Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year Trading Hours 2026 in Australia by State

Almost every large shop in Australia is closed on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, and most reopen on Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December), with the rules varying by state. Woolworths has already confirmed all its stores will be closed on Christmas Day and says most stores are open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, except in Adelaide where most metro stores are closed on Boxing Day. Store-by-store hours for Coles, Aldi, Kmart, Big W, Bunnings, Westfield and others had not been published when we checked, so this guide gives you the confirmed 2026 state rules, the 2026 retailer details that are official, and last year’s retailer patterns clearly labelled so you can plan now and confirm in December.

Key dates: Christmas and New Year 2026 in Australia

Our guides to Christmas in Australia and Boxing Day in Australia explain the public holiday rules and traditions in more detail. This page focuses on one question: what is open, and when.

Why are shops closed on Christmas Day in Australia?

Each state and territory has its own trading hours laws, called restricted trading or shop trading hours rules. They require larger retailers to close on certain days, and Christmas Day is a closed day for restricted retailers in every state and territory. The exemptions are what keep the country running: in most states, petrol stations, pharmacies, cafes, restaurants, takeaway and small independent shops can open, because the law treats them as exempt or because their size puts them outside the rules.

Because the rules are state-based, the same chain can have different hours in different states. That is why you will see a Woolworths in Adelaide closed on Boxing Day while the same chain is open in Melbourne.

Christmas and New Year trading hours by state and territory (2026)

This table summarises the trading rules for the 2026 dates. Where a state has published its 2026 rules (Western Australia and South Australia) those are used. Elsewhere the rules come from the state government and the National Retail Association’s summary for Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026, because these laws change rarely. Where a 2026 detail is not yet published, we say so. Individual stores can always choose to open for shorter hours than the law allows.

Queensland’s area types (Type 1 to 4) depend on where the shop is. The Queensland Government’s trading hours page lists which areas fall under each type. Our table lists the rules for large (non-exempt) shops, and exempt shops such as petrol stations, cafes and many chemists can generally open without those limits.

Pick your state: Christmas period trading rules

Choose a state to see the rules for each key date. The tool shows the same information as the table above.

What the big retailers have said for 2026, and what happened last year

Woolworths is the only major retailer whose 2026 position we could confirm from its own website. Its Christmas FAQ says all Woolworths stores, including supermarkets and Metro stores, are closed on Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026) nationwide. Many stores are open on Christmas Eve on normal or extended hours. Most stores are open on Boxing Day on public holiday hours in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. In South Australia most Adelaide metro stores are closed on Boxing Day, and some regional stores may open. On New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January 2027) most stores are open, though a few regional or metro locations may close or run reduced public holiday hours.

For other retailers, the best guide is what they did last year. The table below shows the 2025 pattern as reported by The Nightly. These are 2025 details, not confirmed 2026 hours, and retailers usually publish store-specific hours closer to Christmas, so use this to plan and check each store locator in December.

Other 2025 notes from the same coverage: some 24-hour chemists were open on Christmas Day while almost all Priceline and Chemist Warehouse outlets were closed, and many 7-Eleven stores traded on Christmas Day on normal hours. Target was open on Christmas Eve with extended hours on 23 December at select stores.

What is open on Christmas Day in Australia?

Even though large retailers are closed, you are not stuck. The trading hours laws exempt several types of business in most states, so these are the places that are typically open, depending on state and the individual operator:

• Petrol stations and convenience stores for basics such as milk and bread. Many 7-Eleven stores traded last year.
• Some pharmacies, including a limited number of 24-hour chemists, although most Priceline and Chemist Warehouse stores closed last year. Use a roster-based on-call chemist finder from your state health site if you need medicine.
• Restaurants, cafes and takeaway, many of which run special Christmas menus. Book early because they fill up.
• Small independent shops in states where small shops are exempt. In New South Wales, for example, shops with four or fewer employees can open, and in Queensland independent shops that are mainly food or grocery shops can open.
• Hospitals, emergency services and public transport run reduced Christmas Day services. Check your state transport operator for the Christmas timetable.

Christmas Eve shopping hours

Christmas Eve is a normal trading day in most states, and many retailers extend hours in the days before. In Western Australia, the Government’s 2026 schedule lets Perth metro general retail trade 7am to 9pm from Monday 21 to Thursday 24 December, and larger retailers can open an hour earlier at 7am on weekdays from 14 December. In Queensland, Christmas Eve is treated as a public holiday from 6pm, and last year most restricted shops closed at 6pm. Most Westfield centres closed at 5pm or 6pm last year. The safe approach is to do your main shop by the 23rd, leave only fresh extras for the 24th, and check the store locator for your local branch.

