China Make-up Workdays 2026
In 2026 mainland China has six make-up workdays (调休 / 补班): Jan 4 (Sun) for New Year’s Day, Feb 14 (Sat) and Feb 28 (Sat) for the nine-day Spring Festival, May 9 (Sat) for the five-day Labour Day break, and Sep 20 (Sun) and Oct 10 (Sat) for the seven-day National Day Golden Week.
Dates in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 4, 2026 | Sunday | New Year's make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| February 14, 2026 | Saturday | Spring Festival make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| February 28, 2026 | Saturday | Spring Festival make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| May 9, 2026 | Saturday | Labour Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| September 20, 2026 | Sunday | National Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | National Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
How China’s make-up workdays work
China stretches its short statutory holidays into week-long breaks by "borrowing" the weekends next to them. Those borrowed Saturdays or Sundays become regular working days — the make-up workdays (调休 / 补班). The trade-off is a long continuous holiday in exchange for working a weekend before or after it.
The State Council (国务院) publishes the exact make-up workdays each year, usually in November or December for the following year. They cluster around the Spring Festival and the National Day Golden Week, the two longest breaks.
Official sources & data
- China's public holidays for 2026 (State Council)Visit sourceThe State Council of the PRC
- China 2026 Public Holiday ScheduleVisit sourceChina Briefing
Frequently asked questions
How many make-up workdays does China have in 2026?+
Six: Jan 4, Feb 14, Feb 28, May 9, Sep 20 and Oct 10. The Spring Festival alone needs two of them (Feb 14 and Feb 28).
Which weekends are worked for the 2026 Spring Festival?+
Two Saturdays — Feb 14 and Feb 28 — are worked in exchange for the nine-day Spring Festival break (Feb 15–23).
Are weekends working days in China?+
Not normally — China follows a standard Mon–Fri workweek. However, around the major holidays (Spring Festival, National Day, Labour Day), certain Saturdays or Sundays become make-up workdays (调休/补班) to extend the holiday breaks to 5–9 consecutive days. In 2026 there are six such adjusted weekends.
Why does China have make-up workdays?+
China’s State Council adjusts the calendar so statutory holidays cluster into long breaks (5–9 days), giving workers time for family reunions and travel. The trade-off is that nearby weekends become make-up workdays to keep the total annual working days roughly the same.
Which days should I avoid travelling to China in 2026?+
Avoid the first and last days of the Spring Festival (Feb 15–23) and National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7) — these are peak domestic travel periods with extreme congestion. Also note the make-up workday Saturdays (e.g. Feb 14, Oct 10) when businesses operate normally despite being weekends.
How many public holidays does China have in 2026?+
China has 7 statutory public holidays in 2026, totalling 33 days off: New Year (3 days), Spring Festival (9 days), Qingming (3 days), Labour Day (5 days), Dragon Boat Festival (3 days), Mid-Autumn Festival (3 days) and National Day (7 days).