Last reviewed: September 2026, drawing on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s National Employment Standards and each state and territory’s official 2026 public holiday calendars.
Quick Answer: How Many Working Days in Australia in 2026?
Australia has 261 weekdays in 2026. After public holidays are subtracted, working days across the states and territories range from 250 in the ACT to 253 in Queensland and Tasmania, with most other jurisdictions sitting around 251 to 252. Once you take off the standard four weeks of annual leave, a full-time worker typically ends up with somewhere between 230 and 233 working days for the year.
- Total weekdays in 2026: 261
- Working days after public holidays: 250 (ACT) to 253 (QLD, TAS)
- Typical working days after four weeks’ annual leave: around 230 to 233
What Counts as a Working Day in Australia?
In Australia, a working day generally refers to a weekday, Monday to Friday, when people are normally scheduled to work, excluding weekends and public holidays.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, most full-time employees work under the National Employment Standards, which set a maximum of 38 ordinary hours a week. Your actual pay and conditions, including which days count as working days for you, usually come from an award or enterprise agreement that sits on top of these standards, so it’s worth checking which one applies to your job. Our guide to Australia’s Fair Work laws breaks down how these protections work in practice.
Working Days in Australia in 2026: State and Territory Breakdown
Each state and territory has its own traditions and public holidays, things like local celebrations, regional events, or historical observances that matter to that part of Australia. Because of that, someone working in Victoria may end up with a slightly different number of workdays than someone in Western Australia.
| State/Territory | Public holidays (full days) in 2026 | Public holidays falling on regular working days in 2026 | Working days in 2026 |
| ACT | 15 | 11 | 250 |
| NSW | 13 | 9 | 252 |
| NT | 12 | 10 | 252 |
| QLD | 12 | 9 | 253 |
| SA | 13 | 9 | 252 |
| TAS | 10 | 9 | 253 |
| VIC | 13 | 10 | 251 |
| WA | 13 | 10 | 251 |
There are also some additional holidays that are only observed in certain cities, like the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane, or the Royal Hobart Show in Hobart and some other parts of Tasmania.
Public Holidays in Australia in 2026
Public holidays are one of those things you quickly learn to love in Australia. They create long weekends, give you something to look forward to mid-year, and sometimes spark surprisingly passionate conversations about whether a certain day really deserves public holiday status.
National public holidays
A public holiday is an officially recognised day when most people across Australia take time off work, either nationally or at a state level. Some holidays mark important historical moments, while others are tied to culture or community traditions. If a holiday lands on a weekend, you may find it magically reappears as a weekday, meaning you don’t miss out on the break.
- New Year’s Day — 1 January
- Australia Day — 26 January
- Good Friday — 3 April
- Easter Monday — 6 April
- Anzac Day — 25 April
- Christmas Day — 25 December
- Boxing Day — 26 December
These seven days are observed nationally. Most states also treat Easter Saturday and Sunday as public holidays, though this varies, so check your own state calendar. When a holiday like Boxing Day falls on a weekend, most states add a substitute public holiday on the next weekday, so you don’t lose the day off.
State and territory public holidays
Beyond the shared holidays, every state and territory has its own personality reflected through extra days off.
Victoria celebrates Melbourne Cup Day, Queensland embraces the Royal Queensland Show, often just called the Ekka and limited to the Brisbane metro area, and Canberra has its own dedicated Canberra Day. South Australia marks Adelaide Cup Day, and the ACT observes Reconciliation Day and Canberra Day.
These regional holidays mean that, depending on where you’re based, you might gain or lose a day or two compared to someone living elsewhere.
At first, it may feel like a small detail, but over time, these local moments are often the ones that make you feel connected to the place you now call home.
Standard Working Hours and Employment Types in Australia
The 38-hour week
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, the National Employment Standards set the maximum ordinary hours for a full-time employee at 38 a week, plus what’s described as “reasonable additional hours”. Whether extra hours count as reasonable depends on things like your role, any risk to your health and safety, and how much notice you’re given, and you can refuse additional hours that aren’t reasonable.
Part-time, casual, and shift work
Some people work part-time and enjoy shorter weeks, while others work casually, meaning their hours can change from one week to the next.
Shift work is also common, especially in hospitality, transport, retail, and healthcare, where evenings, early mornings, weekends, and rotating rosters are simply part of the job. These work patterns are guided by awards or enterprise agreements, which exist to help protect employee rights and outline entitlements clearly.
If you’re not sure which award applies to you or what it means for your pay, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator is a reliable place to check your specific entitlements.
Flexible and hybrid work in Australia
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 36% of employed Australians usually worked from home as of August 2025, and hybrid arrangements are increasingly the norm rather than the exception.
