Here's exactly what will and won't be open over Christmas break 2025.

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Sure, Christmas is meant to be joyful, but it's also a pressure cooker of roast prep, wrapping paper chaos, and passive-aggressive questions about your relationship status… or lack thereof.

While we love our families (mostly), sometimes the only thing standing between you and a full-blown festive meltdown is a servo pie and a Maccas frozen Coke.

Whatever your reasons (no judgement), knowing which stores are open across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day is essential intel.

Consider this list your Yuletide lifeline.

Watch: There is no right or wrong way to prep for Christmas. Here's when our office thinks Christmas decor should go up. Post continues below.

Supermarkets (Coles, Woolies, IGA, Aldi).

It appears all three of Australia's major supermarkets — Coles, Woolworths and Aldi — will be honouring the festive spirit and closing their doors for the whole of Christmas Day. However, the trio will be open if you need to do a last-minute essentials run on Christmas Eve, and you will be able to restock the house on Boxing Day.

As for IGA, the majority of its stores are independently run, thus holiday trading hours are really up to their discretion. We recommend checking out what your local IGA grocer has confirmed for Christmas Day 2025 via their store window trading hours or online.

Coles:

Christmas Eve: All Coles stores will be open on Christmas Eve. Some stores will have extended opening hours until 11pm. Check out your local Coles here.

Christmas Day: All Coles stores will be closed in all states and territories on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: All Coles stores except some in South Australia will be open.

Woolworths:

Christmas Eve: All Woolworths stores will be open on Christmas Eve. Check out the official store trading times in your area, here.

Christmas Day: All Woolworths stores will be closed in all states and territories on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: All stores in New South Wales, Canberra, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania will be open. Some stores in South Australia and the Northern Territory will not be open.

Aldi:

Christmas Eve: All Aldi stores will be open on Christmas Eve, but store hours will vary.

Christmas Day: All Aldi stores will be closed in all states and territories on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: All Aldi stores will be open on Boxing Day, but store hours will vary. Check their website for local trading hours here.

Bottle shops.

If you need a bit of bevvy boost to get through this year's festive season, you'll want to get in early because most of Australia's liquor stores will be closed for the holiday on December 25.

Bottle shops will be open on Christmas Eve as it is not a public holiday, and most stores will generally operate under normal or slightly varied trading hours. However, hours will vary by location and store, so it is best to check individual store times.

As previously mentioned, Coles will be closed on Christmas Day, therefore its trading banners — Liquorland and Vintage Cellars — will also be shutting their doors. Joining these bottle-os, BWS stores across the country, including drive-thrus, will be closed; except a select few of their drive-thru stores in Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, ACT and South Australia. Check out the exceptions here.

If you find yourself in need of some liquid courage, a couple of select Dan Murphy's stores will be skipping the carols to stay open on Christmas Day.

But good news — the booze will be back in business for Boxing Day, woohoo!

Liquorland:

Christmas Eve: Liquorland stores will be open but likely with reduced hours, check locally here.

Christmas Day: All Liquorland stores will be closed in all states and territories on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: Stores will reopen; however, there may be exceptions for WA and QLD.

Dan Murphy's:

Christmas Eve: Dan Murphy's nationwide will be open, but usually with reduced hours. Check out your local Dan Murphy's trading hours here.

Christmas Day: Almost all locations are closed; only select VIC and Tasmania stores might be open.

Boxing Day: All Dan Murphy's stores will be open, often with reduced hours.

BWS:

Christmas Eve: BWS will operate with standard hours.

Christmas Day: Almost all BWS stores will shut their doors; check for exceptions in VIC and Tasmania here.

Boxing Day: They will reopen and resume trade with regular hours.

Big retail stores (Kmart, Big W, Target).

All your favourite big department stores across the country will be closed on Christmas Day.

For Christmas Eve 2025, the big three (Kmart, Big W and Target) stores will be open, but their hours vary by location, so it is best to check the specific hours for your nearest store. In past years, some stores have had extended trading hours on Christmas Eve, with others remaining open extra late for last-minute grabs.

Doors will reopen for shoppers on Boxing Day, and the sales will be in full effect.

Kmart:

Christmas Eve: All Kmart stores will be open with extended trading hours varying between regions. Check your local store here.

Christmas Day: Kmart stores nationwide will close their doors for Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: All stores will reopen with varying extended and restricted trading hours.

Target:

Christmas Eve: Target stores will be open and operate as usual. Different states may have various trading hours. Check your local Target's Christmas trading hours here.

Christmas Day: Target stores will be closed.

Boxing Day: Target stores will be open, but some may have various trading hours.

Big W:

Christmas Eve: Expect stores to be open, often with extended hours. Check your local Big W Christmas trading hours here.

Christmas Day: All Big W stores are closed nationwide for Christmas Day.

Boxing Day: Big W stores will reopen, but with reduced or altered trading hours.

Fast food.

McDonald's will be keeping its doors open on December 25th… a true Christmas miracle if you ask me! But before you head out on Chrissy Day, I do recommend double-checking your local store's hours.

As for KFC, restaurants across Australia will be closed for the very merry day. However, like other fast-food chains, KFC does keep some locations open for high-traffic areas: airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast), major train stations, select 24-hour locations and motorway service areas. Luckily, Hungry Jack's will be open!

McDonald's:

Christmas Eve: McDonald's locations will be open and trading with normal or slightly reduced evening hours. Check your local here.

Christmas day: Many McDonald's stores will stay open for Christmas Day with variable hours.

Boxing Day: Stores will resume normal operations.

KFC:

Christmas Eve: Yes, KFC will be open, but some might close earlier than usual. Check your local here.

Christmas Day: Many KFC's close, but a selection of stores in larger areas like NSW, VIC, SA will be open with reduced hours.

Boxing Day: KFC locations will be open and returning to regular hours.

Hungry Jack's:

Christmas Eve: Hungry Jack's will be open and operating in their normal trading hours. Check your nearest Hungry Jack's store here.

Christmas Day: Many Hungry Jack's stores will remain open for Christmas Day with variable hours.

Boxing Day: Hungry Jack's locations will be open and trading at regular hours.

Banks & ATMs.

Sorry in advance if you have a lot of last-minute cash prezzies to sort, because banks across Australia will definitely be shutting their doors on Christmas Day, but ATM's and online banking will remain fully functional.

Between virtual assistance and Osko payments, any inquiries or transfers you need to make should be processed as they usually would, given that the bank accounts you're transferring to and from offer Osko.

Banks:

Christmas Eve: Banks will be operating with reduced trading hours. Check out St George, Westpac, CommBank, ANZ and NAB for the exact hours of your local branch.

Christmas Day: All big Australian banks will be closed.

Boxing Day: All branches will be back up and running to their usual operating hours.

Petrol stations.

Good news! There should be quite a few petrol stations trading this Christmas Day as most of them have unrestricted trading hours, with some larger brands like 7-Eleven, BP, and Caltex often maintaining their 24-hour schedules on major roadways.

Opening times can vary for smaller or independently-owned stations, so it is always smart to check directly when you fill up next.

Feature Image: Canva.