Here are all 12 nationwide public holidays in South Africa for 2026, with dates, local names and the next one coming up. Use them to plan around bank closures, transport changes and long weekends.
All 2026 holidays
2026 calendar & bridge days
Every public holiday is marked below. If you work in this country, turn on bridge days: a single workday booked off next to a holiday turns it and the weekend into a long break.
Best bridge days
- 4days off1 Thu – Sun, Jan 4Take Fri, Jan 2 offfor 1 day of leave
- 4days off13 Sat – Tue, Jun 16Take Mon, Jun 15 offfor 1 day of leave
- 4days off24 Thu – Sun, Sep 27Take Fri, Sep 25 offfor 1 day of leave
- 5days off12 Sat – Wed, Dec 16Take 14 Mon – Tue, Dec 15 offfor 2 days of leave
- 5days off16 Wed – Sun, Dec 20Take 17 Thu – Fri, Dec 18 offfor 2 days of leave
When a public holiday lands midweek, many people “bridge” the gap to the weekend — expect quieter cities and busier roads around the long weekend.
Public holiday FAQ
South Africa has 12 nationwide public holidays in 2026. Some regions add their own local holidays on top, so the total where you're travelling can be higher.
On nationwide public holidays most banks, post offices, government offices and many shops in South Africa are closed. Supermarkets and attractions in tourist areas often keep limited hours — check ahead for the specific date.
National holidays are observed across all of South Africa, while regional holidays apply only in certain states, provinces or cities. This page marks which holidays are regional and where they apply.
Fixed-date holidays fall on the same day each year, but moveable ones tied to Easter or the lunar calendar shift annually. Switch the year above to see the exact South Africa dates for 2026 and nearby years.
We'll flag closures and long weekends that overlap your trip dates.