14 Public Holidays
Victoria Public Holidays
Use this Victoria public holidays 2026 guide to view Labour Day, AFL Grand Final Friday, Melbourne Cup, weekend rules, and Boxing Day dates for work, travel, payroll, and trading-hour planning.
2 Victoria-only Dates
1 Local Exception
Victoria Public Holidays 2026
Switch between the detailed list and month-by-month calendar view.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type | Local rule note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public Holiday | - |
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Australia Day | Public Holiday | - |
| March 9, 2026 | Monday | Labour Day | Victoria Holiday | - |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Public Holiday | Restricted trading day in Victoria. |
| April 4, 2026 | Saturday | Saturday before Easter Sunday | Public Holiday | - |
| April 5, 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Public Holiday | - |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Public Holiday | - |
| April 25, 2026 | Saturday | Anzac Day | Public Holiday | No replacement holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend. |
| June 8, 2026 | Monday | King's Birthday | Public Holiday | - |
| September 25, 2026 | Friday | Friday before the AFL Grand Final | Victoria Holiday | - |
| November 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Melbourne Cup | Victoria Holiday | Some non-metro councils may arrange an alternate local holiday. |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Public Holiday | Restricted trading day in Victoria. |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day | Public Holiday | - |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Additional public holiday for Boxing Day | Additional Day | - |
Data from Business Victoria, Fair Work Ombudsman Last updated June 12, 2026
January
- New Year's Day Thursday
- Australia Day Monday
February
No holidays this month.
March
- Labour Day Monday
April
- Good Friday Friday
- Saturday before Easter Sunday Saturday
- Easter Sunday Sunday
- Easter Monday Monday
- Anzac Day Saturday
May
No holidays this month.
June
- King's Birthday Monday
July
No holidays this month.
August
No holidays this month.
September
- Friday before the AFL Grand Final Friday
October
No holidays this month.
November
- Melbourne Cup Tuesday
December
- Christmas Day Friday
- Boxing Day Saturday
- Additional public holiday for Boxing Day Monday
Local public holiday notes
Use these notes to understand what makes Victoria different from the national Australia overview. View Australia overview
AFL Grand Final Friday
This Victoria public holidays 2026 date is listed by Business Victoria as Friday 25 September, the Friday before the AFL Grand Final. It is one of the clearest reasons users need a Victoria-specific page instead of relying only on the Australia overview.
Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup Day applies across Victoria unless an approved non-metropolitan council alternate holiday applies. For statewide planning it should be treated as a key date, but regional employers and travellers should still check whether a local replacement holiday has been declared.
Anzac Day weekend rule
Victoria public holidays 2026 observe Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April with no replacement Monday holiday. This differs from NSW, ACT, and Western Australia, where an additional Monday holiday is listed for 2026.
Understanding Victoria Holidays
Statewide Rules
Victoria has statewide public holidays plus local exceptions around Melbourne Cup in some non-metropolitan areas. That makes statewide dates useful for planning, while still leaving room for local authority checks.
Weekend Treatment
Anzac Day has no replacement holiday in Victoria in 2026, while Boxing Day has an additional Monday holiday. These weekend treatment rules are often the difference between a normal weekend and a long weekend.
Planning Use
Use this Victoria public holidays 2026 page for work, travel, trading, and leave planning before checking any local council exception.
FAQ
How many public holidays does Victoria have in 2026?
This Victoria public holidays 2026 guide lists 14 public holiday dates, including the additional Monday holiday for Boxing Day.
Does Victoria public holidays 2026 include a replacement holiday for Anzac Day?
No. Victoria public holidays 2026 observe Anzac Day on the day it falls, so there is no replacement holiday when it falls on a weekend.
Is Melbourne Cup a public holiday across Victoria?
Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday across Victoria unless an approved alternate local holiday has been arranged by a non-metropolitan council.
When is AFL Grand Final Friday in Victoria in 2026?
Business Victoria lists Friday 25 September 2026 as the Friday before the AFL Grand Final public holiday. Because this holiday is tied to a major sporting event, it is worth rechecking official sources before final travel, staffing, or event plans.
Does Victoria have an additional Boxing Day public holiday in 2026?
Yes. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, and Business Victoria lists Monday 28 December as the additional public holiday. This creates an important late-December planning point for rosters, leave calendars, and customer-facing closure notices.
Which Victoria public holidays 2026 are most different from NSW?
The biggest differences are the AFL Grand Final Friday, Melbourne Cup, and Anzac Day treatment. Victoria has the AFL and Melbourne Cup dates, while NSW has an additional Anzac Day public holiday on Monday 27 April 2026.
Are restricted trading days shown on this Victoria page?
Yes. The table notes restricted trading context where it is useful, including Good Friday, Anzac Day, and Christmas Day. Businesses should still check official Victorian trading rules and any industry-specific requirements before opening on those dates.
Should schools use this page as the school holiday calendar?
No. This page is for public holidays. School term dates, pupil-free days, and school vacation periods are separate planning topics, even though some public holidays affect school attendance and family travel decisions.
How should regional Victoria use Melbourne Cup Day?
Melbourne Cup Day is the statewide default, but some non-metropolitan councils can arrange an alternate local holiday. Regional users should use this page for the statewide baseline and confirm council-level declarations before treating the date as final.
Can Victoria public holidays 2026 be used for payroll planning?
Yes. Victoria public holidays 2026 is a useful payroll planning checklist because it separates statewide dates, weekend treatment, and local rule notes. Payroll teams should still confirm awards, agreements, penalty-rate settings, and any local Melbourne Cup substitute before finalising pay runs.
Which Victoria public holidays 2026 need extra verification?
The Victoria public holidays 2026 dates that most need extra verification are AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup Day. AFL Grand Final Friday depends on the official football calendar, while Melbourne Cup Day can be replaced by an approved local holiday in some areas.
Why does Victoria public holidays 2026 differ from the Australia overview?
Victoria public holidays 2026 includes state-specific rules that are not visible in a simple Australia-wide list. The Australia overview explains the national anchors, but the Victoria page is the practical page for local rosters, retail planning, travel dates, and regional checks.
How should travellers use Victoria public holidays 2026?
Travellers can use Victoria public holidays 2026 to identify long weekends, likely busy accommodation periods, and dates when public services or retailers may operate differently. AFL Grand Final Friday, Melbourne Cup Day, Easter, and the Christmas period are especially useful planning points, but regional trips should still account for local holiday substitutions and event-day closures. For families, Victoria public holidays 2026 can also be cross-checked with school term dates before booking.