Maximise Annual Leave in Australian Capital Territory
The ACT carries some of the country's most generous holiday set — Canberra Day in March and Reconciliation Day in late May or early June — on top of the full national calendar.
Canberra Day (second Monday in March) and Reconciliation Day (late May / early June) are territory-specific holidays. Below are every Australian Capital Territory public holiday for 2026 and 2027, drawn from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Capital Territory government, followed by the dates worth spending leave on.
Australian Capital Territory public holidays, 2026 & 2027
| Date | Public holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan 2026 | New Year's Day | National |
| Mon 26 Jan 2026 | Australia Day | National |
| Mon 9 Mar 2026 | Canberra Day | State/Territory |
| Fri 3 Apr 2026 | Good Friday | National |
| Sat 4 Apr 2026 | Easter Saturday | State/Territory |
| Sun 5 Apr 2026 | Easter Sunday | State/Territory |
| Mon 6 Apr 2026 | Easter Monday | National |
| Mon 27 Apr 2026 | Anzac Day (Monday) (Observed Monday as 25 April is Saturday) | National |
| Mon 1 Jun 2026 | Reconciliation Day | State/Territory |
| Mon 8 Jun 2026 | King's Birthday | National |
| Mon 5 Oct 2026 | Labour Day | State/Territory |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day | National |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Boxing Day | National |
| Mon 28 Dec 2026 | Additional public holiday (Boxing Day) (Boxing Day falls on Saturday) | State/Territory |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day | National |
| Tue 26 Jan 2027 | Australia Day | National |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Canberra Day | State/Territory |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday | National |
| Sat 27 Mar 2027 | Easter Saturday | State/Territory |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday | State/Territory |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday | National |
| Mon 26 Apr 2027 | Anzac Day (Monday) (Observed Monday as 25 April is Sunday) | National |
| Mon 31 May 2027 | Reconciliation Day | State/Territory |
| Mon 14 Jun 2027 | King's Birthday | National |
| Mon 4 Oct 2027 | Labour Day | State/Territory |
| Sat 25 Dec 2027 | Christmas Day | National |
| Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Boxing Day | National |
| Mon 27 Dec 2027 | Additional public holiday (Christmas Day) (Christmas Day falls on Saturday) | State/Territory |
| Tue 28 Dec 2027 | Additional public holiday (Boxing Day) (Boxing Day falls on Sunday) | State/Territory |
Dates verified Sun 28 Jun 2026 against official sources. Regional holidays may vary within Australian Capital Territory; confirm before booking.
The best leave bridges in Australian Capital Territory
These are the 2026 public holidays that fall mid-week, where a day or two of leave buys a disproportionate number of days off:
- New Year's Day (Thu 1 Jan 2026) falls on a Thursday — book the Friday (1 leave day) for a four-day weekend.
How to plan your Australian Capital Territory leave
The four strategies in the calculator suit different goals. Maximum Days Off chases raw efficiency; Longest Break stacks leave into one big trip; Balanced Year spreads breaks across the seasons; and Long Weekends turns single leave days into frequent three- and four-day weekends. Parents can switch on the school-holidays option to line breaks up with Australian Capital Territory school terms.
Related guides
By holiday: Easter · Christmas & New Year · King's Birthday · Anzac Day · Labour Day · Australia Day.
Other states: New South Wales · Victoria · Queensland · Western Australia · South Australia · Tasmania · Northern Territory.
Start with the complete strategy guide.