2026 in Australia

Last updated

2026 in Australia
Monarch Charles III
Governor-General Sam Mostyn
Prime minister Anthony Albanese
Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg
Flag of Australia.svg
2026
in
Australia
Decades:
See also:

The following is a list of events including expected and scheduled events for the year 2026 in Australia .

Contents

Incumbents

Monarch

Governor-General

Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister

Opposition Leader

Angus Taylor

Chief Justice

State and territory leaders

Governors and administrators

Events

January

February

March

Future and scheduled events

Sport

Holidays

HolidayDate ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA Ref.
New Year's Day Thursday 1 JanuaryYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes [60]
Australia Day Monday 26 JanuaryYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of Tasmania)Monday 9 FebruaryNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Labour Day (WA)Monday 2 MarchNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
Public holiday under different namesMonday 9 MarchCanberra DayNoNoNoAdelaide Cup DayEight Hours DayLabour DayNo
Good Friday Friday 3 AprilYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Easter Saturday Saturday 4 AprilYesYesYesYesYesNoYesNo
Easter Sunday Sunday 5 AprilYesYesNoYesNoNoYesNo
Easter Monday Monday 6 AprilYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Easter Tuesday Tuesday 7 AprilNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
ANZAC Day Saturday 25 AprilYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
May DayMonday 4 MayNoNoYesLabour Day (QLD)NoNoNoNo
Reconciliation Day Monday 1 JuneYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Western Australia DayNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
King's Birthday Monday 8 JuneYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNo
Picnic Day Monday 3 AugustNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNo
Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)Wednesday 12 AugustNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
Friday before the AFL Grand Final Friday TBCNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
King's Birthday Monday 28 SeptemberNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYes
Labour Day Monday 5 OctoberYesYesNoKing's

Birthday

YesNoNoNo
Melbourne Cup Tuesday 3 NovemberNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
Recreation Day (all parts of Tasmania which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta)Monday 2 NovemberNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNo
Christmas Eve

(from 7pm to 12 midnight)

Thursday 24 DecemberNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNo
Christmas Day Friday 25 DecemberYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Boxing Day Monday 28 DecemberYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
New Year's Eve

(from 7pm to 12 midnight)

