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1JanThu
New Year's Day
Start of the civil year; most offices, construction sites and many factories are still in the December–January shutdown.
“Happy New Year”
Holidays & cultural calendar · 2026–2027
South Africa: public holidays, festivals and cultural events
The construction industry and many factories shut down from about 16 December to the second week of January (summer holidays), and April's Easter/Freedom Day cluster creates several short weeks; public holidays on a Sunday move to Monday.
- Public holidays 2026
- 14
- Public holidays 2027
- 14
- Weekend
- Sat–Sun
- Calendars
- Gregorian · Islamic (Hijri) · Hindu lunisolar · Hebrew
From today to 31 December 2026
Greetings and notices for South Africa
A banner for every holiday and cultural event until the end of the year – share it with partners or download it for e-mail and social media.
202623 dates202723 dates Public holiday Regional holiday Festivals & observances 12small number = Hebrew day Full moon
South Africa calendar 2026
January 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu112213314415516617718819920102111221223132414251526162717281829191 Shev2022132242352462572682792810291130123113
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu116217318419520621722823924102511261227132814291530161 Tamu172183194205216227238249251026112712281329143015
July 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11621731841952062172282392410251126122713281429151 Av16217318419520621722823924102511261227132814291530163117
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12022132242352462572682792810291130121 Hesh13214315416517618719820921102211231224132514261527162817291830193120
November 2026
January 2026
February 2026
- 18FebWed
Start of Ramadan
1 Ramadan 1447 AH · estimated
Month of daytime fasting for Muslims (Cape Malay and Indian communities); start set by local moon sighting.
“Ramadan Kareem” · رمضان كريم
March 2026
- 20MarFri
Eid al-Fitr عيد الفطر
1 Shawwal 1447 AH · estimated
Festival ending Ramadan; not a public holiday but Muslim-owned businesses may close.
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد مبارك
- 21MarSat
Human Rights Day
Commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre; falls on a Saturday in 2026 (only Sunday holidays move to Monday).
April 2026
- 2AprThu
Passover (first day) פסח
15 Nisan 5786
Start of the eight-day Passover festival (begins at sunset 1 April); not a public holiday.
“Chag Pesach Sameach” · חג פסח שמח
- 3AprFri
Good Friday
Good Friday – 2 days before Easter Sunday (5 Apr 2026)
Commemoration of the crucifixion; national holiday.
- 6AprMon
Family Day
Monday after Easter Sunday (5 Apr 2026)
Easter Monday, a statutory holiday; Easter weekend is a peak travel period.
- 27AprMon
Freedom Day
Marks the first democratic elections of 27 April 1994; government offices, banks and most businesses closed.
“Happy Freedom Day”
May 2026
- 1MayFri
Workers' Day
International Workers' Day; offices and banks closed.
“Happy Workers' Day”
- 27MayWed
Eid al-Adha عيد الأضحى
10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH · estimated
Feast of the Sacrifice; not a public holiday.
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد مبارك
June 2026
- 16JunTue
Youth Day
Commemorates the 1976 Soweto student uprising; offices and banks closed.
“Happy Youth Day”
July 2026
- 18JulSat
Nelson Mandela International Day Mandela Day
Mandela's birthday, marked by 67 minutes of community service; not a public holiday.
August 2026
- 9AugSun
National Women's Day
Commemorates the 1956 women's march on the Union Buildings; falls on a Sunday in 2026, holiday observed Monday 10 August.
“Happy Women's Day”
- 10AugMon
National Women's Day – observed
Monday holiday in lieu of National Women's Day (Sunday 9 Aug 2026); offices and banks closed.
September 2026
- 12SeptSat
Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה
1–2 Tishrei 5787
Jewish New Year (begins at sunset 11 Sept); not a public holiday.
“Shana Tova” · שנה טובה
- 21SeptMon
Yom Kippur יום כיפור
10 Tishrei 5787
Day of Atonement and fasting (begins at sunset 20 Sept); not a public holiday.
- 24SeptThu
Heritage Day
Celebrates South Africa's diverse cultures (popularly 'National Braai Day'); offices and banks closed.
