🇿🇦 South Africa
Public holidays in South Africa 2026
South Africa has 13 public holiday dates in 2026, 10 of them on a working day, and 5 long weekends. The next one is Day of Reconciliation, in 37 days (Wednesday, December 16, 2026).
- Fri, Dec 25Christmas Dayin 46 days
- Sat, Dec 26Day of Goodwillin 47 days
2026 holiday calendar
14 entries| Date | Day | Holiday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thu | New Year's Day | passed |
| Mar 21 | Sat | Human Rights Day | passed |
| Apr 3 | Fri | Good Friday | passed |
| Apr 6 | Mon | Family Day | passed |
| Apr 27 | Mon | Freedom Day | passed |
| May 1 | Fri | Workers' Day | passed |
| Jun 16 | Tue | Youth Day | passed |
| Aug 9 | Sun | National Women's Day | passed |
| Aug 10 | Mon | National Women's Day observed | passed |
| Sep 24 | Thu | Heritage Day | passed |
| Nov 4 | Wed | Local Government Elections | passed |
| Dec 16 | Wed | Day of Reconciliation | in 37 days |
| Dec 25 | Fri | Christmas Day | in 46 days |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Day of Goodwill | in 47 days |
observed
When a holiday falls on a weekend, many countries give the day off on the nearest working day instead. That substitute day is the 'observed' holiday.
estimated
Islamic and some other lunar holidays begin when religious authorities sight the new crescent moon. We show the expected date; the real day can move by one day and is confirmed only shortly before.
Long weekends in 2026
Assumes a Saturday and Sunday weekend.
- Fri, Apr 3 – Mon, Apr 6Good Friday, Family Day4 days
- Sat, Apr 25 – Mon, Apr 27Freedom Day3 days
- Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 3Workers' Day3 days
- Sat, Aug 8 – Mon, Aug 10National Women's Day3 days
- Fri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill3 days
Bridge days: 1 day off, 4+ days away
Take one working day off between a holiday and a weekend.
What is this?
A 'bridge day' is a single working day squeezed between a holiday and a weekend. Take it off and you get four or more days in a row for one day of leave.
- Take Fri, Jan 2New Year's Day4 days off
- Take Mon, Jun 15Youth Day4 days off
- Take Fri, Sep 25Heritage Day4 days off
Leave planner
Turn your vacation days into the longest breaks of the year.
Plan my days offPrintable calendar
All twelve months on one page, holidays marked.
Print / Save PDFAdd to your calendar
Every South Africa holiday in 2026, in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.
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