Planning Annual Leave Around Easter
Easter is the single best leave opportunity in Australia. Good Friday and Easter Monday are national public holidays, so a four-day weekend arrives for free; add the three working days after Easter Monday and four leave days become ten days off.
Because Easter moves with the lunar calendar, the surrounding working days shift each year — which is exactly why a date-aware plan beats a generic rule of thumb.
When Easter falls, by state
| State / Territory | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Easter Saturday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Easter Saturday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| Victoria | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Saturday before Easter Sunday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Saturday before Easter Sunday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| Queensland | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Easter Saturday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Easter Saturday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| Western Australia | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| South Australia | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Easter Saturday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Easter Saturday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| Tasmania | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) Tue 7 Apr 2026 (Easter Tuesday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) Tue 30 Mar 2027 (Easter Tuesday) |
| Australian Capital Territory | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Easter Saturday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Easter Saturday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
| Northern Territory | Fri 3 Apr 2026 (Good Friday) Sat 4 Apr 2026 (Easter Saturday) Sun 5 Apr 2026 (Easter Sunday) Mon 6 Apr 2026 (Easter Monday) | Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) Sat 27 Mar 2027 (Easter Saturday) Sun 28 Mar 2027 (Easter Sunday) Mon 29 Mar 2027 (Easter Monday) |
Dates verified Sun 28 Jun 2026 against the Fair Work Ombudsman and state/territory sources.
How to bridge Easter (2026)
- New South Wales: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Victoria: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Queensland: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Western Australia: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- South Australia: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Tasmania: Easter Tuesday (Tue 7 Apr 2026) already anchors a 5-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Tue 7 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Australian Capital Territory: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
- Northern Territory: Easter Monday (Mon 6 Apr 2026) already anchors a 4-day run off (Fri 3 Apr 2026 to Mon 6 Apr 2026) — bridge the working days on either side to extend it.
Related guides
Other holidays: Christmas & New Year · King's Birthday · Anzac Day · Labour Day · Australia Day.
By state: New South Wales · Victoria · Queensland · Western Australia · South Australia · Tasmania · Australian Capital Territory · Northern Territory.
Or read the complete strategy guide.