2026 in Australia
| 2026 in Australia | |
|---|---|
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Governor-General | Sam Mostyn |
| Prime minister | Anthony Albanese |
| Australian of the Year | Katherine Bennell-Pegg |
| |||||
| Decades: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See also: | |||||
The following is a list of events including expected and scheduled events for the year 2026 in Australia.
Incumbents
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State and territory leaders
[edit]- Premier of New South Wales – Chris Minns
- Premier of Queensland – David Crisafulli
- Premier of South Australia – Peter Malinauskas
- Premier of Tasmania – Jeremy Rockliff
- Premier of Victoria – Jacinta Allan
- Premier of Western Australia – Roger Cook
- Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory – Andrew Barr
- Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Lia Finocchiaro
Governors and administrators
[edit]- Governor of New South Wales – Margaret Beazley
- Governor of Queensland – Jeannette Young
- Governor of South Australia – Frances Adamson
- Governor of Tasmania – Barbara Baker
- Governor of Victoria – Margaret Gardner
- Governor of Western Australia – Chris Dawson
- Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories – Farzian Zainal
- Administrator of Norfolk Island – George Plant
- Administrator of the Northern Territory – Hugh Heggie
Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 4 January – Over 60 prominent sportspeople including tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, canoeist Jessica Fox, swimmer Ian Thorpe and former cricket team captain Michael Clarke pen an open letter calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a federal royal commission into antisemitism, radicalisation and the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting.[1]
- 8 January:
- Prime Minister Albanese announces a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, to be chaired by Virginia Bell. In response, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announces that his state would not proceed with a state-level royal commission.[2]
- Six emergency warnings are issued in Victoria in response to bushfires.[2]
- Blak Caucus, the Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation'48 file a challenge against new laws restricting protests in New South Wales at the Supreme Court of New South Wales.[3]
- 9 January – A total fire ban comes into force in Victoria in response to an ongoing heatwave.[2]
- 10 January – Wildfires destroy 130 structures in Victoria, prompting premier Jacinta Allan declares a statewide emergency. The Australian Capital Territory declares a total fire ban.[4]
- 12 January – the National Socialist Network (NSN) announce it would disband in response to proposed new hate speech laws by the federal government which would make it easier to designate organisations as prohibited hate groups.[5][6]
- 13 January – The 2026 edition of Adelaide Writers' Week is called off after more than 180 writers and speakers boycott the event in protest against the organisers' decision to exclude Australian-Palestinian writer and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah.[7]
- 15 January – The board of the Adelaide Festival retracts the Adelaide Writers' Week's decision to exclude Randa Abdel-Fattah from the event and issues an apology to her.[8]
- 18 January:
- Heavy rain leads to flooding and landslides in coastal New South Wales particularly Sydney, which records 127 mm (5.0 in) of rain. The State Emergency Service responds to about 2,500 calls for help and performed 25 flood rescues.[9][10]
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation overtakes the Liberal–National Coalition in a first for Newspoll. The Coalition also polls at its record low.[11]
- A 12-year-old boy is severely injured in a shark attack off Shark Beach in Vaucluse, New South Wales, resulting in his death in hospital on 24 January.[12][13]
- 19 January:
- A man is severely injured in a shark attack off Manly Beach in New South Wales.[14]
- The New Sydney Fish Market at Glebe, New South Wales opens to the public after 6 years of construction. [15]
- 20 January – A surfer is injured in a shark attack off Point Plomer in New South Wales.[16]
- 21 January – National Party of Australia senators Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell and Susan McDonald quit the Ley shadow ministry after opposing the official Liberal–National Coalition position on the hate speech law.[17] Following this, the eight remaining National frontbenchers also resign from the shadow cabinet.[18][19]
- 22 January:
- National leader David Littleproud confirms the party had again quit the Coalition, saying "our partyroom has made it clear that we cannot be part of a shadow ministry under Sussan Ley" and that "we sit by ourselves" in the parliament.[20] This is the second time the National party left the Coalition since 2025.
