General information, not legal advice. Not a government site. Dates follow the Public Holidays Act, presidential declarations and the gazetted DBE school calendars.
South African public holidays 2026
2026 has 14 public holidays: the 12 in the Act, Monday 10 August because Women's Day (9 August) falls on a Sunday, and Election Day on Wednesday 4 November, declared for the local government elections. Also see 2027 and 2028.
All 14 public holidays in 2026
Date
Day
Holiday
1 January
Thursday
New Year's Day
21 March
Saturday
Human Rights Day
3 April
Friday
Good Friday
6 April
Monday
Family Day
27 April
Monday
Freedom Day
1 May
Friday
Workers' Day
16 June
Tuesday
Youth Day
9 August
Sunday
National Women's Day
10 August
Monday
National Women's Day observedSunday holiday moves to Monday (s2(1))
24 September
Thursday
Heritage Day
4 November
Wednesday
Local government electionsSpecial public holiday (s2A)
16 December
Wednesday
Day of Reconciliation
25 December
Friday
Christmas Day
26 December
Saturday
Day of Goodwill
11 of these fall on a weekday. With a Monday to Friday week, 2026 has 250 working days.
Long weekends in 2026
4 daysFri 3 Apr – Mon 6 AprGood Friday, Family Day
3 daysSat 25 Apr – Mon 27 AprFreedom Day
3 daysFri 1 May – Sun 3 MayWorkers' Day
3 daysSat 8 Aug – Mon 10 AugNational Women's Day, National Women's Day observed
3 daysFri 25 Dec – Sun 27 DecChristmas Day, Day of Goodwill
Make the most of your leave
1 leave → 4 offTake Fri 2 JanOff Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan (New Year's Day)
3 leave → 9 offTake Tue 28 Apr, Wed 29 Apr, Thu 30 AprOff Sat 25 Apr – Sun 3 May (Freedom Day, Workers' Day)
1 leave → 4 offTake Mon 15 JunOff Sat 13 Jun – Tue 16 Jun (Youth Day)
3 leave → 6 offTake Wed 17 Jun, Thu 18 Jun, Fri 19 JunOff Tue 16 Jun – Sun 21 Jun (Youth Day)
General information, not legal advice. KayaCalendar gives general information based on the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, presidential declarations of special public holidays published on gov.za, and the public school calendars gazetted by the Minister of Basic Education. It is not legal advice and is not a government website. The President can declare extra public holidays, and provinces, schools and employers may set their own arrangements, so check important dates with the official source. Long weekends and leave ideas assume a Monday to Friday week. Leave needs your employer's agreement.
The Sunday rule
Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act says that when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a public holiday. A holiday on a Saturday does not move. The list above already applies this. In 2026 that adds 10 August.
How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2026?
14. 2026 has 14 public holidays: the 12 in the Act, Monday 10 August because Women's Day (9 August) falls on a Sunday, and Election Day on Wednesday 4 November, declared for the local government elections.
What public holidays fall on a Sunday in 2026?
National Women's Day: the holiday moves to Monday 10 August 2026. Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act says a public holiday on a Sunday moves to the following Monday.
When is Easter 2026?
Good Friday is Friday 3 April 2026 and Family Day is the Monday after Easter Sunday, Monday 6 April 2026.
How many long weekends are there in 2026?
5 runs of three days or more that include a public holiday, without taking leave, on a Monday to Friday week. The best value leave is Fri 2 Jan: 1 leave day for 4 days off in a row.
How many working days are there in 2026?
250 on a Monday to Friday week, after weekends and public holidays that fall on weekdays.
What if a public holiday falls on a Saturday?
It stays on the Saturday. Only a Sunday holiday moves to the Monday. Employees who normally work Saturdays get the day as a paid public holiday.
Are there special public holidays in 2026?
Local government elections on Wednesday 4 November 2026, declared by the President under section 2A of the Public Holidays Act.