New Zealand public holidays 2026
All 11 nationwide public holidays for 2026, with mondayised dates and weekdays at a glance. Each region also gets its own anniversary day on top.
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All 11 nationwide public holidays in 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday |
| Day after New Year's Day | 2 January 2026 | Friday |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February 2026 | Friday |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday |
| Anzac Day mondayised | 27 April 2026 | Monday |
| King's Birthday | 1 June 2026 | Monday |
| Matariki | 10 July 2026 | Friday |
| Labour Day | 26 October 2026 | Monday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday |
| Boxing Day mondayised | 28 December 2026 | Monday |
2 holidays are mondayised in 2026. Under the Holidays Act 2003, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday and it is not a day the employee would otherwise have worked, the holiday is observed on the following Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is already a public holiday). This is informally called 'mondayisation'.
About these holidays
- New Year's Day 1 January 2026
- New Year's Day is a nationwide public holiday marking the start of the calendar year.
- Day after New Year's Day 2 January 2026
- The day after New Year's Day is a second nationwide public holiday unique to New Zealand, giving workers a two-day start to the year.
- Waitangi Day 6 February 2026
- Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840 and has been a nationwide public holiday since 1976.
- Good Friday 3 April 2026
- Good Friday is a Christian public holiday observed nationwide, marking the Friday before Easter Sunday.
- Easter Monday 6 April 2026
- Easter Monday is a nationwide public holiday observed on the Monday after Easter Sunday.
- Anzac Day 27 April 2026
- Anzac Day commemorates New Zealanders who served and died in war, with dawn services held across the country every 25 April.
- King's Birthday 1 June 2026
- King's Birthday is observed on the first Monday in June under the Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1952.
- Matariki 10 July 2026
- Matariki marks the Māori New Year, tied to the rising of the Matariki star cluster. It became a public holiday in 2022 under Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022.
- Labour Day 26 October 2026
- Labour Day commemorates the eight-hour working day and is observed on the fourth Monday of October.
- Christmas Day 25 December 2026
- Christmas Day is a nationwide public holiday observed on 25 December.
- Boxing Day 28 December 2026
- Boxing Day is a nationwide public holiday observed on 26 December, the day after Christmas.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does New Zealand have in 2026?
New Zealand has 11 nationwide public holidays in 2026. Each region also observes one additional provincial anniversary day, bringing the total for most workers to 12.
When is Matariki 2026?
Matariki 2026 is observed on 10 July 2026. The date is set under Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 and changes each year, tied to the rising of the Matariki star cluster.
When is Anzac Day 2026?
Anzac Day 2026 is on 25 April 2026. Because it falls on a weekend, the public holiday is observed on 27 April 2026 (mondayised).
When is King's Birthday 2026?
King's Birthday 2026 is observed on 1 June 2026. It always falls on the first Monday in June under the Sovereign's Birthday Observance Act 1952.
When is Labour Day 2026?
Labour Day 2026 is observed on 26 October 2026. It always falls on the fourth Monday of October.
What does mondayisation mean?
Under the Holidays Act 2003, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday and it is not a day the employee would otherwise have worked, the holiday is observed on the following Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is already a public holiday). This is informally called 'mondayisation'.
Do public holidays include provincial anniversary days?
No. Provincial anniversary days are observed on top of the 11 nationwide public holidays. Each region has its own anniversary day, set out in the Holidays Act 2003. See the anniversary days page for details.