Skip to main content
Holiday CalendarHolidayCalendar

2026 New Zealand Holidays

Explore the official 2026 holiday calendar for New Zealand, including public holidays, observances, and important national events.

Total Holidays

23

Holidays in 2026

Busiest Month

January

4 holidays

This Month

1

Holiday this month

Next Holiday

Matariki

14 days away

About New Zealand holidays in 2026

In 2026, New Zealand observes a variety of national and regional holidays. The year begins with several public holidays in January, including New Year's Day and the Day after New Year's Day, alongside provincial anniversary days. Waitangi Day on February 6th is a significant national observance. The Easter period in April brings Good Friday and Easter Monday, with some regional anniversary days also falling in this month. The latter half of the year includes King's Birthday in June, Matariki in July, and Labour Day in October, concluding with Christmas Day and Boxing Day in December.

Holiday Distribution by Month

Holiday dates

DateDayHoliday Name
January 1, 2026ThursdayNew Year's Day
January 2, 2026FridayDay after New Year's Day
January 19, 2026MondayWellington Anniversary Day
January 26, 2026MondayAuckland Anniversary Day
February 2, 2026MondayNelson Anniversary Day
February 6, 2026FridayWaitangi Day
March 9, 2026MondayTaranaki Anniversary Day
March 23, 2026MondayOtago Anniversary Day
April 3, 2026FridayGood Friday
April 6, 2026MondayEaster Monday
April 7, 2026TuesdaySouthland Anniversary Day
April 27, 2026MondayAnzac Day
June 1, 2026MondayKing's Birthday
July 10, 2026FridayMatariki
September 28, 2026MondayCanterbury (South) Anniversary Day
October 23, 2026FridayHawke's Bay Anniversary Day
October 26, 2026MondayLabour Day
November 2, 2026MondayMarlborough Anniversary Day
November 13, 2026FridayCanterbury Anniversary Day
November 30, 2026MondayChatham Islands Anniversary Day
November 30, 2026MondayWestland Anniversary Day
December 25, 2026FridayChristmas Day
December 28, 2026MondayBoxing Day

Planning around New Zealand holidays in 2026

  • Several holidays are provincial anniversary days, which may vary by region.
  • Dates for some anniversary days can shift slightly year to year.
  • Check the specific region for observance of anniversary days.
  • Some holidays fall on weekdays, while others may be observed on the nearest Monday if they fall on a weekend.

Holiday patterns in 2026

New Zealand's holiday calendar shows a concentration of observances in the first and last few months of the year. January and April, in particular, feature multiple holidays, including national observances and regional anniversary days. November also sees a cluster of anniversary days.

The middle of the year, from May through August, is generally quieter, with only a few national holidays like King's Birthday and Matariki. This pattern creates distinct busy and slower periods throughout the calendar year.

A notable feature is the prevalence of provincial anniversary days, which are observed on different dates across various regions, leading to a more dispersed holiday schedule outside of the main national observances.

Plan Your Year Around NZ Holidays

Calendar Tool

View New Zealand holidays in calendar mode

Explore public holidays in a visual calendar layout and plan ahead more easily.