When you’re a newcomer balancing things like resettling, school routines, childcare, or cultural commitments, this flexibility can make a meaningful difference. If you’re still finding your feet, our guide to working in Australia covers the wider job market and workplace culture.
Pay, Leave Entitlements, and Public Holiday Rates
How annual leave works
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave a year under the National Employment Standards, with part-time leave accruing pro rata, and shift workers receive five weeks. Most employees also get 10 days of paid personal or carer’s leave a year for illness or caring responsibilities.
For example, a full-time worker in New South Wales starts 2026 with 252 possible working days. Taking the standard 20 days of annual leave brings that down to 232 working days. If you’re budgeting around figures like these, our guide to the cost of living in Australia can help.
Penalty rates on public holidays
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to a penalty rate under most modern awards, often double time or double time and a half, on top of any other applicable loadings. Casual employees are generally entitled to these penalty rates too, though the exact rate depends on your specific award or agreement, and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator can show you the rate that applies to your role.
How to Calculate Your Own Working Days in 2026
1. Start with 261 weekdays, shared by every state and territory in 2026.
2. Subtract your state or territory’s public holidays to get your working days before leave.
3. Subtract any annual leave you plan to take on your actual working days.
For example, a full-time worker in Victoria starts with 261 weekdays, subtracts 10 public holidays for 251 working days, then subtracts 20 days of annual leave to land on 231 working days for 2026. A part-time worker in Queensland can start from the same 253 full-time-equivalent working days, then count only the days matching their rostered shifts, minus any leave taken pro rata. Casual workers calculate more simply again: their working days are just the shifts they’re rostered for, since casual work has no paid annual leave to subtract.
Planning Your Work Year in Australia: Practical Tips
Many people start by adding public holidays, school terms, and important dates into their digital calendar. Seeing everything laid out helps make sense of the year ahead, whether you’re organising annual leave, planning trips, or simply trying to avoid surprises.
Your workplace will usually share important dates like shutdown periods and leave policies, and that’s a great place to begin. For anything related to working rights, pay, or entitlements, official sources such as the Fair Work Ombudsman or your state government’s public holiday calendar are reliable and easy to access.
Some workplaces close completely over the Christmas to New Year break, and if yours does, you may be asked to use annual leave during that time. School holidays don’t change the number of working days, but it’s worth aligning leave requests with school terms where you can.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many working days are there in Australia in 2026?
Australia has 261 weekdays in 2026. Once you subtract public holidays, working days range from 250 in the ACT to 253 in Queensland and Tasmania, according to each state and territory’s 2026 public holiday calendar. Subtracting a further four weeks of annual leave brings a typical full-time total to around 230 to 233 working days.
How many public holidays does Australia have in 2026?
Every state and territory observes at least eight public holidays in 2026, including seven shared national days: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, plus its own local holidays such as Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria or Canberra Day in the ACT.
Do casual workers get paid for public holidays?
Casual workers are generally only paid for time worked. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, casual employees rostered to work on a public holiday are generally entitled to a penalty rate under their award, in addition to their usual casual loading, and your own award will confirm the exact rate.
What are the standard working hours in Australia?
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time employees can be asked to work up to 38 ordinary hours a week, plus reasonable additional hours, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Actual hours, days, and any penalty rates depend on the award or enterprise agreement covering your role.
How much paid annual leave do full-time workers get?
Most full-time workers receive four weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, with some shift workers entitled to additional leave, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
What is the substitute public holiday rule?
When a public holiday like Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, most states declare an extra public holiday on the following Monday or another nearby weekday, so you still get the day off. The exact substitute day varies by state, so check your own state government’s 2026 calendar for the confirmed date.
How do I work out my own number of working days for the year?
Start with 261 weekdays, subtract the public holidays for your state or territory, then subtract any annual leave you’re planning to take. Casual workers simply count their rostered shifts instead, since casual employment has no paid annual leave.
Conclusion
In 2026, working days across Australia range from 250 in the ACT to 253 in Queensland and Tasmania, and a full-time worker taking four weeks of annual leave typically lands around 230 to 233 working days for the year.
Key takeaways:
- Australia has 261 weekdays in 2026; public holidays bring that down to between 250 and 253 working days depending on your state or territory.
- A full-time worker taking the standard four weeks of annual leave typically works around 230 to 233 days in 2026.
- The National Employment Standards cap full-time ordinary hours at 38 a week, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman, with any extra hours needing to be reasonable.
- Casual employees are generally entitled to a penalty rate for working a public holiday, on top of their usual casual loading.
For the confirmed 2026 dates for your own state, our 2026 Australia public holiday calendar sets out the full list, and if you’re weighing up a role or a move, our guide to average salaries in Australia can help you see how the numbers fit together. And if part of your routine now includes sending money to family overseas, Remitly can help you compare transfer options so that part of your budget stays simple too.
