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Public holidays in South Africa
The next public holiday is the Day of Reconciliation on Wednesday 16 December 2026, in 30 days. South Africa has 12 public holidays a year, and the President can declare more. 2026 has 13 public holidays and 5 long weekends.
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- 16 DecNext public holidayWednesday, Day of Reconciliation
- 13Public holidays in 202611 on weekdays
- 5Long weekends in 2026Three days off or more
- 12Public holidays in 20276 long weekends
Public holidays in 2026
13 public holidays, 11 weekdays off work and 5 long weekends.
| Date | Public holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 JanuaryThursday | New Year’s Day |
| 21 MarchSaturday | Human Rights DayFalls on a Saturday, so it doesn’t move. |
| 3 AprilFriday | Good FridayLong weekend |
| 6 AprilMonday | Family DayLong weekend |
| 27 AprilMonday | Freedom DayLong weekend |
| 1 MayFriday | Workers’ DayLong weekend |
| 16 JuneTuesday | Youth Day |
| 9 AugustSunday | National Women’s DayLong weekendFalls on a Sunday, so Monday 10 August is a public holiday. |
| 10 AugustMonday | Public holiday: National Women’s Day observedLong weekendNational Women’s Day falls on a Sunday, so the Monday is a public holiday. |
| 24 SeptemberThursday | Heritage Day |
| 4 NovemberWednesday | Local government electionsDeclared by the President. The proclamation. |
| 16 DecemberWednesday | Day of Reconciliation |
| 25 DecemberFriday | Christmas DayLong weekend |
| 26 DecemberSaturday | Day of GoodwillLong weekendFalls on a Saturday, so it doesn’t move. |
Public holidays in 2027
12 public holidays, 10 weekdays off work and 6 long weekends.
| Date | Public holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 JanuaryFriday | New Year’s DayLong weekend |
| 21 MarchSunday | Human Rights DayLong weekendFalls on a Sunday, so Monday 22 March is a public holiday. |
| 22 MarchMonday | Public holiday: Human Rights Day observedLong weekendHuman Rights Day falls on a Sunday, so the Monday is a public holiday. |
| 26 MarchFriday | Good FridayLong weekend |
| 29 MarchMonday | Family DayLong weekend |
| 27 AprilTuesday | Freedom Day |
| 1 MaySaturday | Workers’ DayFalls on a Saturday, so it doesn’t move. |
| 16 JuneWednesday | Youth Day |
| 9 AugustMonday | National Women’s DayLong weekend |
| 24 SeptemberFriday | Heritage DayLong weekend |
| 16 DecemberThursday | Day of Reconciliation |
| 25 DecemberSaturday | Christmas DayLong weekendFalls on a Saturday, so it doesn’t move. |
| 26 DecemberSunday | Day of GoodwillLong weekendFalls on a Sunday, so Monday 27 December is a public holiday. |
| 27 DecemberMonday | Public holiday: Day of Goodwill observedLong weekendThe Day of Goodwill falls on a Sunday, so the Monday is a public holiday. |
How the dates are set
South Africa has 12 public holidays, set by the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Ten fall on the same date every year. Good Friday and Family Day move with Easter: they are the Friday before and the Monday after Easter Sunday.
The Sunday rule. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday after it is a public holiday too (section 2(1) of the Act). A holiday on a Saturday doesn’t move.
The President can also declare any day a public holiday, by proclamation in the Government Gazette (section 2A). Election days are declared this way.
When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, the Monday is already the Day of Goodwill, so the Sunday rule adds nothing. The President declared 27 December a public holiday instead in 2011, 2016 and 2022. In 2005 he didn’t, and 27 December 2005 was a normal working day.
Source: the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 (Schedule 1 and sections 2(1) and 2A) and the President’s proclamations in the Government Gazette, checked against the government’s published lists on 7 November 2026.