South Africa Public Holidays in 2026
South Africa has a total of 41 holidays in 2026. In the table below, you will find the details of the holidays and when they are observed. All the information display below is also available via our API as well as downloadable as a csv. Signup here to get started.
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| Holiday | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day |
Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 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 |
Friday, January 2, 2026 | Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa |
| Isra and Mi'raj |
Friday, January 16, 2026 | 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 |
Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 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 |
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 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 |
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa |
| Holi |
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 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. |
| Lailat al-Qadr |
Sunday, March 15, 2026 | Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran). |
| Eid ul Fitr |
Friday, March 20, 2026 | 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 |
Friday, March 20, 2026 | March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Human Rights Day |
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Good Friday |
Friday, April 3, 2026 | Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday. |
| Holy Saturday |
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday. |
| Easter Sunday |
Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief. |
| Family Day |
Monday, April 6, 2026 | Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Freedom Day |
Monday, April 27, 2026 | Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Workers' Day |
Friday, May 1, 2026 | Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world. |
| Mother's Day |
Sunday, May 10, 2026 | Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures. |
| Eid al-Adha |
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | 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 |
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Muharram/Islamic New Year |
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning. |
| Father's Day |
Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide. |
| June Solstice |
Sunday, June 21, 2026 | June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Nelson Mandela Day |
Saturday, July 18, 2026 | Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa |
| National Women's Day |
Sunday, August 9, 2026 | National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Day off for National Women's Day |
Monday, August 10, 2026 | National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) |
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar. |
| Raksha Bandhan |
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 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 |
Friday, September 4, 2026 | 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 |
Monday, September 14, 2026 | 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 |
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Heritage Day |
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Navaratri |
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa |
| Dussehra |
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa |
| Diwali/Deepavali |
Sunday, November 8, 2026 | Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. |
| Day of Reconciliation |
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa |
| December Solstice |
Monday, December 21, 2026 | December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Christmas Eve |
Thursday, December 24, 2026 | Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar. |
| Christmas Day |
Friday, December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar. |
| Day of Goodwill |
Saturday, December 26, 2026 | Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa |
| New Year's Eve |
Thursday, December 31, 2026 | New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar. |
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