Queensland’s public holiday calendar is more complex than most realise. Eleven statewide holidays apply across the state, but the Royal Queensland Show—Ekka Wednesday—is exclusive to Brisbane. Knowing which dates actually apply to your region prevents planning mistakes and missed appointments.

4 related posts

Next public holiday QLD: Anzac Day 25 April ·
Labour Day QLD: Monday 4 May ·
Royal Queensland Show: Wednesday 12 August ·
Easter holidays QLD: Good Friday 3 April to Easter Monday 6 April

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Some sources list Royal Queensland Show 2026 as 23 August rather than 12 August (Peninsula AU)
  • 2027 dates pending official proclamation by Queensland Government (PublicHolidays.com.au)
  • Local show holidays outside Brisbane not fully detailed in official sources (Peninsula AU)
3Timeline signal
  • April cluster: Easter 3–6 April, Anzac Day 25 April (Queensland Government)
  • October cluster: King’s Birthday 5 October — important for multi-state payroll planning (ScaleSuite payroll experts)
  • Christmas period 2026 runs from 6pm 24 December to 28 December (Queensland Government)
4What’s next
  • Labour Day 4 May 2026 marks the first May long weekend
  • Royal Queensland Show 12 August is Brisbane’s exclusive public holiday
  • King’s Birthday 5 October closes the calendar before festive season

The table below summarises verified Queensland Government dates alongside the key upcoming holidays for quick reference.

Authority source Next holiday Labour Day Show holiday Brisbane
qld.gov.au 25 April Monday 4 May Wednesday 12 August

Public holidays QLD 2026

Queensland observes eleven statewide public holidays throughout 2026, with the key dates spanning from New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January through to Boxing Day’s substitute day on Monday 28 December. The year opens with Australia Day on Monday 26 January, followed by Easter’s long weekend from Good Friday 3 April through Easter Monday 6 April.

Labour Day

Labour Day falls on Monday 4 May 2026, marking the first Monday of the month and giving Queenslanders a welcome long weekend early in autumn. This date aligns with the national pattern for Labour Day observances, though the specific Monday choice is consistent across all Australian jurisdictions that mark the holiday in May.

Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area)

The Royal Queensland Show—commonly called Ekka—takes place on Wednesday 12 August 2026, serving as the single public holiday exclusive to the Brisbane metropolitan area. If you’re outside Brisbane, your region will have its own local show holiday on a different date, so check with your local council for specifics. The PublicHolidays.com.au calendar confirms Brisbane-only applicability for this holiday.

The catch

Royal Queensland Show’s Ekka Wednesday is one of the few holidays that applies exclusively to Brisbane. Workers in Toowoomba, Gold Coast, or Sunshine Coast get a different local show day—meaning regional Queenslandians may need to double-check their own council’s schedule.

King’s Birthday

King’s Birthday lands on Monday 5 October 2026, following the traditional early-October slot for Queensland’s birthday honours to the monarch. This timing differs significantly from states like South Australia, which observes King’s Birthday in June. Multi-state employers take note: Tourism Australia confirms this interstate variation.

Is tomorrow a public holiday in QLD?

With today being 12 April 2026, no public holiday applies. Easter Monday just passed on 6 April, and the next holiday on the calendar is Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April. For those checking tomorrow, Sunday 13 April is a regular day with no public holiday status.

ANZAC Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, which notably results in no substitute public holiday being declared statewide in Queensland. This differs from some other Australian states that provide a Monday fallback when Anzac Day lands on a weekend. The ScaleSuite payroll experts highlight this as a key difference for employers managing staff schedules across state lines.

Current date check

As of 12 April 2026, the verified next upcoming public holiday is Anzac Day on 25 April. Workers should confirm with their employer whether Saturday holidays require additional arrangements, as award conditions may specify substitute day entitlements.

Next upcoming

The complete sequence after Easter: Labour Day 4 May, then the mid-year break around the Royal Queensland Show, followed by King’s Birthday in October. Planning around these fixed points helps businesses coordinate payroll and employees schedule leave.

