Easter 2026 and 2027

Easter is a super popular holiday season in Australia, celebrated by lots of people. In every state and territory, Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays, which means everyone gets a 4-day weekend to enjoy.

In 2026, Good Friday will be on April 3, and Easter Sunday will be on April 5. In 2027, Good Friday will be on March 26.

Easter in Australia happens at different times each year because it’s based on the moon’s cycle. Easter Sunday, also called Resurrection Sunday, is the first Sunday after the first full moon that comes on or after the March equinox (around March 20 or 21). That’s why Easter can be in late March or April. In 2025, it’s happening later because of the moon’s timing.

A long time ago, in 325 AD, people at a meeting called the Council of Nicaea in what’s now Turkey decided how to pick Easter’s date. Easter isn’t just one day—it’s a 50-day celebration that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday, with lots of events in between.

The Easter long weekend is a big deal in Australia! It’s a 4-day break that tons of people look forward to. Hotels, campsites, and vacation rentals get booked up months early, and roads and airports are super busy.

Easter has fun symbols like Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny, but it’s also a really important time for Christians. It’s one of the oldest Christian holidays, and more people go to church during Easter than almost any other time (except maybe Christmas). The most popular church services are on Good Friday morning and Easter Sunday morning, and you’ll see them at all kinds of churches.

Good Friday is the start of the Easter weekend. It’s when Christians remember the day Jesus Christ was crucified and died. According to the Bible, Jesus lived about 2,000 years ago and was God’s son. He came to teach people about God and show them how to find forgiveness and hope through his death and resurrection.

Holy Saturday comes next. It’s when Christians think about Jesus’ body resting in a tomb after his death. Some call it Black Saturday or Easter Eve.

Easter Sunday is the big day when Christians celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. It’s also called Resurrection Sunday or Pascha. Churches are packed, with people singing songs and hymns, and often there’s a talk about the Gospel, which is the story of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Easter Monday is the last public holiday of the Easter weekend. It’s like an extra day off since Easter Sunday is already a holiday.

Note: In Tasmania, Easter Tuesday is a special holiday for some workers, like those in the State Public Service or certain job agreements. If you’re not sure if it applies to you, you can call the Fair Work Infoline at 131394 to check.

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