Public holidays
South Africa public holidays 2026
Every public holiday in South Africa for 2026, with the law and the authority behind the list.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | |
| 21 Mar 2026 | Saturday | Human Rights Day | |
| 3 Apr 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Date follows Easter |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Monday | Family Day | Date follows Easter (Easter Monday) |
| 27 Apr 2026 | Monday | Freedom Day | |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Workers' Day | |
| 16 Jun 2026 | Tuesday | Youth Day | |
| 9 Aug 2026 | Sunday | National Women's Day | |
| 10 Aug 2026 | Monday | National Women's Day observed | National Women's Day falls on a Sunday, so the Monday following is a public holiday (Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994) |
| 24 Sept 2026 | Thursday | Heritage Day | |
| 16 Dec 2026 | Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Saturday | Day of Goodwill |
South Africa public holidays 2026: common questions
How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2026?
South Africa lists 13 public holidays for 2026. 13 have a date in our data. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following is also a public holiday.
What is the next public holiday in South Africa?
Day of Reconciliation, on Wednesday, 16 December 2026, in 67 days from the day this page was built.
Who declares public holidays in South Africa?
Government of South Africa (Presidency, via gov.za).
Which law sets public holidays in South Africa?
Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994.
Source: Government of South Africa (Presidency, via gov.za). Law: Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.