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Public Holidays in South Africa — 2026
South Africa observes 12 public holidays in 2026. The table below lists every holiday with its local name and whether it applies nationwide.
| Date | Holiday | Local name | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, January 1, 2026 | New Year's Day | Nationwide | |
| Saturday, March 21, 2026 | Human Rights Day | Nationwide | |
| Friday, April 3, 2026 | Good Friday | Nationwide | |
| Monday, April 6, 2026 | Family Day | Nationwide | |
| Monday, April 27, 2026 | Freedom Day | Nationwide | |
| Friday, May 1, 2026 | Workers' Day | Nationwide | |
| Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | Youth Day | Nationwide | |
| Monday, August 10, 2026 | National Women's Day | Nationwide | |
| Thursday, September 24, 2026 | Heritage Day | Nationwide | |
| Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | Day of Reconciliation | Nationwide | |
| Friday, December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | Nationwide | |
| Saturday, December 26, 2026 | Day of Goodwill | St. Stephen's Day | Nationwide |
Working days per month in 2026 (Mon–Fri excluding nationwide holidays)
| Month | Working days |
|---|---|
| January | 21 |
| February | 20 |
| March | 22 |
| April | 19 |
| May | 20 |
| June | 21 |
| July | 23 |
| August | 20 |
| September | 21 |
| October | 22 |
| November | 21 |
| December | 21 |
2027 holidays preview
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Friday, January 1, 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Monday, March 22, 2027 | Human Rights Day |
| Friday, March 26, 2027 | Good Friday |
| Monday, March 29, 2027 | Family Day |
| Tuesday, April 27, 2027 | Freedom Day |
| Saturday, May 1, 2027 | Workers' Day |
| Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | Youth Day |
| Monday, August 9, 2027 | National Women's Day |
| Friday, September 24, 2027 | Heritage Day |
| Thursday, December 16, 2027 | Day of Reconciliation |
| Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Christmas Day |
| Monday, December 27, 2027 | Day of Goodwill |
Note: weekend days are assumed to be Saturday and Sunday; some countries use different weekends. Regional holidays may not apply everywhere. Source: Nager.Date open holiday database. Verify critical dates with official government sources.