Dates for 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | |
| weekend | Human Rights Day |
| Good Friday | |
| Family Day | |
| Freedom Day | |
| Workers' Day | |
| Youth Day | |
| National Women's Day (observed) | |
| Heritage Day | |
| Day of Reconciliation | |
| Christmas Day | |
| weekend | Day of Goodwill |
Dates are calculated from each country's holiday rules and may not reflect last-minute changes. Check official government sources before relying on them for payroll or contracts.
Planning leave around 2026's public holidays
6 of the 12 public holidays in 2026 fall on a Monday or Friday, giving long weekends without using any annual leave. 2 fall on a weekend this year. Booking leave next to a public holiday stretches it further: taking the days between two holidays can turn a few days of leave into a much longer break.
Need to know how many working days are left in a period? Use the working days calculator, which automatically excludes public holidays in South Africa. Tracking leave in a spreadsheet? Download the free annual leave tracker with these dates built in.
Common questions
How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2026?
There are 12, from New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January to Day of Goodwill on Saturday 26 December. 10 of them fall on a weekday.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday. The dates listed include these.
Plan 2026's leave with your whole team.
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