Victoria observes thirteen statewide public holidays annually, blending national observances with unique local traditions including the Melbourne Cup and AFL Grand Final Friday. The calendar is confirmed by Business Victoria and the Fair Work Ombudsman, though some dates remain dependent on sporting schedules and regional boundaries.
The 2024 calendar featured Easter from March 29 to April 1, while 2025 brings a four-day Easter break in mid-April alongside a Monday observation for Australia Day. Regional variations affect the Melbourne Cup specifically, with many rural shires observing alternative dates or none at all.
Beyond the dates themselves, restricted trading rules apply to Good Friday, Anzac Day, and Christmas Day, while penalty rates govern employee compensation across the state. School holiday periods overlap with Easter and Anzac Day but operate under separate schedules.
What Are the Public Holidays in Victoria for 2024 and 2025?
Annually observed across all Victorian regions
Easter weekend provides four consecutive days
Melbourne Cup Tuesday and AFL Grand Final Friday
Dates confirmed through Budget Direct
- First quarter concentration: Labour Day and Easter create a dense cluster of long weekends in March and April
- Tourism surge: The Melbourne Cup generates significant visitor activity across metropolitan Melbourne in November
- Regional additions: Rural shires may observe 1-2 additional local holidays beyond the thirteen statewide dates
- Monday substitutions: When Christmas, Boxing Day, or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, the holiday shifts to the next weekday
- Sporting variables: The AFL Grand Final Friday date is confirmed only after the finals schedule is determined
- Historical continuity: The Melbourne Cup has been a public holiday since 1861, predating Australian federation
| Holiday | 2025 Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Wednesday | Statewide |
| Australia Day | 27 January | Monday | Observed Monday as 26th is Sunday |
| Labour Day | 10 March | Monday | 8-hour day commemoration |
| Good Friday | 18 April | Friday | Restricted trading day |
| Saturday before Easter | 19 April | Saturday | Statewide |
| Easter Sunday | 20 April | Sunday | Regional in some areas |
| Easter Monday | 21 April | Monday | Statewide |
| Anzac Day | 25 April | Friday | Restricted trading day |
| King’s Birthday | 9 June | Monday | Second Monday in June |
| Friday before AFL Grand Final | 26 September | Friday | Grand Final on 27 September |
| Melbourne Cup | 4 November | Tuesday | Metropolitan Melbourne and select regions |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Thursday | Restricted trading day |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Friday | Statewide |
When Is the Next Public Holiday in Victoria?
Planning ahead requires consulting the official Victorian government calendar, available through Business Victoria in PDF format. The sequence follows a predictable annual rhythm, though the specific dates for Easter vary according to the lunar calendar and the AFL Grand Final depends on the finals series outcome.
Following Boxing Day on 26 December 2025, the next public holiday will be New Year’s Day on Thursday, 1 January 2026. The 2026 calendar confirms Australia Day on Monday 26 January, Labour Day on 9 March, and Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April, with Boxing Day observed on Monday 28 December due to the 26th falling on a Saturday.
Melbourne Cup and AFL Grand Final: Key Regional Holidays in Victoria
Melbourne Cup Regional Variations
The Melbourne Cup public holiday applies specifically to metropolitan Melbourne and select adjacent areas including the Yarra Ranges and Hepburn Shire. However, many regional municipalities such as Mildura, Wangaratta, and Geelong observe the holiday on different dates or do not recognize it as a public holiday at all.
Businesses planning operations in regional areas should verify local council schedules, as regional variations affect both shop trading permissions and employee entitlements. For travelers heading to Geelong during this period, note that the Spirit of Tasmania Geelong – New Ferries Built in Finland operates on modified schedules during major holiday periods.
AFL Grand Final Friday
The Friday before the AFL Grand Final became a public holiday in Victoria in 2015. For 2025, this falls on 26 September, preceding the Grand Final on 27 September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The date varies annually depending on the AFL finals series structure.
Easter, Labour Day, and King’s Birthday in Victoria
Easter Observances
Easter 2025 spans four days from Good Friday on 18 April through Easter Monday on 21 April. While Good Friday, Easter Saturday, and Easter Monday are statewide holidays, Easter Sunday remains a regional public holiday only in certain parts of Victoria according to Office Holidays. Easter 2024 occurred earlier, from March 29 to April 1.
