Queensland’s holidays
The Holidays Act 1983 sets New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, the day after Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, Anzac Day, Labour Day on the first Monday in May, the King’s Birthday on the first Monday in October, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and makes Christmas Eve a part-day holiday from 6pm. Printed on A4 with Monday-first weeks, the calendar marks the full days in red and the part-day in grey; the table below the text lists 2027. It switches to the next year each September.
Why the dates look different
Queensland is the state whose King’s Birthday falls in spring: the first Monday in October, with Labour Day back in May. Anzac Day follows its own rule too. When 25 April is a Sunday, the Act makes the Monday the public holiday instead of the Sunday, as on 26 April 2027; when it is a Saturday, there is no replacement. The Christmas Eve part-day matters for pay under the Industrial Relations Act and the Fair Work Act, not for closing early, so check your award.
The Ekka and other show days
The Minister appoints show holidays each year for districts across Queensland. Brisbane’s is the Royal Queensland Show, the Ekka, held on the Wednesday of the show, which falls between 10 and 16 August; the calendar marks it grey because it only applies in the Brisbane City Council area. Towns such as Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville have their own show days on other dates: the Queensland Government’s show holiday list gives yours.
Around the year
Queensland state schools have four terms, published by the Department of Education, with the long break over Christmas. A fillable calendar is a quick way to add them: tick Fillable PDF, download, and type the first and last day of each term.
Other states
The Australia calendar links to every other state and territory, and the calendar maker prints any range.
Public holidays in Queensland, 2027
These are the dates marked on the calendar above, worked out from the same rules. Change the start month or year and the list under the preview follows.
| Holiday | Date | Day off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Same day |
| Australia Day | Tue, Jan 26, 2027 | Same day |
| Good Friday | Fri, Mar 26, 2027 | Same day |
| Easter Saturday (the day after Good Friday) | Sat, Mar 27, 2027 | Weekend public holiday |
| Easter Sunday | Sun, Mar 28, 2027 | Weekend public holiday |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Mar 29, 2027 | Same day |
| Anzac Day | Sun, Apr 25, 2027 | No: the Monday instead |
| Anzac Day (public holiday on the Monday) | Mon, Apr 26, 2027 | Same day |
| Labour Day | Mon, May 3, 2027 | Same day |
| Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane only) | Wed, Aug 11, 2027 | Brisbane area only |
| King's Birthday | Mon, Oct 4, 2027 | Same day |
| Christmas Eve (public holiday from 6pm) | Fri, Dec 24, 2027 | From 6pm (part-day) |
| Christmas Day | Sat, Dec 25, 2027 | Mon, Dec 27, 2027 |
| Boxing Day | Sun, Dec 26, 2027 | Tue, Dec 28, 2027 |