Boxing Day and Monday 28 December 2026

Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December this year, so every state and territory observes an additional public holiday on Monday 28 December. Most shops open on Boxing Day, and it is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Our Boxing Day guide covers the sales, the Boxing Day Test and the state-by-state holiday rules.

• South Australia: non-exempt supermarkets must stay closed on Boxing Day in the Adelaide metropolitan area and CBD, which is why Woolworths says most Adelaide metro stores are closed. Other shops there can open 9am to 5pm.
• New South Wales: Boxing Day is a restricted day, but retail shops may open if their employees freely choose to work, and those employees may be due penalty rates.
• Western Australia: Perth metro general retail is open 8am to 6pm on both Saturday 26 and Monday 28 December.
• Queensland: shops follow public holiday hours, 7am to 9pm in Type 1 areas and 9am to 6pm in Type 2, 3 and 4 areas.
• Tasmania: major retailers and franchise groups with more than 250 employees face restrictions, and Boxing Day itself is observed on Monday 28 December.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December) is a normal trading day in most states, so you can shop as usual, although many chains close earlier than normal. Aldi closed at 6pm last year, while Dan Murphy’s stayed open until 9pm. New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January 2027) is a public holiday and most larger shops open, with the main exception being South Australia. There, the Metropolitan Shopping District is closed, and only the CBD Tourist Precinct is open from 11am to 5pm, while hardware, furniture and similar shops can open 9am to 5pm. In Western Australia, Perth metro general retail will open 8am to 6pm, according to the Government’s 2027 public holiday hours. Last year several Westfield centres in New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia were closed on New Year’s Day.

Working over Christmas: your rights

If you work in retail or hospitality, the Christmas period is also when your pay and rights matter most. Under the Fair Work Ombudsman’s guidance, all employees have a right to be absent from work on a public holiday, and those who do work one may be entitled to extra pay at public holiday rates, a later day off in lieu, and minimum shift lengths. Pay entitlements follow the state or territory where you are based. The Fair Work Ombudsman also notes that several jurisdictions observe an extra Boxing Day holiday on 28 December, that Christmas Eve is a part-day (evening only) holiday in some places, and that New Year’s Eve is an evening holiday in the Northern Territory and South Australia.

What you are paid on a public holiday depends on your award or agreement, so use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool. Our guide to minimum wage and casual pay in Australia explains the basics for casuals and part-timers, which is useful if you are an international student picking up holiday shifts.

Tips for international students and new arrivals

A first Australian Christmas can come as a surprise, because almost everything big is shut on the 25th and the weather is summer. A few practical tips:

• Shop by 23 or 24 December. Buy staples, drinks and anything you need for Christmas Day lunch before Friday 25 December, because large supermarkets will be closed.
• Plan for two public holidays in a row. Boxing Day (Saturday 26) and the additional holiday on Monday 28 December mean many offices and services stay shut until Tuesday 29 December.
• Check opening hours online before you travel. Store locators and Google Maps hours are the quickest way to confirm a specific shop, especially in South Australia, where rules are tighter.
• Keep a small emergency stock. Basic medicine, milk and a few meals can save you a trip to a petrol station on Christmas Day.
• Mind your budget. Holiday periods are expensive. Our student budget breakdown shows what a typical month costs, and our Black Friday and Cyber Monday guide explains how to spot fake discounts before the Boxing Day sales.
• Know the culture. Our Christmas in Australia guide covers traditions, food and what to expect.

A simple checklist before Christmas Day

1. Write your list early. Include groceries, drinks, gifts, wrapping and anything for guests.
2. Order online early. Woolworths suggests ordering early for Christmas delivery and using pickup or Direct to boot in the days before the holiday.
3. Check your state’s rules above for the days you will actually need to shop.
4. Confirm your local store’s hours on its store locator from early December, when retailers update their holiday hours.
5. Fill prescriptions before Christmas Eve if you rely on regular medicine.
6. Fuel up the car early if you are travelling, because queues are longer on Christmas Eve.

Sources and further reading

• Government of Western Australia, Christmas shopping hours extended (6 October 2026)
• SafeWork SA, Holiday trading arrangements (Christmas 2026)
• NSW Government, Trading on public holidays in NSW
• Queensland Government, Shop trading hours in Queensland
• National Retail Association, Christmas and New Year factsheet 2025 to 26 (rules by state)
• Woolworths, Christmas FAQ
• The Nightly, Christmas trading hours 2025 (last year’s retailer pattern)
• Fair Work Ombudsman, Public holidays

Last checked 19 October 2026. Retailers had not published full 2026 store hours at this time, so items marked 2025 are last year’s patterns, not confirmed 2026 hours. We will update this page as retailers publish. Trading hours laws can change, so confirm with your state government or the store before you travel.

Related guides

Planning the holidays? See Christmas in Australia, Boxing Day in Australia, Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 and the cost of living price guide.

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