Running a business means wearing a lot of hats, so it helps to know what’s coming.

This month-by-month small business guide puts the key events, breaks and deadlines in one place so you can plan, pivot and stay ahead.

Keep it close as your not-so-secret weapon for a smoother, smarter 2026.

January: Set a solid foundation

 Key dates

• 1 – New Year’s Day public holiday
• 26 – Australia Day
• School holidays continue nationwide

With things quiet on the events front, January is a great time to set yourself up for the year ahead.

February: Events season begins

Key dates

• School holidays wrap up in most states (Most states go back January 27-28, WA goes back February 2, Tasmania February 5)
• Back-to-school retail period
• 14 to 17 – Reed Gift Fairs Sydney
• 25 to 26 – Australian Retailers Association × National Retail Association Retail Leaders Forum, Sydney
• 25  – Growth Summit 2026, Melbourne
• 28 – Q2 BAS due

Reed Gift Fairs Sydney

When: 14 to 17 February

New South Wales’ biggest week in retail returns to Darling Harbour. If you’re in retail, this is the place to go to source from hundreds of premium and emerging wholesale brands, connect with industry experts and learn the latest trends that are generating real sales for both bricks-and-mortar and online stores around Australia.

Australian Retailers Association × National Retail Association Retail Leaders Forum

When: 25 to 26 February, Sydney

Delivered jointly by the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association, this forum brings together senior operators, analysts and brands to unpack the forces shaping Australian retail in 2026. The program covers customer expectations, digital tools, workforce challenges and sustainability, offering a clear view of what retailers of all sizes will navigate in the year ahead.

Growth Summit – Melbourne

When: 25 February, Melbourne (also held 28 May in Sydney)

If you’re looking to unlock the secrets of successful scaling, SmartCompany and Startup Daily‘s Growth Summit is a helpful place to start. The program focuses on the core elements of growth that often make the biggest difference – think systems and processes, leadership capability, team structure, financial discipline and operational maturity.

Speakers have all walked the talk, having guided businesses through meaningful growth phases. This means you’ll learn practical lessons and real examples of how to navigate the challenges that come with expansion.

March: Expo season and early EOFY prep

Key dates

• 2 – Labour Day (WA)
• 10 – Eight Hours Day (TAS)
• 10 – Canberra Day (ACT)
• 10 – Labour Day (VIC)
• 10 – Adelaide Cup Day (SA)
• 25–27 – Easter long weekend
• 25 to 26 – SmallBiz Expo, Melbourne
• Early planning window for EOFY

SmallBiz Expo

When: 25 to 26 March, Melbourne

Bringing together a wide range of suppliers, advisors and government programs, SmallBiz offers an accessible, easy-to-navigate expo. Expect to see tech providers, finance and insurance specialists, marketing services, HR platforms, productivity tools and more, all geared toward small and medium business needs.

Alongside the exhibitors, short workshops and demonstrations offer practical guidance across day-to-day operations, digital adoption, cashflow, compliance and customer engagement.

April: A natural checkpoint

 Key dates

• 3 – Good Friday
• 4 – Easter Saturday (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC)
• 6 – Easter Monday
• 7 – Easter Tuesday (TAS public sector only)
• 25 – Anzac Day
• 28 – Q3 BAS due
• Easter and school holidays overlap (school holidays 3 to 19 April in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA; 11 to 26 in SA, 3 to 20 in ACT, 3 to 12 in NT, 18 to 3 May in TAS).
• Early winter retail and staffing preparation

With fewer events but plenty of public and school holidays, April gives you space to check on your progress, tidy up loose ends and reset anything that needs attention.

May: Packed with events, ideas and opportunities

One of the busiest months for business owners, with major conferences, industry forums and strong retail periods all landing at once, May is a natural point to refresh your thinking and see what you can learn from how other operators are getting things done. It is also a good moment to gather new ideas before the mid-year rush begins.

Key dates

• 7 to 8 – Digital Marketers Australia Conference
• 19 to 22 – Family Business Conference Asia-Pacific
• 20 to 21 – Retail Leaders Forum, Melbourne
• 28 – Growth Summit, Sydney
• Mother’s Day sales period 

Digital Marketers Australia Conference

When: 7 to 8 May, Melbourne

Digital Marketers Australia focuses on what is working in digital marketing today, led by practitioners who run campaigns every day. Sessions break down effective approaches across search, social, email and ecommerce, with an emphasis on tactics that smaller teams can realistically implement. It is a practical way to update your marketing knowledge and understand where businesses are seeing real results.

Family Business Conference Asia-Pacific
When: 19 to 22 May, Hobart

Claiming the title as the only conference in the Southern Hemisphere dedicated entirely to family-run enterprises, owners, successors and next-gen leaders from across the region all converge in Hobart to share their stories. The 2026 theme, Next is Now, explores the decisions that shape long-term resilience, from succession planning and governance to preparing for growth.

Held across four days, you’ll experience keynotes, workshops, masterclasses and site visits, along with The Longest Lunch and the Family Business Excellence Awards Dinner.