“Happy Heritage Day”
November 2026
- 4NovWed
Local Government Elections
Proclaimed a public holiday by President Ramaphosa for the 2026 municipal elections; offices and most businesses closed.
- 8NovSun
Diwali दीपावली
Kartika Amavasya (new moon of Kartika) · estimated
Hindu festival of lights, widely celebrated in Durban; not a public holiday.
“Happy Diwali” · शुभ दीपावली
December 2026
- 5DecSat
Hanukkah חנוכה
25 Kislev – 2 Tevet 5787
Eight-day festival of lights (first candle at sunset 4 Dec); not a public holiday.
“Happy Hanukkah” · חג חנוכה שמח
- 16DecWed
Day of Reconciliation
Promotes national unity; also marks the start of the long December holiday when the construction industry and many factories shut down until early-to-mid January.
“Happy Day of Reconciliation”
- 25DecFri
Christmas Day
Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus; national holiday in the middle of the summer shutdown.
“Merry Christmas”
- 26DecSat
Day of Goodwill
Day after Christmas; falls on a Saturday in 2026 (not moved).
South Africa calendar 2027
January 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12222332442552662772882991 Shev10211312413514615716817918101911201221132214231524162517261827192820292130223123
February 2027
March 2027
April 2027
May 2027
June 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12522632742852961 Siva7283941051161271381491510161117121813191420152116221723182419252026212722282329243025
July 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12622732842953061 Tamu72839410511612713814915101611171218131914201521162217231824192520262127222823292430253126
August 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12722832941 Av52637485961071181291310141115121613171418151916201721182219232024212522262327242825292630273128
September 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12923031 Elul4253647586971081191210131114121513161417151816191720182119222023212422252326242725282629273028
October 2027
November 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11 Hesh2233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030
January 2027
- 1JanFri
New Year's Day
Start of the civil year; most offices, construction sites and many factories are still in the December–January shutdown.
“Happy New Year”
February 2027
- 8FebMon
Start of Ramadan
1 Ramadan 1448 AH · estimated
Month of daytime fasting for Muslims; start set by local moon sighting.
“Ramadan Kareem” · رمضان كريم
March 2027
- 9MarTue
Eid al-Fitr عيد الفطر
1 Shawwal 1448 AH · estimated
Festival ending Ramadan; not a public holiday (could fall on 10 Mar depending on moon sighting).
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد مبارك
- 21MarSun
Human Rights Day
Commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville massacre; falls on a Sunday in 2027, holiday observed Monday 22 March.
- 22MarMon
Human Rights Day – observed
Monday holiday in lieu of Human Rights Day (Sunday 21 Mar 2027).
- 26MarFri
Good Friday
Good Friday – 2 days before Easter Sunday (28 Mar 2027)
Commemoration of the crucifixion; national holiday.
- 29MarMon
Family Day
Monday after Easter Sunday (28 Mar 2027)
Easter Monday, a statutory holiday.
April 2027
- 22AprThu
Passover (first day) פסח
15 Nisan 5787
Start of the eight-day Passover festival (begins at sunset 21 April); not a public holiday.
“Chag Pesach Sameach” · חג פסח שמח
- 27AprTue
Freedom Day
Marks the first democratic elections of 27 April 1994; government offices, banks and most businesses closed.
“Happy Freedom Day”
May 2027
- 1MaySat
Workers' Day
International Workers' Day; falls on a Saturday in 2027 (not moved).
“Happy Workers' Day”
- 16MaySun
Eid al-Adha عيد الأضحى
10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH · estimated
Feast of the Sacrifice; not a public holiday.
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد مبارك
June 2027
- 16JunWed
Youth Day
Commemorates the 1976 Soweto student uprising; offices and banks closed.
“Happy Youth Day”
July 2027
- 18JulSun
Nelson Mandela International Day Mandela Day
Mandela's birthday, marked by 67 minutes of community service; not a public holiday.
August 2027
- 9AugMon
National Women's Day
Commemorates the 1956 women's march; falls on a Monday in 2027.
