South African public holidays 2026 - full list with dates

Special school holidays in 2026

These close public schools only. They are not public holidays: banks, government departments and most businesses are open.

• Mon 15 Jun 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳122 days ago

  Special school holiday - Monday 15 June 2026

  The Department of Basic Education declared Monday 15 June 2026 a special school holiday so that the Youth Day long weekend ran from Saturday 13 to Tuesday 16 June. Public schools were closed. This is not a public holiday, so government offices and private businesses were open unless they chose to close.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

Full detail for each holiday

• Thu 1 Jan 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳287 days ago

  New Year's Day 2026

  New Year's Day is a statutory public holiday across South Africa. It fell on a Thursday in 2026. Government offices, banks, schools and most businesses were closed; most shopping malls and many retailers traded normal or reduced hours.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Sat 21 Mar 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳208 days ago

  Human Rights Day 2026

  Human Rights Day marks the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and commemorates the adoption of the Constitution. In 2026 it fell on a Saturday, which means there was no substitute public holiday on the following Monday.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Fri 3 Apr 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳195 days ago

  Good Friday 2026

  Good Friday is a public holiday that falls two days before Easter Sunday. In 2026 it fell on 3 April and formed part of a four-day weekend with Family Day on Easter Monday, 6 April.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Mon 6 Apr 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳192 days ago

  Family Day 2026

  Family Day is the Monday after Easter Sunday and is a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act. In 2026 it fell on Monday 6 April, giving most South Africans a four-day weekend that ran from Good Friday.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Mon 27 Apr 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳171 days ago

  Freedom Day 2026

  Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections held on 27 April 1994. In 2026 it fell on a Monday, creating a natural long weekend. Schools were on autumn break, so it did not reduce the 2026 school day count.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Fri 1 May 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳167 days ago

  Workers' Day 2026

  Workers' Day is a public holiday on 1 May each year. In 2026 it fell on a Friday, producing a three-day weekend. Employers must pay employees who work on a public holiday at double the normal rate under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Tue 16 Jun 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳121 days ago

  Youth Day 2026

  Youth Day commemorates the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976. In 2026 it fell on a Tuesday, and the Department of Basic Education declared Monday 15 June 2026 a special school holiday so schools closed for four consecutive days.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Sun 9 Aug 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳67 days ago

  National Women's Day 2026

  National Women's Day marks the 1956 march of around 20 000 women to the Union Buildings. In 2026 it fell on a Sunday, so Monday 10 August 2026 was a public holiday in its place under section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Mon 10 Aug 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳66 days ago

  National Women's Day observed - Monday 10 August 2026

  Because National Women's Day fell on a Sunday in 2026, the following Monday, 10 August 2026, was a public holiday in its place. This is the only Sunday-substitution holiday in the 2026 calendar and it fell inside school Term 3.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Thu 24 Sep 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳21 days ago

  Heritage Day 2026

  Heritage Day on 24 September celebrates South Africa's cultural diversity and is widely observed as National Braai Day. In 2026 it fell on a Thursday, so Friday 25 September was a normal working day unless leave was taken.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Wed 16 Dec 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳In 62 days

  Day of Reconciliation 2026

  The Day of Reconciliation falls on Wednesday 16 December 2026, midway through the December school holidays. It is one of the busiest days of the year on South African roads.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Fri 25 Dec 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳In 71 days

  Christmas Day 2026

  Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026, followed by the Day of Goodwill on Saturday 26 December. Government services, banks and licensing offices generally close on public holidays; check individual operating hours for the surrounding period.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal

• Sat 26 Dec 2026

  ✓ Confirmed ⏳In 72 days

  Day of Goodwill 2026

  The Day of Goodwill falls on Saturday 26 December 2026. Under section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act, a public holiday that falls on a Sunday is observed on the following Monday; because this holiday falls on a Saturday, Monday 28 December is not a substitute public holiday.

  National Last verified 13 October 2026 Official source

  .ics Google Cal