Victoria Public Holidays 2026
See the full list of Victoria public holidays for 2026, including Labour Day, Easter, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day, Christmas and Boxing Day.
Quick answer
Victoria includes national public holidays as well as Labour Day, King’s Birthday, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup Day.
Use the table below to check the main VIC 2026 public holiday calendar.
Last reviewed: 18 June 2026.
Key 2026 notes
- Victoria does not provide a replacement Monday public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026.
- The Friday before the AFL Grand Final is set by the Victorian Government and should be confirmed once the AFL fixture is finalised.
- Melbourne Cup Day applies statewide unless an alternate local holiday has been appointed.
Best planning windows
The strongest Victoria annual leave planning periods in 2026 are Labour Day, Easter, King’s Birthday, the AFL Grand Final public holiday, Melbourne Cup Day and Christmas.
Melbourne Cup Day can vary locally if an alternate holiday has been appointed.
Victoria public holiday dates 2026
This table lists the main Victoria public holidays for 2026. Always confirm the Friday before the AFL Grand Final once the final AFL fixture and public holiday date are confirmed.
| Date | Public holiday | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day | Statewide |
| Monday 26 January 2026 | Australia Day | Statewide |
| Monday 9 March 2026 | Labour Day | Statewide |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Statewide |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | Saturday before Easter Sunday | Statewide |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | Easter Sunday | Statewide |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday | Statewide |
| Saturday 25 April 2026 | Anzac Day | Statewide |
| Monday 8 June 2026 | King’s Birthday | Statewide |
| Date to be confirmed | Friday before the AFL Grand Final | Statewide |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Melbourne Cup Day | Statewide, unless an alternate local holiday applies |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Statewide |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | Boxing Day | Statewide |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Additional public holiday for Boxing Day | Statewide |
VIC 2026 public holidays by month
This month-by-month summary helps with annual leave planning, school holiday planning, travel, business closures and long weekend decisions.
January 2026
New Year’s Day and Australia Day.
February 2026
No Victoria public holidays listed.
March 2026
Labour Day on Monday 9 March.
April 2026
Easter public holidays and Anzac Day.
May 2026
No Victoria public holidays listed.
June 2026
King’s Birthday on Monday 8 June.
July 2026
No Victoria public holidays listed.
August 2026
No Victoria public holidays listed.
September 2026
The Friday before the AFL Grand Final may fall in this period, but the date needs confirmation.
October 2026
The Friday before the AFL Grand Final may fall in this period, depending on the confirmed AFL fixture.
November 2026
Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November.
December 2026
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the additional Boxing Day public holiday.
Best annual leave opportunities in Victoria 2026
These are the main Victoria public holiday periods that are most useful for creating long weekends or longer annual leave blocks.
Australia Day long weekend
Australia Day falls on Monday 26 January 2026, creating a three-day weekend for many Victorian workers.
Labour Day weekend
Labour Day falls on Monday 9 March 2026, creating one of Victoria’s key early-year long weekends.
Easter long weekend
Easter runs from Good Friday 3 April to Easter Monday 6 April 2026, with the Saturday before Easter Sunday and Easter Sunday also listed in Victoria.
King’s Birthday weekend
King’s Birthday falls on Monday 8 June 2026, giving many Victorian workers a useful winter long weekend.
Melbourne Cup period
Melbourne Cup Day falls on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Many people use annual leave around the Monday to create a four-day break, where workplace arrangements allow.
Christmas and Boxing Day
Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December, Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, and Monday 28 December is an additional Boxing Day public holiday.
Best public holiday periods for planning leave
For most Victorian households, the best 2026 planning windows are Labour Day, Easter, King’s Birthday, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day and the Christmas period.
Easter is especially useful because Good Friday and Easter Monday create a four-day break before any annual leave is added.
Melbourne Cup Day is also a major planning opportunity, but always check whether your area observes Melbourne Cup Day or an alternate local public holiday.
Important accuracy note
Public holiday rules can differ by state, region, industry and employment arrangement. Victoria has public holidays that may need date confirmation or may vary locally, including the Friday before the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup Day.
For payroll, penalty rates, trading hours or workplace entitlements, confirm the details with the official Victorian source and your award or agreement.
VIC public holidays by year
Use these Victoria year pages to plan ahead. These links give visitors a clear pathway from the 2026 page to future public holiday calendars.
Useful planning tools
These related Australian planning sites can help you turn the Victoria public holiday calendar into practical family, school and annual leave plans.
Related VIC and Australian public holiday pages
Use these related pages for public holiday planning across Victoria and the rest of Australia.
- VIC public holidays hub
- Australian public holidays 2026
- Australian public holidays 2027
- Easter public holidays
- Anzac Day
- King’s Birthday
- AFL Grand Final Friday public holiday
- Melbourne Cup Day
- Christmas public holidays
- Boxing Day public holiday
- Long weekends
Compare other states and territories
Official VIC 2026 public holiday sources
For payroll, penalty rates, trading hours, award coverage or workplace closure decisions, always confirm dates with official government and workplace relations sources.
Victoria public holidays 2026 FAQs
When are the Victoria public holidays in 2026?
The Victoria public holidays in 2026 include New Year’s Day on 1 January, Australia Day on 26 January, Labour Day on 9 March, Easter public holidays in April, Anzac Day on 25 April, King’s Birthday on 8 June, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day on 3 November, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the additional Boxing Day public holiday.
Does Victoria have a Monday public holiday for Anzac Day in 2026?
Victoria does not provide a replacement Monday public holiday when Anzac Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026.
When is Labour Day in Victoria in 2026?
Labour Day falls on Monday 9 March 2026 in Victoria.
When is the Friday before the AFL Grand Final in 2026?
The Friday before the AFL Grand Final is listed as date to be confirmed. Confirm the final date with the Victorian Government once the AFL fixture is finalised.
When is Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria in 2026?
Melbourne Cup Day falls on Tuesday 3 November 2026. It applies statewide unless an alternate local holiday has been appointed.
How should I use the Victoria 2026 public holidays for annual leave planning?
Use Labour Day, Easter, King’s Birthday, the AFL Grand Final public holiday, Melbourne Cup Day and the Christmas period to identify possible long weekends or annual leave blocks. Confirm your workplace arrangements before booking leave.
Where can I find VIC public holidays for 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030?
Use the VIC public holidays by year section on this page to open the Victoria 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 public holiday pages.