South Africa Public Holidays List 2026
Following are the list of Public, Office, School, Bank Holidays in South Africa year 2026
New Year's Day (01 Jan) : New Year’s Day is celebrated with a blend of both diversity and tradition in countries such as South Africa on January 1 each year.
Tweede Nuwe Jaar (02 Jan) : Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Isra and Mi'raj (16 Jan) : Isra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned.
Maha Shivaratri (15 Feb) : Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
Ramadan Start (18 Feb) : Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Armed Forces Day (21 Feb) : Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Holi (03 Mar) : Holi is a spring festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the upcoming season of spring. The festival can last up to sixteen days.
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) (15 Mar) : Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Eid ul Fitr (20 Mar) : Eid al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.
March Equinox (20 Mar) : March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day (21 Mar) : Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Good Friday (03 Apr) : Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday (04 Apr) : Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday (05 Apr) : Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day (06 Apr) : Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Freedom Day (27 Apr) : Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day (01 May) : Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Mother's Day (10 May) : Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Eid al-Adha (27 May) : Eid al-Adha (Id ul-Adha) is an Islamic festival falling on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (Thou al-Hijja) to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.
Youth Day (16 Jun) : Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Muharram/Islamic New Year (17 Jun) : Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
Father's Day (21 Jun) : Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
June Solstice (21 Jun) : June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Nelson Mandela Day (18 Jul) : Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
National Women's Day (09 Aug) : National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Day off for National Women's Day (10 Aug) : National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) (26 Aug) : Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Raksha Bandhan (27 Aug) : Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima). The day is also sometimes referred to as Brother and Sister Day because it honors the relationship between brother and sister.
Janmashtami (04 Sep) : Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (Bhadrapada), which is usually in August or September.
Ganesh Chaturthi (14 Sep) : Ganesh Chaturthi is the great Ganesha festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days.
September Equinox (23 Sep) : September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day (24 Sep) : Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Navaratri (11 Oct) : Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra (20 Oct) : Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali (08 Nov) : Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Day of Reconciliation (16 Dec) : Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice (21 Dec) : December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve (24 Dec) : Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day (25 Dec) : Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill (26 Dec) : Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve (31 Dec) : New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.