King's Birthday (Western Australia) 2026

Type of holiday: statutory public holiday, a non-working day.

Western Australia keeps its own King's Birthday holiday entirely separate from the rest of the country, and its date is genuinely different from year to year rather than following a fixed formula. It typically lands somewhere in late September or the first weeks of October, but the exact Monday has to be checked each year rather than calculated.

A royal tradition with a local twist

Like the rest of Australia, Western Australia's King's Birthday holiday descends from the long tradition of marking the sovereign's official birthday on a convenient date rather than their actual date of birth, a practice that goes back to the reign of King George V. What sets Western Australia apart is how that date is chosen: rather than legislating a fixed second-Monday formula the way most other states and territories do, Western Australia has the Governor formally proclaim the date of the King's Birthday holiday each year.

Why the date is announced, not calculated

Because the holiday is set by an annual vice-regal proclamation rather than a standing rule tied to a particular week, it cannot be worked out in advance the way the June King's Birthday can in most other jurisdictions. Businesses, schools and event planners in Western Australia need to watch for the official announcement each year, which is typically made well ahead of the holiday itself but still requires checking rather than assuming.

How it's marked

Official recognition includes the King's Birthday Honours announcements for Western Australians, alongside any formal functions held by the Governor's office. For most of the state, the holiday functions as a welcome long weekend heading into the warmer months, with outdoor events, sporting fixtures and short trips to the South West or Wheatbelt taking priority over any specific ceremonial activity.

Where it applies

• Western Australia only, on its own separately proclaimed date in September or October
• Not the same date as the King's Birthday holiday observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory in June
• Not the same date as Queensland's King's Birthday holiday in October

Why Western Australia sits apart from the rest

Western Australia's decision to hold its King's Birthday later in the year, and to set the date by proclamation, reflects the same broader pattern seen across the country: each state manages its own public holiday calendar, and there has never been a requirement that the King's Birthday fall on the same day nationwide. Combined with Queensland's separate October date, this means the King's Birthday is effectively observed on three different dates across Australia depending on where you are.

Practical notes

When the day arrives, government offices, schools and banks close across Western Australia, and most retail and hospitality businesses adjust their hours for the long weekend. Because the date shifts each year, it is worth confirming the current year's proclaimed date directly with the Western Australian government rather than assuming it matches the previous year's Monday.