The Australian Capital Territory has a distinctive public holiday calendar that reflects its role as the nation’s capital and its commitment to reconciliation. Beyond the standard national holidays, ACT employers need to navigate Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, and Family & Community Day — territory-specific holidays that have no direct equivalent in most other jurisdictions.

This guide covers every ACT public holiday for 2026, explains the territory-specific days, and walks through employer obligations so you can stay compliant and keep your team informed.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman or consult an employment lawyer for guidance specific to your organisation.

Full List of ACT Public Holidays in 2026

The ACT observes all national public holidays plus several territory-specific days. Here is the complete list:

Date	Holiday	National or Territory
Thursday 1 January	New Year’s Day	National
Monday 26 January	Australia Day	National
Monday 9 March	Canberra Day	Territory
Friday 3 April	Good Friday	National
Saturday 4 April	Easter Saturday	National
Monday 6 April	Easter Monday	National
Saturday 25 April	Anzac Day	National
Monday 25 May	Reconciliation Day	Territory
Monday 8 June	Queen’s Birthday	Territory
Monday 28 September	Family & Community Day	Territory
Thursday 25 December	Christmas Day	National
Friday 26 December	Boxing Day	National

Note: The ACT is one of the few Australian jurisdictions to observe Reconciliation Day as a public holiday, reflecting Canberra’s unique position as the seat of government and its focus on Indigenous recognition and reconciliation.

The ACT’s Unique Public Holidays

Canberra Day

Canberra Day is observed on the second Monday in March each year. In 2026, this falls on Monday 9 March.

Canberra Day celebrates the naming of Australia’s capital city, which occurred on 12 March 1913. The day has been observed as a public holiday in the ACT since 2007, replacing the former “Canberra Day” that was held on the third Monday of March.

Key points for employers:

Canberra Day applies to all employees whose principal workplace is in the ACT.
The holiday provides a long weekend in early March, and many employees will request annual leave on the surrounding days to extend their break.
Employers in retail, hospitality, and tourism should anticipate higher foot traffic during the Canberra Day long weekend and plan staffing accordingly.

Reconciliation Day

Reconciliation Day is observed on 27 May or the nearest Monday to that date. In 2026, 27 May is a Wednesday, so Reconciliation Day moves to Monday 25 May — the Monday before 27 May.

The ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction to observe Reconciliation Day as a gazetted public holiday. It was introduced in 2018, replacing the former Family & Community Day that was held in the same period. The date of 27 May commemorates the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, in which Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to include them in the census.

What this means for employers: If your business operates across multiple states or territories, your ACT-based employees will have an additional public holiday that staff in other locations do not receive. This can create rostering imbalances and requires careful coordination. Ensure your payroll system recognises Reconciliation Day as a public holiday for ACT-based workers to avoid underpayment of penalty rates.

Family & Community Day

Family & Community Day is observed on the last Monday in September on or before 30 September. In 2026, this falls on Monday 28 September.

This holiday was originally known as “Family & Community Day” and has had various dates throughout its history. The day is intended to encourage families and communities in the ACT to spend time together.

Key points for employers:

Family & Community Day applies to all employees whose principal workplace is in the ACT.
The holiday falls in late September, creating a long weekend that can coincide with school holidays.
Employers in industries that operate throughout the year should plan for penalty rate obligations on this day.

Queen’s Birthday

The ACT observes the Queen’s Birthday on the second Monday in June, in line with New South Wales and several other jurisdictions. In 2026, this falls on Monday 8 June. Note that Queensland and Western Australia observe this holiday on different dates.

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Substitute Days: When Holidays Fall on Weekends

When a national public holiday falls on a weekend in the ACT, the following substitute day rules generally apply:

Anzac Day on a Saturday (2026): Unlike some other public holidays, Anzac Day does not attract a substitute Monday in the ACT when it falls on a Saturday. Employees who would not ordinarily work on a Saturday will not receive an additional day off or substitute holiday.
Christmas Day or Boxing Day on a weekend: Standard substitute day rules apply. If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday becomes the substitute. If Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, the following Tuesday becomes the substitute.
New Year’s Day on a weekend: If New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is typically gazetted as the substitute public holiday.

For 2026, the main substitute day consideration is around Anzac Day. Always check the ACT Government gazette or the Fair Work Ombudsman website for confirmed substitute dates.

