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Working Hours 2026

Complete guide to working hours, public holidays, and annual leave in Australia for 2026

255
Working Days
in 2026
1,938
Working Hours
total
6
Public Holidays
on weekdays
20
Annual Leave
minimum days

Standard Work Week

  • 7.6 hours per day
  • 5 days per week
  • 38 hours per week

Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (s.62), full-time employees may not work more than 38 ordinary hours per week. Employers may request reasonable additional hours beyond 38, but employees may refuse requests that are unreasonable.

Annual Leave Entitlement

20 days

20 days (4 weeks) annual leave by law. Plus 10 days personal/sick leave.

Monthly Averages

  • 21.3 working days/month
  • 161.5 working hours/month

Monthly Working Hours Goals 2026

Expected working hours per month based on 7.6-hour workday, excluding weekends and public holidays.

MonthWorking DaysMonthly Goal
January 202620152.00
February 202620152.00
March 202622167.20
April 202620152.00
May 202621159.60
June 202622167.20
July 202623174.80
August 202621159.60
September 202622167.20
October 202622167.20
November 202621159.60
December 202621159.60
Total2551938.00

Public Holidays in Australia 2026

Australia has 10 public holidays in 2026, with 6 falling on weekdays. See full public holidays list

Understanding Holiday Types

Different countries use different terminology for non-working days. Here is what each term means for workforce planning.

Public Holidays

Official days off recognized by a country's government. Most employees are entitled to paid leave, and businesses may close or operate with reduced staff.

Federal Holidays

Holidays established by a national government, primarily affecting government offices and federally-regulated employers. Private companies may choose whether to observe them.

Bank Holidays

Days when banks and financial institutions are closed. In the UK, this term is synonymous with public holidays. Important for payroll processing and payment schedules.

Observances

Notable dates that are not official days off. Examples include Earth Day or Mother's Day. These do not affect work schedules unless an employer chooses to recognize them.

DateDayHoliday
Thu, Jan 1ThursdayNew Year's Day
Mon, Jan 26MondayAustralia Day
Fri, Apr 3FridayGood Friday
Sat, Apr 4SaturdaySaturday before EasterWeekend
Sun, Apr 5SundayEaster SundayWeekend
Mon, Apr 6MondayEaster Monday
Sat, Apr 25SaturdayAnzac DayWeekend
Fri, Dec 25FridayChristmas Day
Sat, Dec 26SaturdayBoxing DayWeekend
Mon, Dec 28MondayBoxing Day (substitute)

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