December is the busiest trading month of the year for retail and hospitality, with Christmas shopping and the summer sales season running through most of the 31-day month. 1 December 2026 falls inside this peak trading period, in the run-up to the two fixed public holidays that close out the year.
The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November every year, a public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. Tuesday 1 December 2026 falls on this day of the week, the same weekday the race runs on every year regardless of the date it lands on, drawing national attention well beyond Victoria's own borders.
The working-day count on this page excludes both weekend days and any public holiday declared for the state selected, so the same date in 2026 can show a different total depending on which state's calendar applies to 1 December. Interstate businesses need to check more than one state's list before setting a national deadline.
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