Penalty Rates on Public Holidays in the ACT

Employees who work on a public holiday in the ACT are entitled to penalty rates under their applicable modern award or enterprise agreement. Typical rates include:

Employment Type	Common Penalty Rate
Full-time	200%-250% of ordinary rate
Part-time	200%-250% of ordinary rate
Casual	250%-275% of ordinary rate (inclusive of casual loading)

Key Award Examples

Hospitality Industry (General) Award: 225% for full-time/part-time, 250% for casuals
General Retail Industry Award: 225% for full-time/part-time, 250% for casuals
Health Professionals and Support Services Award: 250% for full-time/part-time

Important: These rates apply to territory-specific public holidays (Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, Family & Community Day) in exactly the same way as they apply to national public holidays. There is no distinction in penalty rate obligations between national and territory holidays.

Can You Require Employees to Work on Public Holidays?

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, employers can request employees to work on a public holiday, but the request must be reasonable. Employees can refuse if their refusal is also reasonable.

Factors That Determine Reasonableness

The Fair Work Act lists several factors:

Nature of the business: Hospitals, restaurants, and retail stores routinely operate on public holidays.
Employee’s role: Is their presence essential?
Personal circumstances: Family commitments, religious observance, or caring responsibilities.
Compensation: Whether penalty rates or other benefits are being offered.
Notice provided: Adequate notice strengthens the case for reasonableness.
Past patterns: Has the employee previously agreed to work public holidays?

Practical Recommendations

Identify early in the year which public holidays your business will operate on.
Discuss public holiday rosters with employees well in advance.
Document preferences and agreements in writing.
Ensure all penalty rates and entitlements are clearly communicated.
Be flexible where possible — forcing unwilling employees to work on public holidays creates morale and compliance risks.

Employer Obligations: Summary

ACT employers must:

Pay employees for public holiday absences: Full-time and part-time employees who would ordinarily work on a public holiday are entitled to their ordinary pay for that day.
Pay correct penalty rates: Employees who work on a public holiday must receive the applicable penalty rate.
Keep accurate records: Timesheets, payslips, and rosters must clearly reflect public holiday work and payments.
Recognise territory-specific holidays: Canberra Day, Reconciliation Day, and Family & Community Day carry the same legal weight as national public holidays for ACT-based workers.
Respect reasonable refusals: Do not penalise employees who reasonably refuse to work on public holidays.

Planning Tips for ACT Employers in 2026

The Easter Long Weekend

The Easter period in 2026 creates a four-day run of public holidays from Good Friday (3 April) through Easter Monday (6 April). Many employees will also request the days before or after this period as annual leave. Plan rosters and staffing levels well ahead of time.

The March Long Weekend (Canberra Day)

Canberra Day on Monday 9 March gives ACT workers an early-year long weekend. This is a popular time for short trips, particularly given Canberra’s proximity to the NSW South Coast and Snowy Mountains. Expect a high volume of leave requests around this date, especially from employees looking to extend the break.

Reconciliation Day in Late May

Reconciliation Day on Monday 25 May creates another long weekend. Because this holiday is unique to the ACT, employers managing teams across multiple jurisdictions need to be especially careful. Your Canberra-based staff will have a day off that colleagues in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane do not.

Family & Community Day in September

Family & Community Day on Monday 28 September falls close to the end of the third quarter. For businesses that are busy during this period, it is important to plan ahead for reduced staffing. This holiday often coincides with ACT school holidays, which can increase the number of annual leave requests around the same time.

Managing Bridge Days

ACT employees will often request annual leave to create extended breaks around public holidays. Common bridge day requests in 2026:

The Tuesday after Easter Monday (7 April) to create a five-day break
Days surrounding Reconciliation Day for a mid-year break
The week between Christmas and New Year

Set clear policies and deadlines for leave requests around these periods. A first-come, first-served approach or a rotating roster helps maintain fairness across the team.

Cross-State and Cross-Territory Workforce Considerations

If your business operates across multiple states or territories, remember that ACT public holidays differ from those in other jurisdictions. For example:

The ACT is the only jurisdiction to observe Reconciliation Day as a public holiday.
Canberra Day has no equivalent outside the ACT. Neighbouring NSW does not observe this holiday.
Family & Community Day is specific to the ACT and falls on a different date than similar holidays in other states.
Victoria observes Queen’s Birthday in June (same as the ACT), while Queensland observes it in October and Western Australia in September.

Given the ACT’s geographic proximity to NSW, many businesses have employees who live in one jurisdiction and work in another. In these cases, the public holidays that apply are generally those of the jurisdiction where the employee’s principal workplace is located. If the workplace is in the ACT, ACT public holidays apply regardless of where the employee lives.

Ensure your leave management system can handle territory-specific public holiday calendars to avoid underpayments or incorrect leave deductions.