Half-day public holiday confirmed for Albury Gold Cup in 2026 and 2027

The Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis MP, has declared half-day local public holidays from midday on Friday, 20 March 2026 and Friday, 19 March 2027 for the Albury Local Government Area.

While Council had applied for a full-day public holiday, the half-day declaration maintains the Gold Cup tradition and provides certainty for event organisers, businesses and the community.

Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said the decision allows planning to progress with confidence.

“The Albury Gold Cup plays an important role in Albury’s events calendar, bringing people together and generating strong economic and social activity for the city,” Mayor Mack said.

“The half-day public holiday continues a long-standing arrangement and supports the ongoing delivery of the Gold Cup as a major event for Albury.”

Community and business consultation undertaken earlier this year demonstrated strong support for the continuation of a public holiday associated with the Albury Gold Cup, with a range of views expressed on the preferred format.

The Albury Gold Cup Carnival is firmly established as one of Australia’s leading country racing events. First run in 1881 and hosted by the Albury Racing Club, the carnival attracts high-quality horses, trainers and jockeys from across the country.

The event has been recognised five times by Racing NSW as the Most Popular Country Feature Race Meeting and offers more than $800,000 in prize money, trophies and bonuses across the two-day carnival.

As Albury’s largest annual social event, the Gold Cup combines elite racing with fashions on the field and extensive hospitality offerings, drawing thousands of visitors to the racecourse and the wider city.

The carnival continues to provide a significant opportunity to showcase Albury as a leading regional centre, generating an estimated $4.2 million in economic activity and attracting a substantial number of visitors from outside the region.

The formal application process for local public holidays will continue to be coordinated with the NSW Premier’s Department in line with established requirements.