Public Holidays in Western Australia 2026

Western Australia has a public holiday calendar with several notable differences from the eastern states. The Queen’s Birthday is observed in September rather than June, Western Australia Day replaces some holidays found in other states, and the Easter and Anzac Day arrangements have their own WA-specific rules. For employers operating in Western Australia — or managing teams across multiple states — understanding these differences is critical for payroll compliance and workforce planning.

This guide covers every WA public holiday for 2026, explains employer obligations, and provides practical advice for managing leave and rosters around holiday periods.

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 Western Australian Public Holidays in 2026

Western Australia observes all national public holidays plus several state-specific days. Here is the complete list:

Date	Holiday	National or State
Thursday 1 January	New Year’s Day	National
Monday 26 January	Australia Day	National
Friday 3 April	Good Friday	National
Saturday 4 April	Easter Saturday	State
Monday 6 April	Easter Monday	National
Saturday 25 April	Anzac Day	National
Monday 1 June	Western Australia Day	State
Monday 28 September	Queen’s Birthday	State (WA observes in September)
Thursday 25 December	Christmas Day	National
Friday 26 December	Boxing Day	National

Note: Western Australia does not observe Easter Sunday as a public holiday, unlike some eastern states such as Victoria and Queensland.

Western Australia’s Unique Public Holidays

Western Australia Day (1 June)

Western Australia Day is celebrated on the first Monday of June each year. In 2026, this falls on Monday 1 June. It commemorates the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829 and is a day of significance for the state.

Key points for employers:

• This is a full public holiday for all WA employees.
• It has no equivalent in other states (other states observe the Queen’s Birthday in June instead).
• Penalty rates apply in the same way as any other public holiday.

Queen’s Birthday in September

Western Australia is the only state that observes the Queen’s Birthday in September. In 2026, it falls on Monday 28 September (the last Monday of September or fourth Monday — the exact timing is gazetted by the WA Government each year).

This creates a unique challenge for multi-state employers:

• Your NSW, Victorian, and Tasmanian teams have a Queen’s Birthday holiday in June.
• Your Queensland team has it in October.
• Your WA team has it in September.
• Your payroll system must account for these different dates to avoid underpayments or incorrect leave deductions.

Easter Saturday (but Not Easter Sunday)

Western Australia observes Easter Saturday as a public holiday, but not Easter Sunday. This differs from Victoria and Queensland, which observe both Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Employers operating across state borders need to be aware of this distinction when calculating penalty rates for the Easter period.

Substitute Days: When Holidays Fall on Weekends

Western Australia has specific rules for substitute public holidays:

• Anzac Day on a Saturday (2026): When Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, there is no substitute public holiday on the following Monday in WA. However, employees who ordinarily work on Saturdays are still entitled to public holiday conditions.
• Christmas Day on a Saturday: The following Monday becomes a substitute public holiday.
• Christmas Day on a Sunday: The following Monday becomes a substitute public holiday (and Boxing Day substitute shifts to Tuesday).
• Boxing Day on a Saturday: The following Monday becomes a substitute public holiday.
• New Year’s Day or Australia Day on a Saturday: The following Monday becomes a substitute public holiday.

For 2026, the main substitute day consideration is Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April. No substitute applies, but Saturday workers should receive public holiday entitlements for that day.

Penalty Rates on Public Holidays in WA

Employees who work on a public holiday in Western Australia are entitled to penalty rates under their applicable modern award or enterprise agreement. Common 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)

Common Award Examples for WA

Award	Penalty Rate (Public Holiday)
General Retail Industry Award	225% (full-time/part-time), 250% (casual)
Hospitality Industry (General) Award	225% (full-time/part-time), 250% (casual)
Mining Industry Award	250% (full-time/part-time)
Clerks — Private Sector Award	250% (full-time/part-time), 275% (casual)

Important: Penalty rates apply to all gazetted public holidays in WA, including state-specific holidays like Western Australia Day and the September Queen’s Birthday. There is no distinction between national and state holidays when it comes to penalty rate entitlements.

WA State System Employees

It is worth noting that some WA employees are covered by the WA state industrial relations system rather than the national Fair Work system. This applies to sole traders and unincorporated partnerships in WA. These employers need to check the WA state awards for applicable penalty rates, which may differ from national modern awards.

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, provided the request is reasonable. Employees can refuse if their refusal is also reasonable.

Factors Determining Reasonableness

The Fair Work Act considers:

• Nature of the business: Mining, healthcare, hospitality, and retail commonly operate on public holidays in WA.
• Employee’s role: Is their specific function essential to ongoing operations?
• Personal circumstances: Family commitments, caring responsibilities, and the cultural significance of the holiday.
• Compensation: Whether penalty rates or other benefits adequately compensate the employee.
• Notice given: Reasonable advance notice is expected.
• Past practice: Whether the employee has a history of working or not working public holidays.

