Public holidays
South Africa: 14 public holiday dates in 2026 (14 days off) and 14 in 2027 (14 days off), with 250 working days in 2026 and 251 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Human Rights Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Family Day | Yes |
| Monday 27 April 2026 | 2026-W18 | Freedom Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Sunday 9 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | National Women's Day | Yes |
| Monday 10 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | National Women's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 24 September 2026 | 2026-W39 | Heritage Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Local Government Elections | Yes |
| Wednesday 16 December 2026 | 2026-W51 | Day of Reconciliation | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Day of Goodwill | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 21 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Human Rights Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Human Rights Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Family Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 27 April 2027 | 2027-W17 | Freedom Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 16 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Monday 9 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | National Women's Day | Yes |
| Friday 24 September 2027 | 2027-W38 | Heritage Day | Yes |
| Thursday 16 December 2027 | 2027-W50 | Day of Reconciliation | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Day of Goodwill | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Day of Goodwill | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Family Day | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| April | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| May | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 63 | 60 | −3 |
| Q2 | 60 | 63 | +3 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 64 | +1 |
| Year | 250 | 251 | +1 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
In South Africa, 21 March is the day of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, and is kept as Human Rights Day. It is also the day of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
At work: Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.
A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.
At work: Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid "Happy Good Friday". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.
In South Africa, Easter Monday was renamed Family Day after 1995. It follows the Easter weekend, so it is a day to spend with family.
At work: Fine to mention. A Monday off at the end of the Easter long weekend.
Freedom Day, on 27 April, commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994, in which everyone could vote, and the day the new constitution was introduced.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
On 16 June, South Africa remembers the Soweto uprising of 1976, when black school children began to protest against the use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in their schools. They were met with police violence. Youth Day is a day of remembrance and a public holiday.
At work: Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.
South Africa's National Women's Day on 9 August commemorates the 1956 march of about 20,000 women of all races to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws of the apartheid era. The first National Women's Day was in 1995.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off, and a day to recognise women's contribution.
A South African public holiday on 24 September, when people are encouraged to celebrate their cultures, diversity and traditions in a nation that belongs to all its people. If it falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is a holiday.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
A public holiday declared on the day of South Africa's local government (municipal) elections. It has been declared for elections in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.
At work: Not a regular holiday: it appears only in an election year, on the election's date. Check the date before planning anything around it.
A South African public holiday on 16 December, in effect since 1995 after the end of apartheid, to foster reconciliation and national unity. It replaced an earlier day called Dingane's Day.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
A public holiday in South Africa on 26 December, the day after Christmas.
At work: A day off in the Christmas break; colleagues in South Africa will be away.
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