TAS public holidays 2026
Every public holiday in Tasmania for 2026, as published by the WorkSafe Tasmania.
| Public holiday | Date 2026 | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Whole state | |
| Australia Day | Whole state | |
| Eight Hours Day | Whole state | |
| Good Friday | Whole state | |
| Easter Monday | Whole state | |
| Easter TuesdayGenerally Tasmanian Public Service only. | Some employers | |
| Anzac DayNo substitute or additional day when it falls on a weekend. | Whole state | |
| King's Birthday | Whole state | |
| Christmas Day | Whole state | |
| Boxing Day (observed)26 December is a Saturday, so the Monday is the public holiday. Saturday 26 December is not. | Whole state |
TAS public holidays 2027
| Public holiday | Date 2027 | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Whole state | |
| Australia Day | Whole state | |
| Eight Hours Day | Whole state | |
| Good Friday | Whole state | |
| Easter Monday | Whole state | |
| Easter TuesdayGenerally Tasmanian Public Service only. | Some employers | |
| Anzac DayNo substitute or additional day when it falls on a weekend. | Whole state | |
| King's Birthday | Whole state | |
| Christmas Day (observed)25 December is a Saturday. WorkSafe Tasmania's table lists Monday 27 December; its substitute-holiday rules say that when 25 December is a Saturday, both the Saturday and the following Monday are holidays. | Whole state | |
| Boxing Day (observed)26 December is a Sunday, so the Tuesday is the public holiday. | Whole state |
Tasmanian regional public holidays 2026 and 2027
These holidays apply only in the areas listed. If your job is based there, award public holiday rates apply that day. Elsewhere it is an ordinary working day. Two are marked as generally observed by the Tasmanian State Service only, so most private sector employees work them at ordinary rates unless their award or agreement says otherwise.
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devonport Cup (half day)Generally Tasmanian State Service only. | Municipal area of Devonport | ||
| Royal Hobart Regatta | South of and including Oatlands and Swansea, excluding Bronte Park, Catagunya, Strathgordon, Tarraleah, Wayatinah and the West Coast | ||
| Launceston CupGenerally Tasmanian Public Service only. | Northern municipalities including Launceston, Meander Valley, West Tamar and Dorset (from 11am in Launceston city and listed suburbs) | ||
| King Island Show | King Island only | ||
| Agfest | Municipal area of Circular Head only | ||
| Burnie Show | Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast | ||
| Royal Launceston Show | Break O'Day, Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, West Tamar | ||
| Flinders Island Show | Municipal area of Flinders Island | ||
| Royal Hobart Show | South of and including Oatlands and Swansea, plus Bronte Park, Strathgordon, Tarraleah and Wayatinah; excludes the West Coast | ||
| Recreation Day | All parts of the state that do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta | ||
| Devonport Show | Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe |
Source: Public holidays — Table 2: Regional holidays (WorkSafe Tasmania).
What you’re paid on a TAS public holiday
The state decides which days are public holidays. Your award or enterprise agreement decides the rate. If you work the day, every hour is paid at the public holiday rate below. If you don’t work it and it falls on a day you normally work, a full-time or part-time employee is paid their base rate for their ordinary hours. Casuals are paid only for hours they work.
| Award | Full-time / part-time | Casual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care AwardMA000018 · cl 23, 26.1 and 29.2 | 250% | 275% | Permanent employees can elect each year to have the hours added to annual leave instead of the extra 150% (cl 29.2(b)). |
| Building and Construction AwardMA000020 · cl 30.1 and cl 12.5–12.6 | 250% | 275% | |
| Cleaning AwardMA000022 · cl 20.2, Table 7 | 250% | 275% | Part-time employees are paid 265% because their 15% part-time allowance applies too (cl 10.2). |
| Clerks AwardMA000002 · cl 24 and Schedule B.3.1 | 250% | 275% | Paid for at least 4 hours when required to work a public holiday (cl 24.4(d)). |
| Commercial Sales AwardMA000083 · cl 19, cl 25.3–25.4 and Schedule A | 250% | 275% | |
| Electrical AwardMA000025 · cl 20.4 and Schedule B.2.1 / B.3.1 | 250% | 312.5% | |
| Fast Food AwardMA000003 · cl 21, Table 6 | 225% | 250% | Casuals 250% (the 225% plus the 25% loading). |
| General Retail AwardMA000004 | 225% | 250% | |
| Hair and Beauty AwardMA000005 · cl 23, Tables 14 and 15 | 250% | 250% | Casuals are paid 250% — the same as permanent staff. The 25% loading is not added (Table 15). |
| Health Professionals AwardMA000027 · cl 26, cl 33.2 and Schedule C | 250% | 275% | Casuals are paid 275%, the 250% plus the 25% loading (Schedule C.2.3). |
| Horticulture AwardMA000028 · cl 13.2, 13.3(d) and 27.3–27.4, and Schedule B.2–B.3 | 200% | 225% | |
| Hospitality AwardMA000009 · cl 29.2(b), Table 14 | 225% | 250% | |
| Legal Services AwardMA000116 · cl 21.3 and 21.4, Schedule B.1 and B.2 | 250% | 275% | |
| Live Performance AwardMA000081 · cl 21.5, cl 63.3(c) and cl 63.4 | 200% | 225% | |
| Manufacturing AwardMA000010 · cl 33 | 250% | 312.5%(250% of casual rate) | Casual rate is 250% of the casual hourly rate (cl 33), which is 312.5% of the minimum rate. Minimum 3 hours for day workers. |
| Mining AwardMA000011 · cl 21 and Schedule B.1.3 / B.2.3 | 250% | 312.5%(250% of casual rate) | Casual rate is 250% of the casual hourly rate (Schedule B.2.3), which is 312.5% of the minimum rate. |
| Miscellaneous AwardMA000104 · cl 20 and Schedule A.1.1 / A.2.1 | 250% | 250% | |
| Nurses AwardMA000034 · cl 20.2, 21 and 28.2 | 200% | 250%(200% of casual rate) | Casual rate is 200% of the casual hourly rate (cl 28.2), which is 250% of the minimum rate. Christmas Day on a weekend attracts an extra 50% in 7-day businesses (cl 28.2(b)). |
