Public Holidays in South Africa
Every public holiday in South Africa for 2026, 2027, 2028 — with exact dates, weekdays and countdowns.
Next public holiday
Election Day · Wednesday, November 4, 2026
South Africa public holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Human Rights Day | Public |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| Apr 6 | Monday | Family Day | Public |
| Apr 27 | Monday | Freedom Day | Public |
| May 1 | Friday | Workers' Day | Public |
| Jun 16 | Tuesday | Youth Day | Public |
| Aug 10 | Monday | National Women's Day | Public |
| Sep 24 | Thursday | Heritage Day | Public |
| Nov 4 | Wednesday | Election Day | Public |
| Dec 16 | Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | Public |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Public |
| Dec 26 | Saturday | St. Stephen's Day | Public |
South Africa public holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Friday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Mar 22 | Monday | Human Rights Day | Public |
| Mar 26 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| Mar 29 | Monday | Family Day | Public |
| Apr 27 | Tuesday | Freedom Day | Public |
| May 1 | Saturday | Workers' Day | Public |
| Jun 16 | Wednesday | Youth Day | Public |
| Aug 9 | Monday | National Women's Day | Public |
| Sep 24 | Friday | Heritage Day | Public |
| Dec 16 | Thursday | Day of Reconciliation | Public |
| Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Public |
| Dec 27 | Monday | St. Stephen's Day | Public |
South Africa public holidays 2028
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Saturday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Mar 21 | Tuesday | Human Rights Day | Public |
| Apr 14 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| Apr 17 | Monday | Family Day | Public |
| Apr 27 | Thursday | Freedom Day | Public |
| May 1 | Monday | Workers' Day | Public |
| Jun 16 | Friday | Youth Day | Public |
| Aug 9 | Wednesday | National Women's Day | Public |
| Sep 25 | Monday | Heritage Day | Public |
| Dec 16 | Saturday | Day of Reconciliation | Public |
| Dec 25 | Monday | Christmas Day | Public |
| Dec 26 | Tuesday | St. Stephen's Day | Public |
Other countries
About holidays in South Africa
This page lists South Africa's public holidays for 2026, 2027, 2028, including nationwide and regional dates. Regional holidays apply only to certain states, provinces or counties and are marked as such. Holiday data is sourced from the nager.date public-holiday dataset. For movable festivals see the holidays & festivals hub, and for countdowns to specific dates see all countdowns. Related tools: date calculator, business days, week numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays are there in South Africa?
South Africa has 13 public holidays listed for 2026, some nationwide and some regional.
What is the next public holiday in South Africa?
Election Day on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 — 8 days away.
Are all holidays in South Africa nationwide?
No — regional holidays apply only to specific areas and are marked in the tables above.