The Mining and Resources Sector

Western Australia’s mining and resources sector deserves special mention. Many mining operations run continuous rosters (fly-in, fly-out or drive-in, drive-out) where public holidays are built into the roster cycle. In these cases:

• Public holiday work is typically addressed in enterprise agreements or individual contracts.
• Employees on continuous rosters may receive a public holiday loading built into their annual salary or roster allowance.
• Employers must still ensure that the total remuneration meets or exceeds the minimum entitlement under the applicable award, including public holiday penalty rates.

If you operate in the resources sector, review your enterprise agreement carefully to confirm how public holidays are treated.

Employer Obligations: Summary

Western Australian employers must:

• Pay absent employees: 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: Any employee who works on a public holiday must receive the applicable penalty rate.
• Use the correct dates: WA Day is in June, and the Queen’s Birthday is in September — do not apply dates from other states.
• Keep accurate records: Timesheets, payslips, and rosters must reflect public holiday work and correct penalty payments.
• Understand the WA state system: If your business is an unincorporated entity, you may be covered by WA state awards rather than national modern awards.
• Respect reasonable refusals: Employees who reasonably refuse to work on a public holiday must not face adverse consequences.

Planning Tips for WA Employers in 2026

Easter Period (3–6 April)

Good Friday (3 April), Easter Saturday (4 April), and Easter Monday (6 April) create a three-day public holiday weekend in WA (note: Easter Sunday is not a public holiday in WA). Many employees will request leave on the Tuesday after Easter or the Thursday before Good Friday to extend their break.

Tips:

• Set a leave request deadline well ahead of Easter.
• Roster fairly by rotating public holiday shifts.
• Budget for three days of penalty rates if your business operates over the Easter period.

Western Australia Day (1 June)

WA Day on Monday 1 June creates a long weekend. This is a popular time for short trips and family activities. Ensure you:

• Confirm rosters early for any staff required to work.
• Communicate penalty rate entitlements clearly.

Queen’s Birthday (28 September)

The September timing of the Queen’s Birthday can catch employers off guard, particularly those relocating from eastern states. Common mistakes include:

• Accidentally applying the June date used by NSW and Victoria.
• Failing to update payroll systems when onboarding WA-based employees.
• Not recognising the holiday in roster planning.

Double-check your payroll calendar at the start of each year to ensure the September date is correctly configured for WA employees.

Managing Leave Around Public Holidays

Public holidays naturally create opportunities for employees to extend their time off by taking one or two days of annual leave adjacent to the holiday. In WA, the most common bridge day requests occur around:

• Easter (requesting the Tuesday after Easter Monday)
• WA Day (requesting the Friday before or Tuesday after)
• Queen’s Birthday (requesting the Friday before or Tuesday after)
• Christmas and New Year (requesting the entire week between the two holidays)

To manage this effectively:

• Establish a clear leave policy that addresses peak periods.
• Use a first-come, first-served approach or a rotating system to ensure fairness.
• Track leave balances throughout the year so employees are not caught short in December.
• Communicate any business shutdown periods well in advance (at least 28 days’ notice, or as required by your award).

Christmas and New Year Period

Christmas Day (Thursday) and Boxing Day (Friday) in 2026 create a four-day weekend with the regular Saturday and Sunday. The following week leads into New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January 2027. This two-week period is the most popular leave request window of the year. Plan for reduced staffing or a full shutdown, and communicate expectations early.

Key Takeaways for WA Employers

1. Western Australia observes the Queen’s Birthday in September, not June — ensure your payroll reflects this.
2. Western Australia Day on the first Monday of June is a full public holiday unique to WA.
3. WA does not observe Easter Sunday as a public holiday, unlike Victoria and Queensland.
4. Anzac Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 with no substitute day, but Saturday workers are still entitled to public holiday conditions.
5. Mining and resources employers should review enterprise agreements carefully for public holiday provisions on continuous rosters.
6. Some WA employers (unincorporated businesses) are covered by the WA state industrial relations system, not the national Fair Work system.
7. Plan early for Easter, WA Day, Queen’s Birthday, and the Christmas–New Year period to avoid roster gaps and compliance issues.

Getting public holidays right in Western Australia requires attention to the state-specific dates and an understanding of the unique industrial relations landscape. With proper planning, accurate payroll systems, and clear communication, you can meet your obligations and keep your workforce well managed throughout the year.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on your obligations, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or consult a qualified employment lawyer.