South Africa Public Holidays (2025–2028)
South Africa has 14 days off in 2026: the 12 holidays in the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, an observed Monday (Aug 10) because National Women's Day falls on a Sunday, and a one-off public holiday on Nov 4 for the local government elections.
At a Glance: Statutory Days & Long Weekends
2026 – 20275 long weekends (3+ days)
View full calendar6 long weekends scheduled
Explore scheduleGovernment of South Africa (Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994)
National labour legislation and statutory decrees governing public holidays in South Africa.
South Africa Public Holiday System & Legal Framework
Governing Legislation & Statutory Authority
National labour legislation and statutory decrees governing public holidays in South Africa.
Weekend In-Lieu Observance & Substitute Days
When national public holidays coincide with weekend days (Saturday or Sunday), statutory rollover rules or presidential/ministerial decrees typically designate the subsequent Monday as an official paid day off.
Statutory Annual Leave & Bridge Days (Ponts) Culture
Employees enjoy statutory annual leave entitlements under domestic labour law. Workers frequently combine public holidays with personal annual leave to produce extended bridge breaks.
South Africa Multi-Year Calendars & Downloads (2025–2028)
iCal (ICS) · CSV · PDFSouth Africa Planning Hub: Calendars, Working Days & Schools
Working Days Calculator
Calculate exact business days, work hours, and statutory holidays for South Africa (2026 & 2027) for payroll and contracts.
Long Weekends & Leave Planner
Discover all natural 3- and 4-day weekends, plus interactive bridge day strategies turning 1–2 days of annual leave into 5–9 days off.
Today's Public Holiday Status
Live local-timezone detector answering "Is today a public holiday in South Africa?" with next upcoming closures.
South Africa Long Weekends 2026: Every 3+ Day Break
South Africa long weekends 2026 — every 3+ day break its public holidays create, incl. the Easter four-day weekend and the Nov 4 election holiday.
Major Global Festivals Celebrated in South Africa
Other Public Holiday Calendars in Africa
Official sources & data
- Public holidaysVisit sourceSouth African Government
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994Visit sourceSouth African Government
Frequently Asked Questions About South Africa Public Holidays
How many statutory public holidays are observed in South Africa each year?
South Africa gazettes official public holidays annually through official government notices. The exact number of observed days is detailed in our official multi-year calendar above.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend in South Africa?
Depending on official decrees, holidays falling on a weekend are commonly transferred to the following Monday to ensure workers receive their statutory paid entitlement.
Where can I download the official South Africa holiday calendar?
You can download free official calendar files directly on this page above in iCalendar (ICS for Apple/Google/Outlook), CSV spreadsheet, and printable PDF formats.
Are public holiday dates in South Africa officially confirmed?
Our records strictly track official government gazettes. Current year calendars are confirmed; upcoming provisional years are actively verified against astronomy or legislative circulars and flagged accordingly.
How can I calculate working days and business schedules in South Africa?
Visit our dedicated Working Days tool linked below, providing precise annual and monthly counts of business days, weekends, and statutory holidays for payroll and project planning.