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Public Holidays in May 2026 Around the World

In May 2026, 21 of the countries and regions we track take at least one day off — 47 public holidays in total, listed in date order below. The month's headline dates include Labour Day.

The busiest calendars this month are Indonesia (6), Japan (4) and South Korea (4). Breaks that span a month boundary appear in full on both months' pages, so cross-border trips and business schedules can be planned straight off the tables. Meanwhile, China work 1 weekend make-up day this month — listed separately, since those are working days, not holidays.

DateCountryHoliday
May 1, 2026BrazilLabour DayFriday.Public holiday
May 1 – 5ChinaLabour Day5 days off (Fri–Tue).Public holiday
May 1, 2026GermanyLabour DayPublic holiday
May 1, 2026Hong KongLabour DayGeneral holiday
May 1, 2026IndiaBuddha PurnimaFriday.Public holiday
May 1, 2026IndonesiaInternational Labour DayFriday — a natural 3-day weekend.Public holiday
May 1, 2026MacauLabour DayPublic holiday
May 1, 2026MalaysiaLabour DayFederal holiday
May 1, 2026PhilippinesLabor DayPublic holiday
May 1, 2026SingaporeLabour DayPublic holiday
May 1, 2026South KoreaLabour DayA public holiday for the first time in 2026 — now a day off for civil servants and teachers too, not only workers.Public holiday
May 1 – 3TaiwanLabour DayLabour Day (May 1) is a Friday — a 3-day weekend. From 2026 it is a holiday for all workers, not only labourers.Public holiday
May 1, 2026ThailandNational Labour DayPublic holiday
May 1, 2026VietnamInternational Labour DayFriday.Public holiday
May 3, 2026JapanConstitution Memorial DayPublic holiday
May 4, 2026IrelandMay DayPublic holiday
May 4, 2026JapanGreenery DayPublic holiday
May 4, 2026ThailandCoronation DayPublic holiday
May 4, 2026United KingdomEarly May bank holidayPublic holiday
May 5, 2026JapanChildren's DayPublic holiday
May 5, 2026South KoreaChildren's DayPublic holiday
May 6, 2026JapanSubstitute HolidayFor Constitution Memorial Day, which falls on Sunday May 3.Substitute holiday
May 14, 2026GermanyAscension DayPublic holiday
May 14, 2026IndonesiaAscension of Jesus ChristThursday.Public holiday
May 15, 2026IndonesiaCuti Bersama — Ascension DayFriday bridge — creates a 4-day break May 14–17.Bridge holiday
May 18, 2026CanadaVictoria DayThe Monday preceding May 25. Not observed as a statutory holiday in some Atlantic provinces.Statutory holiday
May 24, 2026MacauThe Buddha's Birthday (Feast of Buddha)Public holiday
May 24, 2026South KoreaBuddha's BirthdayEighth day of the fourth lunar month; falls on a Sunday in 2026.Public holiday
May 25, 2026GermanyWhit MondayPublic holiday
May 25, 2026Hong KongThe day following the Birthday of the BuddhaSubstitute, as the Buddha's Birthday (May 24) falls on a Sunday.General holiday
May 25, 2026South KoreaSubstitute Holiday (Buddha's Birthday)Buddha's Birthday falls on a Sunday, so Monday is a substitute holiday.Substitute holiday
May 25, 2026United KingdomSpring bank holidayPublic holiday
May 25, 2026United StatesMemorial DayLast Monday of May.Federal holiday
May 26, 2026Saudi ArabiaArafat DayDhu al-Hijjah 9, 1447 AH, projected as Tuesday May 26, 2026 per the Umm al-Qura calendar (the official date follows the crescent sighting announcement by the Supreme Court).Public holiday
May 26, 2026United Arab EmiratesArafat DayDhu al-Hijjah 9, 1447 AH, confirmed by the Hajj and Umrah authorities' calendar for 2026. It falls on a Tuesday, and Eid al-Adha follows immediately.Public holiday
May 27, 2026IndiaId-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)Wednesday. Subject to moon sighting.Public holiday
May 27, 2026IndonesiaIdul Adha 1447HWednesday. Date subject to moon-sighting confirmation.Public holiday
May 27, 2026MalaysiaHari Raya Aidiladha (Hari Raya Haji)Wednesday. Islamic date subject to moon-sighting.Federal holiday
May 27, 2026PhilippinesEid'l AdhaTentative — the exact date is set by proclamation based on the Islamic lunar calendar.Public holiday
May 27 – 29Saudi ArabiaEid al-AdhaDhu al-Hijjah 10–12, 1447 AH, projected as Wednesday May 27 to Friday May 29, 2026 — four consecutive days with Arafat Day. Some forecasters extend the public-sector break to Jun 1; confirm with the official announcement.Public holiday
May 27, 2026SingaporeHari Raya HajiThe Muslim festival of sacrifice.Public holiday
May 27 – 29United Arab EmiratesEid al-AdhaDhu al-Hijjah 10–12. With Arafat Day on Tuesday, the three Eid days (Wed–Fri May 27–29) create a 6-day break when the weekend is included — the longest of 2026.Public holiday
May 28, 2026IndonesiaCuti Bersama — Idul AdhaThursday — take Friday May 29 as leave for a 5-day run to May 31.Bridge holiday
May 31, 2026IndonesiaWaisak Day 2570 BE (Vesak)Sunday — runs straight into Pancasila Day on Monday.Public holiday
May 31, 2026MalaysiaWesak DaySunday — replacement on Tue Jun 2 (Mon Jun 1 is already a holiday).Federal holiday
May 31, 2026SingaporeVesak DayFalls on a Sunday; the following Monday (Jun 1) is a public holiday.Public holiday
May 31, 2026ThailandVisakha Bucha DaySunday — observed in lieu on Mon Jun 1.Public holiday

Make-up workdays this month

These weekend dates are working days, not holidays — people work them to bank longer breaks.

DateCountryHoliday
May 9, 2026ChinaLabour Day make-up workdayMake-up workday

Other years

May 2025May 2026May 2027May 2028

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays are there in May 2026 worldwide?+

We count 47 public holidays in May 2026, spread across 21 of the 23 countries and regions we track, in date order in the table above. Breaks that spill over a month boundary are shown in full on both months.

Which countries have public holidays in May 2026?+

Brazil, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia and 15 more — 21 countries and regions in all. The table above gives the exact date for every holiday.

What are the first and last public holidays of May 2026?+

The month opens with Labour Day in Brazil on May 1, and closes with Visakha Bucha Day in Thailand, ending May 31.

Does any country work make-up days in May 2026?+

Yes — 1 make-up workday falls this month, including China (May 9). Those weekends are worked, so they are listed separately from the holidays.

Can I download the May 2026 holidays as a calendar file?+

Yes. Every country's year page offers free ICS, CSV and PDF files that import straight into Google, Apple or Outlook Calendar, and subscribing to the ICS URL keeps the dates updated if a government revises them. Month pages have no file of their own — download per country instead.

Are these days off for everyone in those countries?+

Not necessarily. The table aggregates nationwide statutory holidays. Australia, Malaysia, India and Canada add state- or province-level days on top, so the real count there is higher; annual leave and employer shutdowns are not counted either. Observances that are not days off are excluded.

Is today a public holiday?All countries & regions