Public holidays in South Africa 2026, 2027 and 2028
As of : The next public holiday is Day of Reconciliation on Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Compare public holidays for 2026, 2027 and 2028. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday.
The twelve holidays and the declared days, year by year
| Holiday and rule | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day1 January | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan | Sat 1 Jan |
| Human Rights Day21 March | Sat 21 Mar | Sun 21 MarAlso a public holiday: Mon 22 Mar | Tue 21 Mar |
| Good FridayFriday before Easter Sunday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 26 Mar | Fri 14 Apr |
| Family DayMonday after Easter Sunday | Mon 6 Apr | Mon 29 Mar | Mon 17 Apr |
| Freedom Day27 April | Mon 27 Apr | Tue 27 Apr | Thu 27 Apr |
| Workers’ Day1 May | Fri 1 May | Sat 1 May | Mon 1 May |
| Youth Day16 June | Tue 16 Jun | Wed 16 Jun | Fri 16 Jun |
| National Women’s Day9 August | Sun 9 AugAlso a public holiday: Mon 10 Aug | Mon 9 Aug | Wed 9 Aug |
| Heritage Day24 September | Thu 24 Sep | Fri 24 Sep | Sun 24 SepAlso a public holiday: Mon 25 Sep |
| Day of Reconciliation16 December | Wed 16 Dec | Thu 16 Dec | Sat 16 Dec |
| Christmas Day25 December | Fri 25 Dec | Sat 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec |
| Day of Goodwill26 December | Sat 26 Dec | Sun 26 DecAlso a public holiday: Mon 27 Dec | Tue 26 Dec |
| Declared for one yearsection 2A, by proclamation | Wed 4 NovLocal government elections | none declared | none declared |
Taken from gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa; Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday; gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic; Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools; Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools; Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994; gov.za: Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994; Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995; gov.za: Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995. Saved copies last read on .
Days declared for one year
The President may by proclamation in the Gazette declare any day to be a public holiday throughout the Republic or any part thereof.
Between 2026 and 2028 this has been used once: Wednesday 4 November 2026, for the local government elections (Proclamation Notice 346 of 2026, Government Gazette 55352 of 8 September 2026). Such a day is a public holiday like the twelve in Schedule 1, but only for the year named. No day had been declared for 2027 or 2028 when the sources were last read. A declared day is added here only from its proclamation in the Government Gazette.
Taken from Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995; gov.za: Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995; Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday; gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic. Saved copies last read on .
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday
The days mentioned in Schedule 1 shall be public holidays, and whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday.
Under section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, the Monday following a public holiday that falls on a Sunday is also a public holiday. Between 2026 and 2028 that happens four times: National Women’s Day on Sunday 9 August 2026, so Monday 10 August 2026 is a public holiday as well; Human Rights Day on Sunday 21 March 2027, so Monday 22 March 2027 is a public holiday as well; Day of Goodwill on Sunday 26 December 2027, so Monday 27 December 2027 is a public holiday as well; Heritage Day on Sunday 24 September 2028, so Monday 25 September 2028 is a public holiday as well.
A public holiday on a Saturday adds no extra day off. 2026: Human Rights Day (Sat 21 Mar), Day of Goodwill (Sat 26 Dec); 2027: Workers’ Day (Sat 1 May), Christmas Day (Sat 25 Dec); 2028: New Year’s Day (Sat 1 Jan), Day of Reconciliation (Sat 16 Dec).
Taken from Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994; gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa. Saved copies last read on .
Questions people ask
- Can an employer exchange a public holiday for another day?
- Under section 2(2) of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, an employer and an employee may agree to exchange a public holiday for another day.
The Gazette notices and pages behind this page
- gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday (copy saved )
- gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 (copy saved )
- gov.za: Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 (copy saved )
- Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995 (copy saved )
- gov.za: Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995 (copy saved )
Each figure above was tested against saved copies of these papers, last read on . Should this page and the Government Gazette ever part ways, go by the Gazette. How each date is tested.