Western Australians will get two extra public holidays from 2028, and three of the state's long weekends are moving, after the Public and Bank Holiday Amendment Act 2026 passed State Parliament.
The WA Government announced the changes on 30 October 2026, saying they would give the state "a more nationally consistent public holiday calendar". Easter Saturday becomes a public holiday, a new Show Day is added during the spring school holidays, and Labour Day, WA Day and the King's Birthday all shift.
What's changing
From 2028:
- Labour Day moves from the first Monday in March to the second Monday in March. In state election years it will fall on the third Monday instead.
- WA Day moves from the first Monday in June to the second Monday in November.
- King's Birthday moves from late September to the second Monday in June, the same weekend as most of the country.
- Easter Saturday becomes a public holiday.
- Show Day is a new public holiday, set by proclamation to line up with the first Monday of the September/October school holidays.
The King's Birthday move ends one of WA's best-known quirks. For years the state has marked the monarch's birthday in late September, around the Perth Royal Show, while most other states take their long weekend in June. From 2028, WA joins them, and Show Day takes over the spring slot.
Photo: Nachoman-au via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). File photo of a past Perth Royal Show.
The new dates for 2028 and 2029
The government has already published the full calendar on its Public holidays in Western Australia page. The dates that change are:
- Labour Day: Monday 13 March 2028 and Monday 19 March 2029. The 2029 date is the third Monday because of the state election that year.
- Easter Saturday: Saturday 15 April 2028 and Saturday 31 March 2029.
- King's Birthday: Monday 12 June 2028 and Monday 11 June 2029.
- Show Day: Monday 25 September 2028 and Monday 24 September 2029. Both are still to be confirmed by proclamation in the Government Gazette.
- WA Day: Monday 13 November 2028 and Monday 12 November 2029.
Nothing changes before then. In 2027, Labour Day is Monday 1 March, WA Day is Monday 7 June and the King's Birthday is Monday 27 September.
How many extra days off?
For most Monday-to-Friday workers, the net gain is one weekday holiday. Three of the changes are moves rather than additions, so the extra long weekend comes from Show Day. Easter Saturday matters most to people who work weekends, such as retail and hospitality staff, who will now be working a public holiday that day.
Whether you get the day off, or penalty rates for working it, still depends on your award or agreement. Wageline, run by the state's Private Sector Labour Relations division, can answer questions on 1300 655 266 between 8.30am and 4.30pm on weekdays.
Photo: Orderinchaos via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). File photo.
Not everyone loves the WA Day move
Most locals discussing the news online were pleased to be getting another day off, with one joking that they might now get a public holiday on their birthday. The WA Day change was more divisive. Some said a date in November had no link to the founding of the Swan River Colony. Others pointed out that the current June date doesn't line up with any one founding event either.
"I just wish people cared about WA Day as they care about Straya day." - Perth local
Others with experience of national offices welcomed the Labour Day change. One said the first two Mondays in March were always written off at work because of back-to-back Labour Days in different states.
Sources: WA Government announcement, 30 October 2026; Public holidays in Western Australia (Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety); comments from Perth locals.
Main photo: Sebastian Davenport-Handley via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). File photo of the Perth Royal Show at night.
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