- 2026 Lake Cargelligo shootings: Three people are killed and another injured in a shooting in Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales.[21]
- 26 January:
- March for Australia holds a series of nationwide protests in many Australian cities.[22]
- A 31 year old man is arrested for throwing a homemade "fragment bomb" at a crowd gathering for an Invasion Day rally in Perth's Forrest Place, which fails to detonate. The man is charged with one count of committing an unlawful act with intent to harm and one count of making explosives under suspicious circumstances.[23]
- 28 January – Colin Boyce announces he will challenge David Littleproud for the leadership of the National Party of Australia.[24]
February
[edit]- 2 February –
- 2026 National Party of Australia leadership spill: Incumbent leader David Littleproud is re-elected, defeating Queensland MP Colin Boyce.
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation announce former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi will lead the upper house ticket in the 2026 South Australian state election.[25]
- 5 February –
- The Australian Federal Police charge a 31-year old man with one count of engaging in a terrorist attack in relation to an attempted bombing at an Invasion Day rally in Perth on 26 January.[26]
- The Australian Federal Police charge a 19-year old Sydney teenager with one count of using a social media platform to issue a death threat against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is expected to arrive in Australia for a state visit on 8 February.[27][28]
- 6 February –
- Drug lord Tony Mokbel is released from prison after prosecutors withdraw a planned retrial on charges of importing MDMA.[29]
- Australia and Indonesia sign a bilateral security agreement.[30]
- 8 February – The Liberal–National Coalition reunites.[31]
- 9 February –
- Kat McNamara resigns as member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Nightcliff, citing health issues.[32]
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Australia for a four-day visit and pays respects to victims of the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting. His visit generates controversy due to allegations that he incited genocide during the Gaza war.[33] Six thousand protesters opposing Herzog's visit gather outside Sydney Town Hall organised by the Palestine Action Group and attempt to march in defiance of new protest laws in New South Wales, leading to scuffles with police.[34]
- The Supreme Court of New South Wales rejects a legal challenge by the Palestine Action Group against the New South Wales government's decision to grant police extended powers to manage protests during Herzog's state visit.[35]
- 12 February – Five thousand pro-Palestine protesters march through the Melbourne central business district in protest against Herzog's visit. Separate pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrations are held outside an event hosting Herzog in Southbank, Victoria. Unlike the earlier Sydney Town Hall protest, the Melbourne protest is peaceful with police only making one arrest.[36]
- 13 February –
- 2026 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill is held. Angus Taylor wins the election against Sussan Ley.[37]
- The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission launches an investigation into the conduct of New South Wales Police Force personnel during a pro-Palestine rally outside the Sydney Town Hall on 9 February.[38]
- Multiple ancient Egyptian artefacts are stolen following a heist at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, Queensland. Most of the items are recovered following the arrest of a 52-year old man the next day.[39]
- 24 February – The Australian Federal Police evacuate Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from The Lodge after an alleged bomb threat against the Falun Gong-linked Shen Yun dance and music group's tour of Australia.[40]
- 25 February – Queensland Police confirm they are investigating an alleged bomb threat against the Home of the Arts theatre for hosting a Shen Yun performance.[41]
Future and scheduled events
[edit]- Not scheduled: 2026 Nepean state by-election, 2026 Nightcliff by-election and 2026 Farrer by-election
- 14 March – King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark are expected to begin their 6 day tour of Australia.
