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South Africa Public Holidays 2026

There are 13 public holidays in South Africa in 2026, listed below with the date and the day of the week each one falls on.

Last updated 3 July 2026.

Next holiday

National Women's Day

9 August 2026 (Sunday), in 37 days

Public holidays in 2026

The 13 public holidays South Africa marks in 2026.

DateDayHoliday
1 January 2026ThursdayNew Year's DayNew Year's Day is celebrated with a blend of both diversity and tradition in countries such as South Africa on January 1 each year.
21 March 2026SaturdayHuman Rights DayHuman Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
3 April 2026FridayGood FridayGood Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
6 April 2026MondayFamily DayFamily Day is a public holiday in South Africa
27 April 2026MondayFreedom DayFreedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
1 May 2026FridayWorkers' DayLabor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
16 June 2026TuesdayYouth DayYouth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
9 August 2026SundayNational Women's DayNational Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
10 August 2026MondayDay off for National Women's DayNational Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
24 September 2026ThursdayHeritage DayHeritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
16 December 2026WednesdayDay of ReconciliationDay of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
25 December 2026FridayChristmas DayChristmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
26 December 2026SaturdayDay of GoodwillDay of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa

Religious holidays in 2026

Religious dates many households in South Africa mark, whether or not they are days off.

DateDayHoliday
16 January 2026FridayIsra and Mi'rajIsra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned.
15 February 2026SundayMaha ShivaratriMaha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
18 February 2026WednesdayRamadan StartRamadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
3 March 2026TuesdayHoliHoli is a spring festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the upcoming season of spring. The festival can last up to sixteen days.
15 March 2026SundayLailat al-QadrLaylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
20 March 2026FridayEid ul FitrEid al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.
4 April 2026SaturdayHoly SaturdayHoly Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
5 April 2026SundayEaster SundayEaster Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ's resurrection, according to Christian belief.
27 May 2026WednesdayEid al-AdhaEid al-Adha (Id ul-Adha) is an Islamic festival falling on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (Thou al-Hijja) to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.
17 June 2026WednesdayMuharramMuharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
26 August 2026WednesdayMilad un NabiMawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
27 August 2026ThursdayRaksha BandhanRaksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima). The day is also sometimes referred to as Brother and Sister Day because it honors the relationship between brother and sister.
4 September 2026FridayJanmashtamiKrishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (Bhadrapada), which is usually in August or September.
14 September 2026MondayGanesh ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi is the great Ganesha festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days.
11 October 2026SundayNavaratriNavaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
20 October 2026TuesdayDussehraDussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
8 November 2026SundayDiwaliDiwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
24 December 2026ThursdayChristmas EveChristmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.

Beyond the public and religious holidays above, South Africa also has many observances, seasonal markers and regional dates. OneHaus tracks the full set and keeps them current in your shared home calendar, so you never have to chase them down. Start free.

Get South Africa holidays in your shared calendar, automatically

Stop copying dates across by hand. OneHaus subscribes your whole home to South Africa's national and religious holidays, keeps them current, and shares them on iPhone and in any browser. Start with a free 30-day trial, no card needed, then one subscription covers everyone in your home.

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Other years

South Africa Public Holidays 2027

See the South Africa holidays hub for every year.

Holidays in other countries

United Kingdom Bank HolidaysUnited States Federal HolidaysAustralia Public HolidaysNew Zealand Public HolidaysCanada Public HolidaysIreland Bank Holidays

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2026?

There are 13 public holidays in South Africa in 2026. The full list, with dates and days, is in the table above.

When is the next holiday in South Africa?

The next holiday in South Africa is National Women's Day on 9 August 2026 (Sunday).

Can I add South Africa 2026 holidays to my calendar?

Yes. OneHaus subscribes your whole home to South Africa's holidays and keeps them current, so they appear in your shared calendar on iPhone and in any browser. Start with a free 30-day trial, no card needed, then one subscription covers everyone in your home.

Keep these dates where everyone can see them

A holiday only helps your plans if the whole household knows about it. OneHaus imports South Africa's holidays into your shared calendar and keeps them up to date, so nobody has to copy a list across by hand. Read more in our guide to adding holidays and calendar feeds and how a family shared calendar moves the planning out of one person's head, or start your free trial.