Labour Day
Observed on the second Monday in March, Labour Day commemorates the eight-hour day movement led by stonemasons in 1856. In 2025, this falls on 10 March. The holiday recognizes the achievement of eight hours for work, eight for recreation, and eight for rest.
King’s Birthday
Victoria observes King’s Birthday on the second Monday in June, which is 9 June in 2025. This date differs from other Australian states; Western Australia and Queensland observe the holiday on different dates. The holiday was previously known as Queen’s Birthday until the accession of King Charles III.
Observance Rules: Shops, Pay, and Penalty Rates on Victorian Public Holidays
Good Friday, Anzac Day morning (until noon in some jurisdictions), and Christmas Day prohibit non-exempt retail trading. Supermarkets and large retailers must remain closed, though small convenience stores and essential services may operate with limitations.
Full-time workers receive a paid day off or loaded rates typically calculated at 2.5 times standard pay. Part-time and casual employees working on public holidays receive penalty rates under Fair Work awards, usually time-and-a-half or double time.
Employees in regional shires that do not observe the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November are not entitled to the public holiday penalty rates on that specific date, though alternative local holiday dates may apply in their municipality.
Shop Trading and Employment Standards
Employers must roster staff accurately according to Fair Work guidelines, which mandate specific loadings for work performed on public holidays. Exemptions apply to certain essential services and small businesses, though trading restrictions remain strict on the three designated restricted days.
Chronological Guide to Victorian Public Holidays 2025
- New Year’s Day – Wednesday, 1 January
- Australia Day – Monday, 27 January (substituted)
- Labour Day – Monday, 10 March
- Good Friday – Friday, 18 April
- Easter Saturday – Saturday, 19 April
- Easter Sunday – Sunday, 20 April (regional)
- Easter Monday – Monday, 21 April
- Anzac Day – Friday, 25 April
- King’s Birthday – Monday, 9 June
- Friday before AFL Grand Final – Friday, 26 September
- Melbourne Cup – Tuesday, 4 November
- Christmas Day – Thursday, 25 December
- Boxing Day – Friday, 26 December
Fixed Dates and Uncertain Variables
| Established Information | Information That Remains Uncertain |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Labour Day, and King’s Birthday follow fixed dates or predictable Monday patterns gazetted years in advance | The exact AFL Grand Final Friday date depends on the finals series schedule, confirmed only after preliminary finals |
| Christmas and Boxing Day fall on 25-26 December annually with Monday substitutions when weekends apply | Specific regional Melbourne Cup observance varies by shire, with some councils opting out or shifting dates |
| Easter dates are determined by the lunar calendar and known decades in advance through ecclesiastical tables | Easter Sunday public holiday status remains inconsistent across Victorian local government areas |
The History and Significance Behind Victoria’s Public Holidays
The Melbourne Cup has been a public holiday since 1861, making it one of Australia’s oldest continuous public holidays. First run in 1861, the race became a day of metropolitan significance that eventually secured legislative recognition, predating Australian federation by forty years.
Labour Day traces its origins to April 1856 when stonemasons marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House demanding an eight-hour working day. This achievement established Victoria as a pioneer in workers’ rights, commemorated annually on the second Monday in March.
The distinction between national and state holidays reflects Australia’s federal structure. While Anzac Day and Australia Day carry national significance, Victoria maintains unique observances like the AFL Grand Final Friday, introduced in 2015 to recognize the sport’s cultural importance to the state. School term dates, managed separately through Victorian government education portals, align with but remain distinct from these public holidays.
Official Guidance on Victorian Public Holidays
“Restricted trading days require most shops to close on Good Friday, Anzac Day before noon, and Christmas Day throughout Victoria.”
Business Victoria, Public Holidays Guidelines
“Full-time and part-time employees who have work availability on a public holiday and are rostered on are entitled to be absent and paid their base rate of pay.”
Fair Work Ombudsman, Public Holiday Entitlements
Planning Around Victoria’s Public Holidays
Victoria’s calendar combines fixed national observances with unique local traditions, creating thirteen guaranteed long weekends and breaks annually. Whether planning business operations around restricted trading days or scheduling travel during the Easter and Melbourne Cup periods, consulting official government sources ensures compliance with current regulations. For visitors to the Geelong region, the Spirit of Tasmania Geelong – New Ferries Built in Finland provides essential connectivity during peak holiday seasons.
Thomas Walsh leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australia Voice.