Public Holidays in South Africa 2026 🇿🇦
South Africa has 13 public holidays in 2026; the next one is Day of Reconciliation on Wed, Dec 16, 2026.
- 13public holidays 2026
- 5long weekends
- 3on a weekend
- Mondaymost common weekday
Weekend in South Africa: Saturday and Sunday.
Public holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public holiday | |
| Sat 21 Mar | Saturday (weekend) | Human Rights Day | Public holiday | |
| Fri 3 Apr | Friday | Good Friday | Public holiday | |
| Mon 6 Apr | Monday | Family Day | Public holiday | |
| Mon 27 Apr | Monday | Freedom Day | Public holiday | |
| Fri 1 May | Friday | Workers' Day | Public holiday | |
| Tue 16 Jun | Tuesday | Youth Day | Public holiday | |
| Sun 9 Aug | Sunday (weekend) | National Women's Day | Public holiday | |
| Mon 10 Aug | Monday | Public Holiday | Public holiday | |
| Thu 24 Sept | Thursday | Heritage Day | Public holiday | |
| Wed 16 Dec | Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | Public holiday | |
| Fri 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day | Public holiday | |
| Sat 26 Dec | Saturday (weekend) | Day of Goodwill | Public holiday |
Long weekends and bridge days in 2026
Breaks of three days or more where a public holiday meets the weekend:
- Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr · 4 days off · Good Friday, Family Day
- Sat 25 Apr – Mon 27 Apr · 3 days off · Freedom Day
- Fri 1 May – Sun 3 May · 3 days off · Workers' Day
- Sat 8 Aug – Mon 10 Aug · 3 days off · National Women's Day, Public Holiday
- Fri 25 Dec – Sun 27 Dec · 3 days off · Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill
Make it longer with a day or two of leave
- Take Fri 2 Jan off → 4 days in a row (Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan) · New Year's Day
- Take Mon 15 Jun off → 4 days in a row (Sat 13 Jun – Tue 16 Jun) · Youth Day
- Take Fri 25 Sept off → 4 days in a row (Thu 24 Sept – Sun 27 Sept) · Heritage Day
Counted from the public holidays above and a Saturday and Sunday weekend. Individual employers, schools and regions may differ.
Public holidays in 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | Friday | New Year's Day | Public holiday |
| Sun 21 Mar | Sunday | Human Rights Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 22 Mar | Monday | Public Holiday | Public holiday |
| Fri 26 Mar | Friday | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 Mar | Monday | Family Day | Public holiday |
| Tue 27 Apr | Tuesday | Freedom Day | Public holiday |
| Sat 1 May | Saturday | Workers' Day | Public holiday |
| Wed 16 Jun | Wednesday | Youth Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 9 Aug | Monday | National Women's Day | Public holiday |
| Fri 24 Sept | Friday | Heritage Day | Public holiday |
| Thu 16 Dec | Thursday | Day of Reconciliation | Public holiday |
| Sat 25 Dec | Saturday | Christmas Day | Public holiday |
| Sun 26 Dec | Sunday | Day of Goodwill | Public holiday |
| Mon 27 Dec | Monday | Public Holiday | Public holiday |
2027 brings 6 long weekends: Fri 1 Jan – Sun 3 Jan (3 days); Sat 20 Mar – Mon 22 Mar (3 days); Fri 26 Mar – Mon 29 Mar (4 days); Sat 7 Aug – Mon 9 Aug (3 days); Fri 24 Sept – Sun 26 Sept (3 days); Sat 25 Dec – Mon 27 Dec (3 days).
Observances and other dates in 2026 (4)
Widely marked days that are not days off for most workers.
| Date | Day | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 5 Apr | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
| Sun 10 May | Sunday | Mother's Day | Observance |
| Sun 21 Jun | Sunday | Father's Day | Observance |
| Sat 18 Jul | Saturday | Nelson Mandela Day | Observance |
Questions about holidays in South Africa
- How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2026?
- 13 public or bank holidays are listed for 2026, and 14 for 2027.
- How many 2026 holidays fall on a weekend in South Africa?
- 3 — Human Rights Day (Saturday), National Women's Day (Sunday), Day of Goodwill (Saturday). No substitute weekday is listed for them in this calendar.
- How many long weekends are there in South Africa in 2026?
- 5 breaks of three days or more are created by public holidays: Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr (4 days); Sat 25 Apr – Mon 27 Apr (3 days); Fri 1 May – Sun 3 May (3 days); Sat 8 Aug – Mon 10 Aug (3 days); Fri 25 Dec – Sun 27 Dec (3 days).
More on South Africa
Time and time zones in South Africa · Sunrise and sunset times · Regions of South Africa · 2026 calendar · All countries