Mid-Autumn Festival 2026
The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) — also called the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival — falls on Friday September 25, 2026 (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month). In mainland China it is a public holiday with a natural 3-day long weekend, September 25–27 (Fri–Sun), and no make-up workday. Use this page for the official holiday dates, how it sits relative to National Day Golden Week, and which nearby markets also take the day off.
Dates in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 – 27 | Friday – | Mid-Autumn Festival3 days off (Fri–Sun).Public holiday | Public holiday |
Public holiday & long weekend in 2026
Mainland China observes Mid-Autumn on Fri Sep 25 with the weekend attached, so the public holiday window is Sep 25–27. No Saturday or Sunday is swapped as a make-up workday for this break. Six days later, National Day Golden Week runs Oct 1–7 — many planners use annual leave in the gap, or treat the two as separate short trips.
Who else has Mid-Autumn off in 2026?
Hong Kong and Macau list Mid-Autumn (or the day after, depending on the gazette) among general/public holidays. Taiwan observes Mid-Autumn as a national holiday. Singapore and Malaysia mark it as a public holiday in Chinese-majority areas. Japan and South Korea do not treat Mid-Autumn as a national public holiday (Korea’s closest harvest festival is Chuseok, on different lunar timing). Always check each country calendar for observed vs in-lieu rules.
Mid-Autumn Festival traditions
Families gather for reunion dinners, admire the full moon, light lanterns and exchange mooncakes — round pastries filled with lotus seed paste, red bean or salted egg yolk. Parks and riversides fill with lantern displays, and children carry colourful paper lanterns through the streets.
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
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival 2026?+
Friday September 25, 2026 — the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The China public holiday runs September 25–27 (Fri–Sun).
How long is the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in 2026?+
Three days in mainland China: September 25–27, 2026. Because the festival falls on a Friday, no make-up workday is required.
Is Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 a public holiday?+
Yes in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia (with local observed/in-lieu rules). It is not a national public holiday in Japan or South Korea.
Is there a make-up workday for Mid-Autumn Festival 2026?+
No in mainland China. The three-day break (Sep 25–27) falls naturally on Fri–Sun, so no weekend days need to be traded for Mid-Autumn itself. Separate make-up workdays (Sep 20, Oct 10) support the National Day Golden Week arrangement.
How does Mid-Autumn Festival compare to National Day Golden Week?+
They are separate breaks. Mid-Autumn is Sep 25–27 (3 days); National Day Golden Week is Oct 1–7 (7 days), six days later. They are not merged into one holiday.
When is Mid-Autumn Festival in 2027?+
Wednesday September 15, 2027 (provisional — the official State Council arrangement is usually published in late autumn of the prior year).