“Happy Women's Day”
September 2027
- 24SeptFri
Heritage Day
Celebrates South Africa's diverse cultures (popularly 'National Braai Day'); offices and banks closed.
“Happy Heritage Day”
October 2027
- 2OctSat
Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה
1–2 Tishrei 5788
Jewish New Year (begins at sunset 1 Oct); not a public holiday.
“Shana Tova” · שנה טובה
- 11OctMon
Yom Kippur יום כיפור
10 Tishrei 5788
Day of Atonement (begins at sunset 10 Oct); not a public holiday.
- 29OctFri
Diwali दीपावली
Kartika Amavasya (new moon of Kartika) · estimated
Hindu festival of lights; not a public holiday. Local Hindu bodies confirm the date (may be 28 Oct).
“Happy Diwali” · शुभ दीपावली
December 2027
- 16DecThu
Day of Reconciliation
Promotes national unity; also marks the start of the long December holiday when the construction industry and many factories shut down until early-to-mid January.
“Happy Day of Reconciliation”
- 25DecSat
Christmas Day
Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus; national holiday in the middle of the summer shutdown.
“Merry Christmas”
- 25DecSat
Hanukkah חנוכה
25 Kislev 5788 (start)
Eight-day festival of lights (first candle at sunset 24 Dec), running to 1 Jan 2028; not a public holiday.
“Happy Hanukkah” · חג חנוכה שמח
- 26DecSun
Day of Goodwill
Falls on a Sunday in 2027; holiday observed Monday 27 December.
- 27DecMon
Day of Goodwill – observed
Monday holiday in lieu of the Day of Goodwill (Sunday 26 Dec 2027).
Business closures ahead in South Africa
Days when government offices, customs, banks and most companies close. Allow for them in approval cycles, payment dates, vessel arrivals and site deliveries.
| Date | Occasion | When | Calendar | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2026Wednesday | Local Government Elections | In 7 days | Gregorian | National |
| 16 Dec 2026Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation | In 49 days | Gregorian | National |
| 25 Dec 2026Friday | Christmas Day | In 58 days | Gregorian | National |
| 1 Jan 2027Friday | New Year's Day | In 65 days | Gregorian | National |
| 22 Mar 2027Monday | Human Rights Day – observed | In 145 days | Gregorian | National |
| 26 Mar 2027Friday | Good Friday | In 149 days | OtherGood Friday – 2 days before Easter Sunday (28 Mar 2027) | National |
| 29 Mar 2027Monday | Family Day | In 152 days | OtherMonday after Easter Sunday (28 Mar 2027) | National |
| 27 Apr 2027Tuesday | Freedom Day | In 181 days | Gregorian | National |
| 16 Jun 2027Wednesday | Youth Day | In 231 days | Gregorian | National |
| 9 Aug 2027Monday | National Women's Day | In 285 days | Gregorian | National |
| 24 Sept 2027Friday | Heritage Day | In 331 days | Gregorian | National |
| 16 Dec 2027Thursday | Day of Reconciliation | In 414 days | Gregorian | National |
| 25 Dec 2027Saturday | Christmas Day | In 423 days | Gregorian | National |
| 27 Dec 2027Monday | Day of Goodwill – observed | In 425 days | Gregorian | National |
Approvals & RFQs
Send shop drawings for approval at least two weeks before a long holiday – reviews stop while engineers and authorities are away.
Vessel arrival
Customs clearance and container release pause on public holidays; storage and demurrage keep running. Time the ETA after the break.
Landed cost to South Africa →Site deliveries
Crane hire, trucking permits and site access are limited around holidays. Agree the erection sequence and delivery windows in advance.
Vietnam holidays too
Our factory plans production around Tết (Lunar New Year) and National Day – we lock delivery dates for your project well ahead of both.
Request a quotation →Sources & notes
Dates follow official government lists where published. Islamic and other moon-sighting dates, and holidays not yet gazetted for next year, are marked "estimated" and may move by a day. Always confirm with your local partner before fixing a deadline.
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