What happens to the Courts over Christmas?

Updated Australian court dates for 2025/2026

As the end of year approaches, our thoughts may turn to preparations for celebrations and summer holidays.

Have you ever wondered what happens to Australia’s courts over Christmas, and what time do the courts close, particularly when do courts close for Christmas? Like many other services, court dates and operating hours change over the summer holiday Christmas period.

Australia’s courts don’t completely shut down over the festive period. Magistrates, duty judges and registry office support staff are on-call for emergency cases.

Check when courts close for Christmas for your state or territory.

Queensland's court closure dates 2025—2026

Queensland’s court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Monday 15 December 2025—Tuesday 27 January 2026

• Supreme Court Registry will be closed Monday 29 December 2025—Friday 2 January 2026 inclusive

District Court

• District Court Registry will be closed Monday 29 December 2025—Friday 2 January 2026 inclusive

Magistrates Court

• Magistrates Court Registry will be closed Thursday 25 December 2025—Friday 2 January 2026 inclusive

For more information visit the Queensland Courts website.

Australian Capital Territory's court closure dates 2025—2026

The ACT’s court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Monday 22 December 2025 — Friday 30 January 2026 inclusive

• Law Term for 2026 starts on Monday 2 February 2026

Magistrates Court

• 1.00pm Friday 19 December 2025 — Wednesday 8 January 2026 inclusive

• Regular sittings recommence Thursday 8 January 2026

ACT Courts Registry

• 4.30pm Tuesday 23 December 2025 — 9.00am Monday 5 January 2026 inclusive

For more information, visit the Australian Capital Territory Courts website.

New South Wales' court closure dates 2025—2026

New South Wales’ court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Monday 22 December 2025 — Friday 30 January 2026 inclusive

• 2026 Court term starts on Monday 2 February 2026

District Court criminal jurisdiction

• Court sittings conclude on 19 December 2025. At time of publication, awaiting the court’s 2026 commencement date

District Court civil jurisdiction

• Monday 22 December 2025 — Friday 30 January 2026 inclusive

• Sittings resume on Monday 2 February 2026

Local Court

• Monday 29 December 2025 — Friday 9 January 2026 inclusive

• Sittings resume on Monday 12 January 2026

For more information, visit the NSW Courts and Tribunals website.

Victoria's court closure dates 2025—2026

Victoria’s court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Court sittings conclude on 19 December 2025. At time of publication, awaiting the court’s 2026 commencement date

County Court

• Monday 22 December—Friday 16 January 2026 inclusive

• The Registry will operate during the summer vacation closure except for 25 December 2025, 26 December 2025 and 1 January 2026

• Sittings resume on Monday 19 January 2026

Magistrates Court

• At time of publication, awaiting the court’s Christmas closure dates

For more information, visit the Court Services Victoria website.

Tasmania's court closure dates 2025—2026

Tasmania’s court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Monday 15 December 2025 — Thursday 29 January 2026 inclusive

• Sittings resume Friday 30 January 2026

Magistrates Court

• Registries close at 2.00pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen at 9.00am on Monday 5 January 2026

For more information visit Supreme Court of Tasmania or Magistrates Court of Tasmania.

Northern Territory's court closure dates 2025—2026

The Northern Territory’s court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• At time of publication, awaiting the court’s Christmas closure dates for 2025—2026

Local Court (Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs) and Darwin Children’s Court

• Friday 19 December 2025 — Friday 9 January 2026 inclusive

For more information, visit the Northern Territory Supreme Court or the Northern Territory Local Court websites.

South Australia's court closure dates 2025—2026

South Australia's court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Hearings resume the week of 27 January 2026. A Supreme Court Judge will be on call over the closure period

• Supreme Court Registry will be closed Thursday 25 December 2025—Friday 2 January inclusive. It will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026

District Court

• Hearings resume the week of 12 January 2026. A District Court Judge will be on call over the closure period

• District Court Registry will be closed Thursday 25 Decembre 2025—Friday 2 January inclusive. It will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026

Magistrates Court

• Magistrates Court at Adelaide and Elizabeth will hear overnight custodies / arrests where police bail is refused, as well as any urgent applications for the State on:

• Monday 29 December 2025

• Tuesday 30 December 2025

• Wednesday 31 December 2025

• Regular listings resume on Friday 2 January 2026

For more information visit the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia website.

Western Australia's court closure dates 2025—2026

Western Australia's court closure dates over the 2025—2026 summer vacation period are:

Supreme Court

• Tuesday 23 December 2025—Monday 12 January 2026 inclusive

District Court

• At time of publication, awaiting the court’s Christmas closure dates for 2025—2026

Magistrates Court

• At time of publication, awaiting the court’s Christmas closure dates for 2025—2026

For more information, visit the Supreme Court of Western Australia, District Court of Western Australia or the Magistrates Court of Western Australia.

Contacting Shine Lawyers over the summer vacation festive season

Shine Lawyers’ offices will be closed from 5.00pm Friday 19 December 2025 and re-open at 8.15am Monday 5 January 2026.

Between those dates, our friendly Client Services Team members can help with your enquiry by phone or email:

• Monday 22 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Tuesday 23 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Wednesday 24 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Saturday 27 December 2025: 8.15am - 4.30pm

• Sunday 28 December 2025: 8.15am - 4.30pm

• Monday 29 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Tuesday 30 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Wednesday 31 December 2025: 7.00am - 5.00pm

• Friday 2 January 2026: 8.00am - 5.00pm

• Saturday 3 January 2026: 8.15am - 4.30pm

• Sunday 4 January 2026: 8.15am - 4.30pm

Our Client Services Team will return to usual hours on Monday 5 January 2026 (7.00am-7.00pm).

Please note that times are in AEST (not AEDT).

You can still make an online enquiry during the closure periods, and our teams will get back to you as soon as they can.

We wish everyone a safe and joyous end of year 2025 and a Happy 2026.