Public holidays QLD 2027

The Queensland Government publishes 2027 dates on a provisional basis until official proclamation, though calendar projections based on fixed astronomical and legislative rules provide reliable guidance. The PublicHolidays.com.au database lists 2027 estimates alongside state-specific notes.

Projected dates

  • New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2027
  • Australia Day: Tuesday 26 January 2027
  • Good Friday: Friday 26 March 2027
  • Easter Monday: Monday 29 March 2027
  • ANZAC Day: Sunday 25 April with observed substitute Monday 26 April 2027
  • Labour Day: Monday 3 May 2027
  • Royal Queensland Show: Wednesday 11 August 2027 (Brisbane only)
  • King’s Birthday: Monday 4 October 2027

The ANZAC Day situation in 2027 differs from 2026: because 25 April falls on a Sunday, the observed public holiday transfers to Monday 26 April. Queensland’s substitution rules typically provide the following Monday when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, per Queensland Government guidance.

Why this matters

For employers using automated rostering systems, the ANZAC Day weekend pattern shifts between years—2026 has no substitute while 2027 gains a Monday. Building in this annual variation prevents scheduling errors and ensures staff are correctly paid for public holiday work.

Standard holidays

The Christmas period in 2027 will follow the established pattern: Christmas Eve (from 6pm), Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the substitute arrangement when Boxing Day falls on a weekend. Notably, Christmas Eve in Queensland runs only from 6pm to midnight—not a full-day holiday. The Fair Work Ombudsman specifies this partial-day distinction as critical for retail and hospitality workers whose shifts span the evening transition.

Public holidays Brisbane 2026

Brisbane residents enjoy one public holiday that does not apply to the rest of Queensland: the Royal Queensland Show, known locally as Ekka Wednesday. This exclusive holiday falls on Wednesday 12 August 2026, with the Queensland Government listing it under Brisbane area only.

Show holidays

While Brisbane gets Ekka Wednesday, other Queensland regions observe their own local show holidays on different dates throughout the year. The Australian Retail Council confirms that local show holidays replace the statewide Ekka date for non-Brisbane areas. These regional variations mean a worker in Cairns may have a completely different public holiday in August compared to their Brisbane colleague.

Regional specifics

To determine your specific local show holiday, Queenslanders should consult their council website or the Queensland Government’s official holiday page, which lists regional variations alongside statewide dates.

Next public holiday QLD

Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April 2026 is the next public holiday after Easter. For those needing a concrete answer to “is tomorrow a public holiday in QLD?”, the verification method is straightforward: check against the official Queensland Government list at qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public.

Upcoming list

  • ANZAC Day: Saturday 25 April 2026
  • Labour Day: Monday 4 May 2026
  • Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane only): Wednesday 12 August 2026
  • King’s Birthday: Monday 5 October 2026
  • Christmas Eve: Thursday 24 December 2026 (6pm to midnight)
  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
  • Boxing Day (substitute): Monday 28 December 2026

2026 schedule

The full 2026 Queensland public holiday schedule, verified against Queensland Government records, includes eleven statewide holidays plus one Brisbane-exclusive observance. School holidays overlap with several dates: Term 1 2026 runs from 3 April (Good Friday) through 19 April, meaning Easter break coincides precisely with the long weekend. The Budget Direct travel insurance guide confirms this school holiday alignment.

Bottom line: Queensland’s 2026 public holidays are fully verified by the Queensland Government. Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April has no statewide substitute—unlike 2027’s Monday fallback—so employees should confirm their award conditions now. Brisbane workers get Ekka Wednesday exclusive to their region, while the rest of Queensland follows local show holiday dates. For multi-state employers, King’s Birthday timing in October (QLD) versus June (SA) demands separate payroll processing.

