There is no single national date for Labour Day in Australia in 2026. Labour Day is a state and territory public holiday, not a national one - each jurisdiction sets its own date (and in some, its own name). Any payroll setup that assumes one date across the country will be wrong for most employees, so the correct answer depends on where the employee works.

The 2026 dates by jurisdiction:

| Jurisdiction | Holiday name | Rule | 2026 date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia | Labour Day | First Monday in March | Monday 2 March 2026 |
| Victoria | Labour Day | Second Monday in March | Monday 9 March 2026 |
| Tasmania | Eight Hours Day (the Labour Day equivalent) | Second Monday in March | Monday 9 March 2026 |
| Queensland | Labour Day | First Monday in May | Monday 4 May 2026 |
| Northern Territory | May Day (the Labour Day equivalent) | First Monday in May | Monday 4 May 2026 |
| New South Wales | Labour Day | First Monday in October | Monday 5 October 2026 |
| Australian Capital Territory | Labour Day | First Monday in October | Monday 5 October 2026 |
| South Australia | Labour Day | First Monday in October | Monday 5 October 2026 |

Working: each date is derived from the jurisdiction's fixed rule applied to the 2026 calendar. March 2026 begins on a Sunday, so the first Monday is 2 March (WA) and the second Monday is 9 March (VIC, TAS). May 2026 begins on a Friday, so the first Monday is 4 May (QLD, NT). October 2026 begins on a Thursday, so the first Monday is 5 October (NSW, ACT, SA).

For payroll purposes: apply the public holiday of the state or territory where the employee performs the work (their usual work location), not the employer's head-office location. So in 2026 the observed dates span 2 March, 9 March, 4 May, and 5 October depending on the employee's work location - committing to any single date Australia-wide would be incorrect. Always confirm against the relevant state or territory government's gazetted public holiday list, as jurisdictions occasionally gazette changes or substitute days.