Public Holidays in South Africa 2026 🇿🇦
South Africa has 4 public holidays in 2026. The next public holiday is Heritage Day on 24. Sep. The table below lists every national public holiday with its date and weekday, so you can plan travel, business days and time off in South Africa.
This year, South Africa observes 13 public holidays , with 14 scheduled for 2027. The next holiday is Heritage Day on 24. Sep. The most recently passed holiday was National Women's Day (observed).
| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Bridge day | Heritage Day | Public holiday | |
| Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | Public holiday | |
| Friday Long weekend | Christmas Day | Public holiday | |
| Saturday | Day of Goodwill | Public holiday |
Long weekends in South Africa 2026
These public holidays fall next to the weekend or just one bridge day away, making it easy to plan an extended break.
- Heritage Day — (Thursday) — take Friday off to bridge into the weekend
- Christmas Day — (Friday) — long weekend
Holidays that change date in South Africa
Some holidays are movable and land on a different date each year. Here is how these dates shift from 2026 to 2027.
- Good Friday: →
- Family Day: →
