Public holidays in South Africa, 2026
South Africa has 14 public holidays in 2026 (public holidays; a holiday on Sunday moves to Monday). 6 fall on a Monday or Friday, which means a three-day weekend. The next one is Local Government Elections on Wednesday, November 4.
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- Mon Oct 12: Columbus Day in United States
- Mon Oct 12: Fiesta Nacional de España in Spain
- Mon Oct 12: Nossa Senhora Aparecida in Brazil
- Mon Oct 12: スポーツの日 in Japan
- Tue Oct 20: Dussehra in India
- Mon Oct 26: Labour Day in New Zealand
- Mon Oct 26: October Bank Holiday in Ireland
- “Is today a holiday?” is searched about 160,000 times a month in the US.
All holidays
| Date | Holiday | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 | New Year's Day | |
| Sat, Mar 21 | Human Rights Day | |
| Fri, Apr 3 | Good Friday | ✓ |
| Mon, Apr 6 | Family Day | ✓ |
| Mon, Apr 27 | Freedom Day | ✓ |
| Fri, May 1 | Workers' Day | ✓ |
| Tue, Jun 16 | Youth Day | |
| Sun, Aug 9 | National Women's Day | |
| Mon, Aug 10 | National Women's Day (observed) | ✓ |
| Thu, Sep 24 | Heritage Day | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | Local Government Elections | |
| Wed, Dec 16 | Day of Reconciliation | |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day | ✓ |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Day of Goodwill |
Planning tip
Holidays on a Tuesday or Thursday are the classic bridge days. Take the Monday or Friday off, and one day of leave buys you four days in a row.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2026?
14 in our list for 2026.
What is the next public holiday in South Africa?
Local Government Elections on November 4, 2026.
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Holidays 2026
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