| Pastoral AwardMA000035 · cl 35.5 and Schedule B.2.1 / B.2.4 | 200% | 225% | |
| Pharmacy AwardMA000012 · cl 22.3, Table 6 | 225% | 250% | |
| Plumbing AwardMA000036 · cl 23 and Schedules C.1.3–C.1.7, D.1.3–D.1.7 | 250% | 275% | |
| Real Estate AwardMA000106 · cl 25.3 and Schedule B.1.1 / B.2.2 | 200% | 250%(200% of casual rate) | |
| Restaurant AwardMA000119 · cl 24.2, Table 8 | 225% | 250% | By agreement a permanent employee can take 125% plus a day added to annual leave or a day off within 28 days instead (cl 24.4(d)). Minimum engagement 4 hours (permanent) or 2 hours (casual). |
| Road Transport AwardMA000038 · cl 22.3, 22.8, 22.10, 23 and Schedule C | 250% | 275% | Day workers get 150% on top of the weekly wage for hours worked (effectively 250%), and 200% on top (300%) on Good Friday and Christmas Day; casual day workers 275% and 325% (cl 23.2). |
| SCHADS AwardMA000100 · cl 34.2 | 250% | 275% | The award says "double time and a half". Public holiday pay replaces weekend rates and shift loadings (cl 34.2(b)). |
| Security AwardMA000016 · cl 20.2, Table 7 | 250% | 275% | |
| Timber AwardMA000071 · cl 27 and Schedule D | 250% | 275% | Casual 275% is tabulated for the General Timber stream only (cl 27.1(d)); the award prints no casual public holiday rate for the other two streams. Minimum 3 hours. |
You can refuse a request to work a public holiday if the request is unreasonable or you have reasonable grounds. The public holiday pay guide covers refusals, leave and substitute days in full.
What you're paid for working Boxing Day (Monday 28 December 2026) in TAS
Enter your base hourly rate (the permanent rate from your payslip or award, before any casual loading), the hours you work on the day and your award. The award rate is read from the award’s own penalty table.
- Public holiday rate (250%)
- $81.53/h
- Pay for 8 hours on the public holiday
- $652.24
- Same hours on an ordinary weekday
- $260.88
- Extra for working the public holiday
- $391.36
- If you don't work it and would normally be rostered
- $260.88
Full-time and part-time employees who normally work that day are paid their base rate for their ordinary hours even when they have the day off (Fair Work Act s 116).
Aged Care Award: Permanent employees can elect each year to have the hours added to annual leave instead of the extra 150% (cl 29.2(b)).
Before tax. Minimum shift lengths, overtime and allowances are not included. All Aged Care Award rates · Take-home pay after tax
Prefilled for a permanent employee under the Aged Care Award. Change the award, rate and hours to match your payslip.
A listed holiday is not automatically extra pay
WorkSafe Tasmania's own advice is that listing a day as a public holiday does not automatically mean employees can have the day off or get paid more. Your award, agreement and the National Employment Standards decide that. For national system employees, the NES and the award rates on this page apply on every day that is a public holiday where your job is based.
The practical question is usually a regional one. A Hobart-based employee gets Regatta Day and the Royal Hobart Show, and works Recreation Day at ordinary rates. A Launceston-based employee gets Recreation Day and the Royal Launceston Show, and works Regatta Day at ordinary rates.
Weekend Christmas and Boxing Day in Tasmania
Tasmania handles weekend holidays differently from the mainland. When Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the Monday is the public holiday, and WorkSafe Tasmania does not list the Saturday. So in 2026 a Saturday 26 December shift is paid at ordinary Saturday rates, and Monday 28 December is the public holiday. When Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, the Tuesday is the holiday.
When Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, as in 2027, WorkSafe Tasmania's rules say both the Saturday and the following Monday are holidays, and when it falls on a Sunday, both the Sunday and the following Tuesday. Anzac Day gets no substitute when it falls on a weekend.
Easter: no Saturday or Sunday holiday
Tasmania's Easter public holidays are Good Friday and Easter Monday. Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are not public holidays in Tasmania, so they are paid at weekend rates. Easter Tuesday is listed, but WorkSafe Tasmania notes it is generally observed by the Tasmanian Public Service only.
Your TAS pay, leave and payslip
Public holiday pay is taxed as ordinary income with the rest of your pay. To see what a pay period with a public holiday shift leaves you after tax, use the TAS pay calculator. Long service leave is set by TAS law, not the National Employment Standards; the TAS long service leave calculator works out your entitlement. To check the public holiday line on your payslip, the payslip guide explains each line, and the back pay calculator totals an underpayment.
TAS public holiday pay questions
Public holidays in other states
How this page is sourced▼
Every date was read from the WorkSafe Tasmania’s own public holidays page on 24 September 2026. Each date is stored alongside the text the government prints, and automated tests check the day, month and weekday against it. Where the government has not yet published a date, the page says so instead of estimating it.
Public holiday pay rates are read from the site’s award constants (Fair Work Commission award texts, rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026). Rights when not working come from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Act 2009 ss 114–116.
Sources & References
- 1Public holidays— WorkSafe Tasmania
- 2Not working on public holidays— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Public holiday penalty rates— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 4Public holidays (working outside your state or region)— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 5Fair Work Act 2009, sections 114–116— Federal Register of Legislation
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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