Free tool · Australian businesses
You can still charge a public holiday surcharge in Australia: the ban that started on 1 October 2026 covers surcharges for paying by card, not surcharges on public holidays. On a café or restaurant menu, write "A surcharge of 15% applies on public holidays: Friday 25, Monday 28 December and Friday 1 January", at least as prominently as the most prominent price.
Pick your state below. You get the right Christmas and New Year 2026 days, ready to copy for your menu, door sign, website and Google Business Profile, plus an A4 sign to print. Every date is checked against your state government's list.
Print it at least as large and bold as your biggest price.
For the top of your home page and your online menu or booking page.
The same text as the A4 sign below, if you'd rather make your own.
Post it as an "Update" a week or two before Christmas.
Put it where customers see it before they order: the door, the counter, next to the menu board.
The Christmas holiday-surcharge kit gives you ready-made signs you can edit in any text editor or SVG editor, no Canva account needed:
One-off. Instant download after payment. If it isn't what's described here, email us for a full refund.
Still have card surcharge notices on your website? Run the free card surcharge check.
Yes. A public holiday surcharge isn't a card surcharge, so the 1 October 2026 ban doesn't stop it. It must be shown clearly before customers order, and on a café or restaurant menu the ACCC wording must be at least as prominent as the most prominent price.
Christmas Day is Friday 25 December and Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December. Because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, every state and territory except Tasmania also has a public holiday on Monday 28 December; in Tasmania, Monday 28 December is the Boxing Day holiday instead of the Saturday. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January 2027.
Only for part of the day, and only in some places: South Australia and the Northern Territory from 7pm to midnight on both days, and Queensland from 6pm to midnight on Christmas Eve. They aren't public holidays in the other states and territories.
For restaurants and cafés, the ACCC says the words must be at least as prominent as the most prominent price on the menu. If your prices are in 14-point bold, the surcharge line should be at least 14-point bold too.
No. A fee charged only to people who pay by card is a card surcharge, which is banned on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa from 1 October 2026. A public holiday surcharge applies to everyone, however they pay.
No. It's a wording tool built from public guidance. For advice about your business, talk to the Small Business Ombudsman's office, your state's fair trading office or a lawyer.
Dates checked on 24 October 2026 against each state and territory government's list and the Fair Work Ombudsman's. The data file lists the source for every date. Not legal advice. LeyMish Labs, South Australia · hello@leymish.com