Retail Leaders Forum

When: 20 to 21 May, Melbourne

The Retail Leaders Forum gathers senior leaders from major Australian and international retailers to unpack the biggest shifts affecting the sector, including customer trends, digital tools, supply chain challenges and sustainability expectations. For smaller operators, it is a valuable opportunity to hear how well-known brands are responding to these pressures and to gain direction on the issues likely to shape your own planning in the year ahead.

Growth Summit – Sydney

When: May 28

It’s Sydney’s turn to discover growth strategies that are fuelling the most ambitious and innovative businesses in Australia. From live startup pitching events to exclusive panels with thought leaders, this is a must-go.

June: EOFY preparation and winter trading patterns

Key dates

• 1 – WA Day (WA)
• 8 – King’s Birthday (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT, NT)
• Financial reporting, tax planning and stocktake
• Winter school holidays start in VIC and QLD (June 27 to July 12), NT (20 June to 13 July)

While light on events and expos, June is a busy time as business owners shift into end-of-financial-year mode, preparing reports, reviewing performance and getting ready for stocktake and tax planning.

July: New financial year and major compliance change

Key dates

• 1 – Payday Super becomes mandatory
• Winter school holidays in NSW, SA and WA (4 to 19 July); ACT (4 to 20), TAS (11 to 26)
• 28 – Q4 BAS due

From 1 July, employers must pay super every time they pay employees rather than quarterly. This shift means your payroll system needs to support automated super payments and shorter payment cycles – making it a good moment to double-check with your bookkeeper or payroll provider that everything is set up correctly before your first July pay run.

 August: Mid-year consolidation 

Key dates

• 3 – Picnic Day (NT)
• Startup 2 Scaleup Summit, Sydney
• Early Christmas inventory planning begins in many sectors

Startup 2 Scaleup Summit

When: TBC, Sydney

While no date has been confirmed yet, the Startup 2 Scaleup Summit should return in August 2026. The 2025 event brought founders, operators, investors and advisors together for a full day of practical sessions on raising capital, building scalable teams, strengthening operations and entering new markets.

Based on previous years, you’ll be treated to keynotes, fireside chats, hands-on workshops, a startup showcase, a pitch competition and an investor lounge for one-on-one discussions.

September: Early spring activity and startup focus

Key dates

• Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards
• School holidays across most states (VIC and QLD: 19 September to 5 October; NSW, WA and SA: 26 September to 11 October; ACT: 26 September to 12 October; NT: 19 September to 4 October; TAS: 3 October to 18 October)
• Early Christmas retail planning
• 28 September – King’s Birthday (WA)

Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards

The Startup Daily Best in Tech Awards is a major celebration of the innovation, impact and diversity of the Australian tech startup and scaleup community. Nominations usually open in May or June, with the gala event taking place in September. Keep across the dates by signing up to Startup Daily’s newsletter.

September also offers a neat little window to check your progress, refresh your goals and budgets and lock in the marketing activity you want sorted before the end-of-year rush begins.

October: Small Business Month and pre-peak preparation 

Key dates

• 5 – King’s Birthday (QLD)
• 6 – Labour Day (ACT, NSW, SA)
• 6 – Queen’s Birthday (QLD regional exceptions may apply)
• NSW Small Business Month
• Early Black Friday and Christmas promotions begin
• Staffing plans for peak sales season 

NSW Small Business Month

When: October, statewide

NSW Small Business Month delivers a full calendar of workshops, networking events and regional expos designed to help you build skills, strengthen planning and connect with local experts. The program brings together councils, industry groups and business specialists to offer practical guidance across marketing, digital capability, operations and finance. Even better, most events are free or very low-cost.

Not based in NSW? Each state and territory offers events of its own:

• Queensland Small Business Month (May)
• Northern Territory October Business Month (October)
• South Australia Small Business Week (September)
• Victoria Small Business Festival (year-round)
• Western Australia SBDC Workshops (year-round)
• Tasmania Business Events (year-round)

 November: Peak sales season begins

Key dates

• 3 – Melbourne Cup Day
• 27 and 30 – Black Friday and Cyber Monday
• Smart50 Awards
• Early Christmas promotions
• High demand for inventory, staffing and logistics

November is one of the busiest trading months of the year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday spark strong sales activity, and many businesses bring forward Christmas promotions to catch early demand. It is also a pressure point for inventory, staffing and logistics, so it’s the moment to lock in rosters, confirm supplier commitments and sharpen your marketing plans.

Smart50 Awards

When: TBA

December: Holiday trading and end-of-year wrap

Key dates

• 25 – Christmas Day
• 26 – Boxing Day sales

December brings a heady mix of peak retail activity and well-earned celebration. Christmas and Boxing Day drive strong sales for many sectors, while teams wind down projects, wrap up financial admin and take stock of the year’s progress. It is also a natural moment to reset goals, tidy up the backlog and set yourself up for a confident start to the new year.

So, that’s your small business calendar for 2026. Keep business moving with a special offer from our partner, Budget Australia, below.

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This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with Budget Australia.