Public holidays

Public holidays

Holidays
Public holidays School holidays
Transport
Airports Trains Trams Buses Car hire Taxis Boats & ferries Bicycles Journey planner Ticketing
Driving
Types of roads Toll roads Tunnels Bridges Traffic reports Road rules Driving in snow Driving safety Fuel Electric car charging Food quarantine rules
Weather
Forecasts Current conditions Sunrise & sunset Climate Web cams
Location & maps
Map of Victoria Street directories Distance guide
Facts & figures
History timeline Population State symbols The land Time zone
Communications
Telephone Post Radio Television
Visitor information
Visitor information centres Overseas visitors
Your safety
Help & warnings Dangerous animals
Government
State government Local government Metropolitan councils Regional councils

There are 13 official public holidays in Victoria each year.

Public holiday 2026 2027
New Year's Day Thursday 1st January Friday 1st January
Australia Day Monday 26th January Tuesday 26th January
Labour Day Monday 9th March Monday 8th March
Good Friday Friday 3rd April Friday 26th March
Easter Saturday Saturday 4th April Saturday 27th March
Easter Sunday Sunday 5th April Sunday 28th March
Easter Monday Monday 6th April Monday 29th March
ANZAC Day Saturday 25th April Sunday 25th April
King's Birthday Monday 8th June Monday 14th June
AFL Grand Final Eve Friday 25th September To be announced
Melbourne Cup
(may be substituted)		 Tuesday 3rd November Tuesday 2nd November
Christmas Day Friday 25th December Saturday 25th December
Monday 27th December *
Boxing Day Saturday 26th December
Monday 28th December *		 Sunday 26th December
Tuesday 28th December *

* Denotes additional or substitute holiday date due to holiday falling during a weekend or on another holiday. No substitute public holiday is provided if Anzac Day falls on a weekend.

Substituted Melbourne Cup public holiday

Non-metropolitan councils in Victoria can opt for a different public holiday in lieu of Melbourne Cup day, which can apply either across their entire municipality or to individual towns and cities.

See the list of non-metropolitan public holidays declared in Victoria.

Shopping hours during public holidays

Except for 2½ days each year, Victoria has unrestricted trading hours throughout the state. This allows businesses to open any time of the day or any day of the week, even during most public holidays.

The 2½ days each year of restricted trading are the following public holidays:

  • Good Friday
  • Christmas Day
  • Anzac Day (only up to 1pm)

On those days, only exempt shops are permitted to open. Exempt shops include chemists, petrol stations, restaurants, takeaway outlets, service providers, hire outlets and those businesses with a small number of employees.