Public Holidays in South Africa, 2026
South Africa observes 12 nationwide public holidays in 2026, 3 of which fall on the weekend. The table below lists every date the holiday calendar records.
- Public holidays
- 12
- On a weekend
- 3
- Regional only
- 0
- Business days 2026
- 252
Nationwide
South Africa holiday calendar 2026
Dates marked nationwide are days off across South Africa. Entries showing a region count, or an observance type, are not deducted from business day calculations.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday(weekend) | Human Rights Day | Nationwide |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Family Day | Nationwide |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Freedom Day | Nationwide |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Workers' Day | Nationwide |
| 16 June 2026 | Tuesday | Youth Day | Nationwide |
| 9 August 2026 | Sunday(weekend) | National Women's Day | Nationwide |
| 24 September 2026 | Thursday | Heritage Day | Nationwide |
| 16 December 2026 | Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | Nationwide |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday(weekend) | Day of Goodwill | Nationwide |
Which holidays actually give a day off in 2026?
9 of South Africa's 12 nationwide public holidays land on a working day in 2026, so those are the ones that shorten the working year. The remaining 3 fall on Saturday and Sunday: Human Rights Day (21 March 2026), National Women's Day (9 August 2026), Day of Goodwill (26 December 2026).
After removing weekends and holidays, 2026 leaves 252 business days in South Africa.
Count business days in South Africa
Need the number of working days between two specific dates rather than the holiday list?