December 2026 leave planner
Leave is approved by your employer. Check your contract or workplace policy, and whether your workplace closes over the festive season. General information, not legal advice.
The holidays
- Wednesday 16 December 2026: Day of Reconciliation
- Friday 25 December 2026: Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December 2026: Day of Goodwill
- Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day
The Day of Goodwill is on a Saturday, so there is no extra Monday off. Only a holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday (how public holidays work).
Five ways to plan your leave
| Plan | Days away | Leave days (Mon to Fri) | Leave days (Mon to Sat) | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day of Reconciliation bridge | Wed 16 Dec to Sun 20 Dec | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Long weekend before the 16th | Sat 12 Dec to Wed 16 Dec | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Christmas to New Year | Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| The whole festive season | Wed 16 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 10 | 12 | 19 |
| Maximum break | Sat 12 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 12 | 15 | 23 |
Leave days are counted with our working days calculator, which skips weekends and public holidays. If you work Saturdays, use the Mon to Sat column. With 10 leave days you can be away from Wednesday 16 December 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027.
Christmas to New Year at a glance
Public holiday Leave day Weekend
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16: Day of Reconciliation | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25: Christmas Day | 26: Day of Goodwill | 27 |
| 28: Leave day (Christmas to New Year plan) | 29: Leave day (Christmas to New Year plan) | 30: Leave day (Christmas to New Year plan) | 31: Leave day (Christmas to New Year plan) |
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: New Year's Day | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
If you have school-going children
Public schools close after Wednesday 9 December 2026 and learners return on Wednesday 13 January 2027. See school terms 2027.
Working over the holidays?
If you agree to work on Christmas Day or another public holiday, you are owed extra pay. See working on a public holiday. Prefer a quick video? Watch our December leave short: youtube.com/shorts/4nVqvJ3i1k4.
Frequently asked questions
What are the public holidays in December 2026?
Day of Reconciliation on Wednesday 16 December 2026, Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026, Day of Goodwill on Saturday 26 December 2026. New Year's Day 2027 is on Friday 1 January 2027.
Is Monday 28 December 2026 a public holiday?
No. The Day of Goodwill falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, and only a public holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the Monday. So 28 December is a normal working day.
How many leave days do I need from Christmas to New Year 2026?
4, if you work Monday to Friday: take Mon 28 Dec to Thu 31 Dec and you are off from Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 10 days in a row.
When do schools close for December 2026?
Learners' last day of term 4 is Wednesday 9 December 2026, and schools open again on Wednesday 13 January 2027, according to the gazetted public school calendars.