Every year, Australians celebrate Melbourne Cup Day, the most popular horse race on the calendar. Also known as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, the...
Melbourne Public Holidays
Public Holidays in Australia occur throughout the year and are often marked as days to celebrate significant cultural moments in Australia’s history.
Victoria has many public holidays besides the Australian public holidays, and we list all the Victorian public holidays that affect the city of Melbourne below.
Melbourne 2024/2025 Events, Victorian Public Holidays & Things to Do
A public holiday in Victoria is a day off work for most Victorians, so some shops and businesses will close. However, most supermarkets, shopping malls, and restaurants will remain open except for Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Melbourne’s attractions, including Melbourne Zoo, Eureka Skydeck, and the Melbourne Aquarium, remain open on public holidays.
Here is a list of all the Victorian public holidays:
- New Years Day – Start off the new year with a day off work to sleep off your hangover or head to the beach. Every year on the 1st of January.
- Australia Day – To celebrate Australia’s cultural identity with a day at the beach or BBQ with friends. It is celebrated every year on the 26th of January.
- Labour Day – To celebrate workers getting an 8-hour working day. Celebrated in 2024 on the 11th of March.
- Good Friday – A religious holiday to recognise the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celebrated in 2024 on the 29th of March.
- Easter Saturday – The Saturday before Easter Sunday. Celebrated in 2024 on the 30th of March.
- Easter Sunday – The main Easter celebration where families and friends share Easter eggs. Celebrated in 2024 on the 31st of March.
- Easter Monday – A religious holiday, too, according to tradition, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death in 30AD.
- ANZAC Day – To recognise the sacrifice of the Australian army, navy and air force. Every year on the 25th of April.
- Kings Birthday – In honour of our English Monarch’s birthday. Celebrated in 2024 on the 10th of June.
- Grand Final Eve – Victoria only. A day to enjoy with family in the lead-up to the AFL Grand Final. Celebrated on the Friday before the AFL Grand Final. Celebrated in 2024 on the 27th of September.
- Melbourne Cup Day – Melbourne only. Everyone gets a holiday to watch the “Race that Stops the Nation.” Occurs on the first Tuesday in November, 5th of November 2024.
- Christmas Day – A Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. Every year on the 25th of December.
- Boxing Day – An extension to the Christmas holiday celebrated the day after Christmas – every year on the 26th of December.
If a public holiday lands on a weekend, the public usually gets a holiday on the next weekday in lieu.
Christmas Day is celebrated on the 25th of December and is celebrated worldwide. Therefore, Christmas in Melbourne is a public holiday and is a wonderful time to stop, reflect and spend time with family and friends...
Boxing Day is a massive public holiday in Australia, and the best thing about being in Melbourne is that there are so many ways to spend the day. Melbournians consider Boxing Day to be one of the best days of the year...
New Year’s Day falls on the 1st of January each year, at the height of the Australian summer. It has been designated a public holiday, allowing many people to relax on a day off work. Even though there may be some...
One of the largest celebrations held throughout the country year after year is Australia Day. Celebrated on January 26th, Australia Day is a public holiday honouring the arrival of the first British Fleet on Australian...
Labour Day is a public holiday in Victoria that will be observed on the 10th of March, 2025. Labour Day reflects the social and political movement in the 1850s to secure an 8-hour working day for all Australians. Labour...
Easter Sunday is part of the Easter celebrations and will be observed on the 20th of April 2025. Easter Sunday is the biggest day of this four-holiday weekend. It is a public holiday on which families and friends...
Good Friday kicks off the Australian Easter celebrations and will next be observed on Friday, the 18th of April 2025. Good Friday is a public holiday with almost all shops and stores closing and people spending the day...
Easter Saturday is part of the Easter celebrations and will be observed on the 19th of April 2025. Easter Saturday follows Good Friday and is part of a Christian festival that, according to tradition, celebrates the...
Easter Monday is a public holiday in Australia and will be observed on the 21st of April 2025. Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday, a Christian festival that, according to tradition, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus...
Anzac Day is an important special community event celebrated in Australia on April 25. Millions of Australians commemorate the anniversary of the first significant military pairing of Australian and New Zealand forces...
Australians celebrate the King’s Birthday (previously known as the Queen’s Birthday holiday) with a public holiday (and long weekend) on Monday, June 9th, 2025. Even though some shops and businesses will...
Every year, Australians celebrate Melbourne Cup Day, the most popular horse race on the calendar. Also known as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival and is held...
What are the most significant public holidays in Melbourne?
The most significant public holidays in Melbourne are:Check out the whole list of public holidays in Melbourne.
What are the most popular annual events in Melbourne?
The most popular annual events in Melbourne are:Check out the whole list of public holidays in Melbourne.