Timeline

Easter
Anzac Day
Labour Day
Royal Queensland Show
King’s Birthday
Christmas period
ANZAC Day observed

What’s confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed

  • All 2026 statewide dates from Queensland Government
  • Royal Queensland Show applies to Brisbane area only
  • Christmas Eve limited to 6pm–midnight
  • Boxing Day 2026 substitute is Monday 28 December
  • ANZAC Day 2026 Saturday has no statewide substitute
  • Easter Sunday is award-dependent, not universal

Unclear

  • Some sources list Ekka 2026 as 23 August instead of 12 August
  • 2027 dates pending official proclamation
  • Full details on local show holidays outside Brisbane not available
  • Specific penalty rate variations by award not detailed

What experts say

Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only) – Other show holidays apply to regional Queensland localities.

— Queensland Government (official government source)

The October cluster is particularly important for multi-state businesses managing different state holiday calendars and ensuring correct payroll processing across jurisdictions.

— ScaleSuite (payroll advisory service)

Ekka Wednesday is observed in Brisbane area only. Other Queensland regions have their own local show holidays on different dates.

— PublicHolidays.com.au (state-specific holiday tracker)

Summary

Queensland’s public holiday landscape for 2026 and 2027 is largely settled, with all 2026 dates officially proclaimed and 2027 projections available from multiple verified sources. The critical distinction remains between statewide holidays and the Brisbane-exclusive Royal Queensland Show on 12 August 2026. For Queensland employees, the ANZAC Day variation between years—2026’s Saturday with no substitute versus 2027’s Sunday-to-Monday shift—demonstrates why checking your specific employment award matters. For multi-state employers, the October King’s Birthday timing demands separate payroll calibration: Queensland observes the holiday in October while South Australia marks it in June, creating ongoing compliance complexity that ScaleSuite payroll guidance flags as particularly important for businesses operating across state borders.

Related reading: Harmony Day 2025 – Theme, Dates and Celebrations

Additional sources

holidays-info.com, en.wikipedia.org, australia.com, groupaccommodation.com

Queensland’s 2026-2027 public holidays blend national dates with local events like Ekka, as outlined in the 2026 Australia calendar alongside other states.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in QLD?

Yes, but only from 6pm to midnight on Thursday 24 December 2026. Christmas Eve is not a full-day public holiday in Queensland—it runs from 6pm until midnight according to Fair Work Ombudsman guidance. This partial-day status affects workers whose shifts span the evening transition point.

Is Boxing Day a public holiday in QLD?

Yes, Boxing Day is a public holiday in Queensland. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, so the observed substitute day is Monday 28 December, per Australian Retail Council confirmation.

When is Anzac Day public holiday 2026 in QLD?

Anzac Day 2026 falls on Saturday 25 April. Unlike 2027, when Anzac Day on Sunday gets a Monday substitute, Queensland does not provide a statewide substitute for the 2026 Saturday observance. Workers should check their specific employment award, as some enterprise agreements may still provide substitute day entitlements.

What are Queensland school holidays in 2026?

Term 1 2026 school holidays run from Friday 3 April (Good Friday) through Sunday 19 April, overlapping with Easter. According to Budget Direct, this creates a natural family holiday period aligned with the public holidays.

Are public holidays paid in QLD?

Public holidays in Queensland are generally paid for employees who ordinarily work on that day. The Fair Work Ombudsman sets baseline national employment standards, though specific penalty rates depend on the applicable award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract. Workers in retail and hospitality may have different entitlements than those in other sectors.

What is the Ekka holiday in Brisbane?

The Ekka is the colloquial name for the Royal Queensland Show, held annually in Brisbane. The public holiday—Ekka Wednesday—falls on Wednesday 12 August 2026 and applies to Brisbane area workers only. Other Queensland regions have their own local show holidays on different dates throughout the year.

How many public holidays are there in Queensland per year?

Queensland observes eleven statewide public holidays annually, plus one Brisbane-exclusive holiday (Royal Queensland Show). This brings Brisbane residents to twelve public holidays per year, while residents of other Queensland regions receive eleven—unless their local council designates additional local show holidays.