- 21 March –
- 2 May – 2026 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election[45]
- 11 August – 2026 Australian census
- October – 2026 Tasmanian local elections[46]
- 28 November – 2026 Victorian state election[47]
Sport
[edit]- 16 January – Olympic snowboarder Belle Brockhoff announces her retirement from competition.[48]
- 1–21 March – 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup[49][50]
Holidays
[edit]| Holiday | Date | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | [51] |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of Tasmania) | Monday 9 February | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
| Labour Day (WA) | Monday 2 March | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Public holiday under different names | Monday 9 March | Canberra Day | No | No | No | Adelaide Cup Day | Eight Hours Day | Labour Day | No | |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Easter Tuesday | Tuesday 7 April | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
| ANZAC Day | Saturday 25 April | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| May Day | Monday 4 May | No | No | Yes | Labour Day (QLD) | No | No | No | No | |
| Reconciliation Day | Monday 1 June | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Western Australia Day | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | ||
| King's Birthday | Monday 8 June | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Picnic Day | Monday 3 August | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | |
| Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only) | Wednesday 12 August | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| Friday before the AFL Grand Final | Friday TBC | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
| King's Birthday | Monday 28 September | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October | Yes | Yes | No | King's
Birthday |
Yes | No | No | No | |
| Melbourne Cup | Tuesday 3 November | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | |
| Recreation Day (all parts of Tasmania which do not observe Royal Hobart Regatta) | Monday 2 November | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
| Christmas Eve
(from 7pm to 12 midnight) |
Thursday 24 December | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Boxing Day | Monday 28 December | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| New Year's Eve
(from 7pm to 12 midnight) |
Thursday 31 December | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Deaths
[edit]January
[edit]- 2 January – Phoenix Spicer, footballer (North Melbourne) (b. 2002)[52]
- 6 January – Ron Boswell, senator (b. 1940)[53]
- 8 January – Loraine Braham, Northern Territory politician (b. 1938)[54]
- 20 January – Marie Bashir, governor of New South Wales (2001–2014) (b. 1930)[55]
- 29 January – Heather Goodall, historian (b. 1950)[56]
February
[edit]- 17 February – Anna dePeyster, journalist and author (b. 1944)[57]
References
[edit]- ^ Buckley, Penry (4 January 2026). "More than 60 prominent sportspeople call for federal royal commission after Bondi attack". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Cassidy, Caitlin; Visser, Nick (8 January 2026). "PM says government has been working on inquiry logistics 'for weeks'- as it happened". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Buckley, Penry; Smith, Douglas (8 January 2026). "'We will defy these laws': challenge lodged against NSW protest legislation that would stop Invasion Day rallies". The Guardian Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
- ^ Vidler, Adam; Pearson, Nick; Sharma, Yashee; Sarkari, Karishma (10 January 2026). "Live updates: Fire-ravager Victoria town told not to drink water; Part of Great Ocean Road cut off; Bushfires could burn for 'weeks'; Over 130 structures destroyed around state". Nine News. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ^ "Neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network says it will disband due to proposed hate speech laws". Australia Broadcasting Company. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ Baker, Emily (13 January 2026). "Neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network says it will disband due to proposed hate speech laws". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Graham-McLay, Charlotte (13 January 2026). "Adelaide Writers Week canceled as 180 speakers withdraw after the exclusion of a Palestinian writer". AP News. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
- ^ Rowlands, Lyndal (15 January 2026). "Australian writers' festival apologises to Palestinian author after boycott". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Corvo, Shannon (18 January 2026). "Flash flooding, heavy rainfall and gusty weather keeps SES busy on NSW coast". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ Brischetto, Patrick; Swain, Sarah (18 January 2026). "Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash flooding and storms batter NSW". Nine News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ Chambers, Geoff (18 January 2026). "Newspoll: Pauline Hanson's One Nation ahead of the Coalition on primary votes for the first time". The Australian. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Ng, Kelly (19 January 2026). "Boy fighting for life after being mauled by shark in Australia". BBC. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Nico Antic, 12yo boy attacked by shark at Sydney beach, dies in hospital". ABC News (Australia). 24 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ Ng, Kelly (19 January 2026). "Man seriously injured in Sydney's third shark attack in two days". BBC. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ Yin, Cindy (18 January 2026). "Sydney Fish Market opening as it happened: Crowds told to 'come back later' as new $836 million site at Blackwattle Bay reaches capacity". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ "Surfer injured in fourth shark attack in Australian state in 48 hours". BBC. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ Evans, Jake; Borys, Stephanie (20 January 2026). "Senior Nationals quit frontbench after defying shadow cabinet on hate speech laws". ABC News. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Armstrong, Clare (21 January 2026). "Eight remaining Nationals in shadow ministry quit in solidarity". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "Eight remaining National Party MPs quit Coalition frontbench after policy split". SBS News. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ Courtney Gould (22 January 2026). "Federal politics live: Coalition splits after Nationals quit shadow cabinet". ABC News.
