Important Dates
South African public holidays 2027: the full list, and how each one is observed
All 13 public holidays in 2027 with the weekday each falls on, which ones move to a Monday, and the long weekends that form around them.
- Last reviewed:
- 13 October 2026
- Next review:
- 1 December 2026
- Reading time:
- 5 min read
The short answer
South Africa has 12 public holidays fixed by the Public Holidays Act, plus any additional day declared by proclamation. In 2027, Human Rights Day (Sunday 21 March) and the Day of Goodwill (Sunday 26 December) move to the following Monday, while Workers’ Day falls on a Saturday and does not move. Monday 26 April 2027 is a special school holiday, not a public holiday, and it is also why that week produces the best long weekend of the year.
South Africa’s public holidays come from one short statute, and the way they behave is decided by which day of the week they fall on. For 2027 that single fact produces a year with two Monday substitutes, one holiday stranded on a Saturday, and the best long weekend of the year in April.
All the 2027 public holidays
| Date | Holiday | Day | How it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 January | New Year’s Day | Friday | As it falls |
| Sun 21 March | Human Rights Day | Sunday | Moves to Mon 22 March |
| Mon 22 March | Human Rights Day (observed) | Monday | Substitute day |
| Fri 26 March | Good Friday | Friday | As it falls |
| Mon 29 March | Family Day | Monday | As it falls |
| Mon 26 April | Special school holiday | Monday | Schools only - not a public holiday |
| Tue 27 April | Freedom Day | Tuesday | As it falls |
| Sat 1 May | Workers’ Day | Saturday | Does not move |
| Wed 16 June | Youth Day | Wednesday | As it falls |
| Mon 9 August | National Women’s Day | Monday | As it falls |
| Fri 24 September | Heritage Day | Friday | As it falls |
| Thu 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | Thursday | As it falls |
| Sat 25 December | Christmas Day | Saturday | Does not move |
| Sun 26 December | Day of Goodwill | Sunday | Moves to Mon 27 December |
| Mon 27 December | Day of Goodwill (observed) | Monday | Substitute day |
That is twelve statutory holidays and thirteen days off, because two of them gain a Monday.
The three rules that explain the whole table
- A public holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the Monday. Human Rights Day becomes Monday 22 March, and the Day of Goodwill becomes Monday 27 December.
- A public holiday that falls on a Saturday does not move. Workers’ Day on 1 May and Christmas Day on 25 December are simply observed on those days. There is no “day in lieu” in the Act.
- A special school holiday is not a public holiday. Monday 26 April 2027 closes public schools so the Freedom Day long weekend runs from Saturday to Tuesday, but shops, banks, government offices and most employers trade normally.
The long weekends that form in 2027
Two breaks form with no leave at all:
- Human Rights Day: Saturday 20 March to Monday 22 March - three days off, no leave needed.
- Day of Goodwill: Saturday 25 December to Monday 27 December - three days off, no leave needed.
Two more are a single leave day away:
- Freedom Day: Saturday 24 April to Tuesday 27 April - four days off for one leave day, because Monday 26 April is already a school holiday but not a public holiday for most employees.
- Heritage Day: Friday 24 September to Sunday 26 September - a natural three-day weekend with no leave needed at all, since the holiday itself is a Friday.
The long weekends page works all of this out from the holiday list, and the long weekend planner lets you set your own leave budget and province.
How this compares with 2026
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory holidays | 12 | 12 |
| Days off after substitutes | 13 | 13 |
| Holidays falling on a Sunday | 1 (National Women’s Day, 9 August) | 2 (21 March, 26 December) |
| Holidays falling on a Saturday | 2 (21 March, 26 December) | 2 (1 May, 25 December) |
| Best no-leave break | Women’s Day: Sat 8 – Mon 10 August | Christmas: Sat 25 – Mon 27 December |
The 2026 list, with its own substitutions, is on the 2026 public holidays page.
What this means if you employ people
Public holidays are not optional days off. An employee who works on a public holiday is entitled to at least double their ordinary rate for that day under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Where the holiday falls on a day the employee would not normally work, the entitlement is generally an ordinary day’s pay or a paid day off in lieu. Sectoral determinations, bargaining council agreements and contracts can improve on the statutory minimum but cannot reduce it.
The practical trap is a substituted holiday. When Human Rights Day moves to Monday 22 March, it is Monday that is the public holiday and the Sunday that is an ordinary Sunday. Rosters, overtime approvals and payroll calendars need the substitute dates, not the original ones.
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 against the Public Holidays Act and the 2027 school calendar gazette (Government Gazette 52178).
Checklist
- Check which holidays fall on a weekend in 2027 before booking leave - two of them move, one does not
- Remember that 26 April 2027 closes schools but not businesses
- If you work shifts, confirm with your employer which day is treated as the holiday
Who actually runs this
Department of Home Affairs / Department of Employment and Labour - public holidays are set by the Public Holidays Act and amended by proclamation in the Gazette
Go to Department of Home Affairs / Department of Employment and Labour (opens in a new tab)We link out rather than replicate. Find SA Status cannot act on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2027?Toggle answer
There are twelve public holidays set by the Public Holidays Act, plus any day declared by proclamation - usually after a national election, which is why an election day is always a public holiday once it is proclaimed. In 2027 that means thirteen days off in practice, because Human Rights Day and the Day of Goodwill each gain a Monday substitute after falling on a Sunday.
Does a public holiday that falls on a Saturday move to the Monday?Toggle answer
No. Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act moves a holiday that falls on a Sunday to the following Monday. A holiday that falls on a Saturday stays where it is. That is why Workers’ Day on Saturday 1 May 2027 gives no substitute day, while Human Rights Day on Sunday 21 March 2027 becomes Monday 22 March.
Is 26 April 2027 a public holiday?Toggle answer
No. Monday 26 April 2027 is a special school holiday gazetted by the Department of Basic Education, which closes public schools so that the Freedom Day long weekend runs from Saturday 24 April to Tuesday 27 April. Government offices, banks and most private businesses are open on 26 April. Only Tuesday 27 April is a public holiday.
Is Election Day a public holiday in South Africa?Toggle answer
Yes. When a national, provincial or municipal election is proclaimed, the President declares election day a public holiday for that year. The 2026 municipal election had not been proclaimed with a date at the time of our last review, so no election-day public holiday is recorded for 2026 or 2027 yet.
Do I get paid extra for working on a public holiday?Toggle answer
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act says that an employee who works on a public holiday is paid at least double the ordinary rate for the day, and if the public holiday falls on a day the employee would not ordinarily work, they are generally entitled to the ordinary day’s pay or a paid day off in lieu. Sectoral determinations and bargaining council agreements can set different terms, so check the one that covers your workplace.
Sources and verification
Confirmed- Source
- gov.za
- Source published
- 7 December 1994
- Last verified by us
- 13 October 2026
- Next scheduled review
- 1 December 2026
Find SA Status is an independent publisher. We are not a government department and we do not process applications, check statuses on your behalf, or hold any personal information about you. Always confirm time-sensitive information on the official source linked above.
Official sources used on this page
- Public holidays in South Africa - South African Government
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 - South African Government
- 2027 school calendar (Government Gazette 52178) - Department of Basic Education
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