Aussie Days

This guide brings together Australia wide cultural dates, First Peoples observances, public holidays, community traditions and iconic Australian events. It runs from 1 January to 31 December and is designed as a reference calendar for Australia.

Some dates are fixed. Others vary by year, state, city, or sporting schedules. Where a date changes each year, it is listed as varies.

January

  • 1 January : New Year’s Day
  • January varies : Summer school holidays, by state
  • January varies : Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne VIC
  • 26 January : Australia Day (until changed or ammended)
  • Late January varies : Australia Day public holiday observed, by state

February

  • February varies : Lunar New Year
  • 13 February : National Apology Day
  • 14 February : Valentine’s Day
  • February varies : Royal Hobart Regatta public holiday, parts of TAS
  • February to March varies : Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney NSW

March

  • First Sunday in March : Clean Up Australia Day
  • 8 March : International Women’s Day
  • 15 to 21 March : Harmony Week
  • 17 March : St Patrick’s Day
  • 21 March : Harmony Day
  • Third Thursday in March : National Close the Gap Day
  • March varies : Labour Day public holiday, state based
  • March varies : Canberra Day public holiday, ACT
  • March varies : Adelaide Cup Day public holiday, SA
  • March varies : Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne VIC
  • March or April varies : Royal Sydney Easter Show, Sydney NSW

April

  • March or April varies : Good Friday
  • March or April varies : Easter Saturday
  • March or April varies : Easter Sunday
  • March or April varies : Easter Monday
  • 25 April : ANZAC Day
  • April varies : School holidays, by state

May

  • Second Sunday in May : Mother’s Day
  • May varies : National Volunteer Week
  • May varies : Australian Made Week
  • May varies : Small Business Month, state based
  • 26 May : National Sorry Day
  • 27 May to 3 June : National Reconciliation Week

June

  • 3 June : Mabo Day
  • June varies : King’s Birthday public holiday, most states
  • June varies : Reconciliation Day public holiday, ACT
  • June varies : Western Australia Day public holiday, WA
  • 30 June : End of Financial Year

July

  • 1 July : Coming of the Light, Torres Strait Islander observance
  • 1 July : Start of Financial Year
  • First full week of July : NAIDOC Week
  • July varies : Winter school holidays, by state

August

  • 4 August : National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
  • August varies : Ekka, Royal Queensland Show, Brisbane QLD
  • August varies : Picnic Day public holiday, NT

September

  • 1 September : Wattle Day
  • 3 September : Australian National Flag Day
  • First Sunday in September : Father’s Day
  • First Wednesday in September : Indigenous Literacy Day
  • Second Thursday in September : R U OK Day
  • September varies : Royal Adelaide Show, Adelaide SA
  • September to early October varies : Royal Melbourne Show, Melbourne VIC
  • September varies : AFL Finals Series
  • September varies : AFL Grand Final, Melbourne VIC
  • September varies : Friday before the AFL Grand Final public holiday, VIC

October

  • October : Mental Health Month
  • October varies : Labour Day public holiday, some states
  • October varies : Bathurst 1000, Bathurst NSW
  • October varies : NRL Grand Final, Sydney NSW
  • 31 October : Halloween

November

  • 11 November : Remembrance Day
  • First Tuesday in November : Melbourne Cup Day, Melbourne VIC
  • November varies : Melbourne Cup Carnival, Melbourne VIC

December

  • 2 December : Mabo Decision Anniversary
  • 13 December : Queensland Government Apology to the Stolen Generations
  • December varies : Summer school holidays begin, by state
  • 24 December varies : Christmas Eve part day public holiday, some states and territories
  • 25 December : Christmas Day
  • 26 December : Boxing Day
  • 26 December : Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins
  • 26 December : Boxing Day Test Cricket, host city varies
  • 31 December : New Year’s Eve

Other State and Territory Public Holidays

These are widely recognised public holidays that occur on different dates depending on the state or territory and may be regional.

  • Varies : King’s Birthday public holiday date differs in some states
  • Varies : Labour Day public holiday dates differ across states
  • Varies : Show Day public holidays, local regions across Australia
  • Varies : Recreation Day public holiday, parts of TAS

If a recognised Australia wide event belongs on this list, contact hello@ausmosis.shop.