Thursday 31 DecemberNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNo

Deaths

January

February

March

References

  1. Buckley, Penry (4 January 2026). "More than 60 prominent sportspeople call for federal royal commission after Bondi attack". The Guardian Australia . Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Cassidy, Caitlin; Visser, Nick (8 January 2026). "PM says government has been working on inquiry logistics 'for weeks'- as it happened". The Guardian Australia . Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. Buckley, Penry; Smith, Douglas (8 January 2026). "'We will defy these laws': challenge lodged against NSW protest legislation that would stop Invasion Day rallies". The Guardian Australia . Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. Vidler, Adam; Pearson, Nick; Sharma, Yashee; Sarkari, Karishma (10 January 2026). "Live updates: Fire-ravager Victoria town told not to drink water; Part of Great Ocean Road cut off; Bushfires could burn for 'weeks'; Over 130 structures destroyed around state". Nine News . Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  5. "Neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network says it will disband due to proposed hate speech laws". Australia Broadcasting Company. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  6. Baker, Emily (13 January 2026). "Neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network says it will disband due to proposed hate speech laws". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. Graham-McLay, Charlotte (13 January 2026). "Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw after the exclusion of a Palestinian writer". AP News . Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  8. Rowlands, Lyndal (15 January 2026). "Australian writers' festival apologises to Palestinian author after boycott". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  9. Corvo, Shannon (18 January 2026). "Flash flooding, heavy rainfall and gusty weather keeps SES busy on NSW coast". ABC News . Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  10. Brischetto, Patrick; Swain, Sarah (18 January 2026). "Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash flooding and storms batter NSW". Nine News . Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  11. Chambers, Geoff (18 January 2026). "Newspoll: Pauline Hanson's One Nation ahead of the Coalition on primary votes for the first time". The Australian. Retrieved 18 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. Ng, Kelly (19 January 2026). "Boy fighting for life after being mauled by shark in Australia". BBC . Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  13. "Nico Antic, 12yo boy attacked by shark at Sydney beach, dies in hospital". ABC News (Australia) . 24 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  14. Ng, Kelly (19 January 2026). "Man seriously injured in Sydney's third shark attack in two days". BBC . Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  15. Yin, Cindy (18 January 2026). "Sydney Fish Market opening as it happened: Crowds told to 'come back later' as new $836 million site at Blackwattle Bay reaches capacity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  16. "Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours". BBC . 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  17. Evans, Jake; Borys, Stephanie (20 January 2026). "Senior Nationals quit frontbench after defying shadow cabinet on hate speech laws". ABC News. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  18. Armstrong, Clare (21 January 2026). "Eight remaining Nationals in shadow ministry quit in solidarity". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  19. "Eight remaining National Party MPs quit Coalition frontbench after policy split". SBS News . 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  20. Courtney Gould (22 January 2026). "Federal politics live: Coalition splits after Nationals quit shadow cabinet". ABC News.
  21. Duffin, Perry; Walter, Riley (22 January 2026). "Three dead after gunman opens fire in NSW town". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  22. "Anti-immigration rallies take place in major cities across Australia". ABC News . 26 January 2026. Archived from the original on 26 January 2026.
  23. Smith, Douglas (28 January 2026). "Police should 'throw the book' at man charged with Perth Invasion Day explosive device incident, Albanese says". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  24. Jervis-Bardy, Dan; Dhanji, Krishani; Butler, Josh (28 January 2026). "Nationals MP Colin Boyce to challenge David Littleproud for leadership, saying party is headed off 'political cliff'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  25. McGuirk, Rod (3 February 2026). "A 13-year-old Australian boy swims for hours to save his mother and siblings who were swept away". AP News. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  26. "Cory Bernardi to contest SA state election for One Nation". ABC News. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  27. Moore, Hannah (5 February 2026). "Man charged with terror offences after alleged bombing of Perth Invasion Day rally". News.com.au . Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  28. "Australia charges teen over online threat as Israeli president due to visit". Al Jazeera English . 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  29. "Sydney teen accused of threatening to shoot Israeli president Isaac Herzog faces court". The Guardian . Australian Associated Press. 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  30. "Australia drug kingpin walks free after police informant scandal". France 24 . 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  31. "Leaders of Indonesia and Australia sign a new security treaty to affirm deeper ties". AP News . 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  32. Graham, Chris (8 February 2026). "Australia's opposition coalition reunites after row over hate-speech laws". BBC News . Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  33. Hislop, Jack (9 February 2026). "Greens politician Kat McNamara quits NT parliament 18 months after historic Nightcliff win". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  34. Watson, Katie; Livingstone, Helen (9 February 2026). "Police pepper spray protesters as Israeli president visits Sydney". BBC News . Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  35. "NSW Police defend officers' actions in violent clashes with Sydney protesters". RNZ . ABC News. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  36. McKinnell, Jamie (9 February 2026). "Palestine Action Group loses court challenge to extra police powers". ABC News . Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  37. Aldred, Max (12 February 2026). "Anti-Herzog rally swelled to '5,000' as Victoria Police employ very different tactic to NSW". Sky News Australia . Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  38. "Breaking: Angus Taylor becomes Liberal leader, defeating Sussan Ley 34-17". ABC News. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  39. Livingstone, Helen (13 February 2026). "Sydney police to be investigated by watchdog after anti-Herzog protest violence". BBC News . Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  40. "Australian museum recovers Egyptian artefacts after break-in". France 24 . 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  41. Dziedzic, Stephen; Norman, Jane (25 February 2026). "Security threat promoting PM evacuation linked to intimidation of Chinese dancers". ABC News . Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  42. "Australian PM backs removal of ex-Prince Andrew from succession line". Al Jazeera. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  43. Allison, Charmayne (25 February 2026). "Alleged bomb threat against Gold Coast's HOTA theatre over Chinese dance group". ABC News . Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  44. "Australia says defence personnel safe after drone attack near Dubai air base".
  45. De Poloni, Gian; Kordic, Mya (4 March 2026). "Inquiry launched into anti-Indigenous racism after alleged Perth Invasion Day rally terror attempt". ABC News . Archived from the original on 4 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  46. Livingstone, Helen (5 March 2025). "Global order is 'breaking down', Carney tells Australian parliament". BBC News . Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  47. "Australia PM says 'military assets' deployed to Middle East". Al Arabiya English . 5 March 2026. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  48. Hinchliffe, Joe; Messenger, Andrew (5 March 2025). "'From the river to the sea' is being outlawed in Queensland. How will the slogan's ban work and will it be challenged?". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  49. "Jail for up to 16 years for Australian hitmen who killed compatriot in Bali". France 24. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  50. "Elections". Electoral Commission SA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  51. "Key dates". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election.
  52. "SA First Nations Voice election results show low turnout, but candidate urges 'give us a chance'". ABC News. 29 March 2024.
  53. "About Legislative Council elections". Tasmanian Electoral Commission . 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  54. Mcbain, Kristy (26/02/2026). "Ausalert to start national testing this year". Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs.{{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  55. "Council elections". Tasmanian Government. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
  56. "State elections". Victorian Electoral Commission . Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  57. "Australian snowboarder Brockhoff quits ahead of Winter Olympics". France 24. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  58. "Australia and Uzbekistan confirmed as 2026 and 2029 AFC Women's Asian Cup hosts". AFC. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  59. "AFC unveils breakthrough reforms to strengthen Women's National Team Competitions". AFC. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  60. "2026 public holidays". The Fair Work Ombudsman. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  61. "Former North Melbourne player Phoenix Spicer passes away, aged 23". Fox Sports. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  62. "Tributes flow for National Party stalwart after death at home overnight". ABC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  63. "Trailblazing NT politician Loraine Braham has died, aged 87". ABC News. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  64. Lo Surdo, Daniel (20 January 2026). "Dame Marie Bashir, first female NSW governor, dies aged 95". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 20 January 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  65. "Vale Emeritus Professor Heather Goodall AM FRSN FASSA". The Royal Society of NSW. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  66. Walker, Jamie (20 February 2026). "Vale Anna Murdoch Mann: Patron, novelist, philanthropist, confidante passes surrounded by loved ones". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  67. "JACKSON, Daryl Sanders | Death Notices | Melbourne". My Tributes. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  68. "Former Play School host Lorraine Bayly dies, aged 89". ABC News. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  69. "Jamie Dunn, creator of Agro dies aged 76". Courier-Mail. 7 March 2026.