- ^ Duffin, Perry; Walter, Riley (22 January 2026). "Three dead after gunman opens fire in NSW town". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Anti-immigration rallies take place in major cities across Australia". ABC News. 26 January 2026. Archived from the original on 26 January 2026.
- ^ Smith, Douglas (28 January 2026). "Police should 'throw the book' at man charged with Perth Invasion Day explosive device incident, Albanese says". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ Jervis-Bardy, Dan; Dhanji, Krishani; Butler, Josh (28 January 2026). "Nationals MP Colin Boyce to challenge David Littleproud for leadership, saying party is headed off 'political cliff'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ^ "Cory Bernardi to contest SA state election for One Nation". ABC News. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ Moore, Hannah (5 February 2026). "Man charged with terror offences after alleged bombing of Perth Invasion Day rally". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Australia charges teen over online threat as Israeli president due to visit". Al Jazeera English. 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ "Sydney teen accused of threatening to shoot Israeli president Isaac Herzog faces court". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 6 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
- ^ "Australia drug kingpin walks free after police informant scandal". France 24. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Leaders of Indonesia and Australia sign a new security treaty to affirm deeper ties". AP News. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ Graham, Chris (8 February 2026). "Australia's opposition coalition reunites after row over hate-speech laws". BBC News. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Hislop, Jack (9 February 2026). "Greens politician Kat McNamara quits NT parliament 18 months after historic Nightcliff win". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Watson, Katie; Livingstone, Helen (9 February 2026). "Police pepper spray protesters as Israeli president visits Sydney". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "NSW Police defend officers' actions in violent clashes with Sydney protesters". RNZ. ABC News. 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ McKinnell, Jamie (9 February 2026). "Palestine Action Group loses court challenge to extra police powers". ABC News. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Aldred, Max (12 February 2026). "Anti-Herzog rally swelled to '5,000' as Victoria Police employ very different tactic to NSW". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Breaking: Angus Taylor becomes Liberal leader, defeating Sussan Ley 34-17". ABC News. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ Livingstone, Helen (13 February 2026). "Sydney police to be investigated by watchdog after anti-Herzog protest violence". BBC News. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
- ^ "Australian museum recovers Egyptian artefacts after break-in". France 24. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
- ^ Dziedzic, Stephen; Norman, Jane (25 February 2026). "Security threat promoting PM evacuation linked to intimidation of Chinese dancers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ Allison, Charmayne (25 February 2026). "Alleged bomb threat against Gold Coast's HOTA theatre over Chinese dance group". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
- ^ "Elections". Electoral Commission SA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Key dates". 2024 South Australian First Nations Voice election.
- ^ "SA First Nations Voice election results show low turnout, but candidate urges 'give us a chance'". ABC News. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "About Legislative Council elections". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Council elections". Tasmanian Government. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
- ^ "State elections". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Australian snowboarder Brockhoff quits ahead of Winter Olympics". France 24. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Australia and Uzbekistan confirmed as 2026 and 2029 AFC Women's Asian Cup hosts". AFC. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "AFC unveils breakthrough reforms to strengthen Women's National Team Competitions". AFC. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "2026 public holidays". The Fair Work Ombudsman. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "Former North Melbourne player Phoenix Spicer passes away, aged 23". Fox Sports. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ "Tributes flow for National Party stalwart after death at home overnight". ABC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Trailblazing NT politician Loraine Braham has died, aged 87". ABC News. 8 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ^ Lo Surdo, Daniel (20 January 2026). "Dame Marie Bashir, first female NSW governor, dies aged 95". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Vale Emeritus Professor Heather Goodall AM FRSN FASSA". The Royal Society of NSW. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ Walker, Jamie (20 February 2026). "Vale Anna Murdoch Mann: Patron, novelist, philanthropist, confidante passes surrounded by loved ones". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2026 in Australia.
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