after Christmas Day.
Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December 2026. The observed Boxing Day public holiday is generally Monday 28 December 2026. In South Australia, the equivalent 26 December holiday is Proclamation Day.
Boxing Day is Sunday 26 December 2027. Because Christmas Day falls on Saturday, the Boxing Day public holiday is generally observed on Tuesday 28 December 2027.
No. Most states and territories call 26 December Boxing Day. South Australia generally calls the 26 December public holiday Proclamation Day.
Boxing Day is observed as a public holiday in most states and territories. In South Australia, the 26 December public holiday is generally known as Proclamation Day.
This happens when 26 December falls on a weekend. If Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on the weekend, the observed public holidays can move to Monday and Tuesday.
If Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the observed Boxing Day public holiday is commonly the following Monday.
If Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, Christmas Day usually takes the Monday public holiday and the observed Boxing Day public holiday is commonly Tuesday.
Boxing Day is part of the extended Christmas break and is strongly associated with family time, leftovers, Boxing Day sales, the Boxing Day Test and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Use this page for general planning and quick date checks. Businesses should confirm the official observed public holiday date with the relevant state or territory source before finalising rosters, payroll, penalty rates or trading hours.