Public holidays for 2026

Public holidays can have a significant impact on employers when business operations must continue uninterrupted. Public holidays are regulated by the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 (PHA), while remuneration for work performed on a public holiday is regulated by labour legislation, namely the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (BCEA), a Sectoral Determination or Bargaining Council’s collective agreement where applicable to the employer’s specific industry.

Can employees be required to work on a public holiday

An employer may not require an employee to work on a public holiday, unless there is an agreement to this effect, preferably in writing – provided for in the employee’s contract of employment or agreed in advance. The BCEA does not automatically oblige an employee to work on a public holiday, and therefore without such an agreement, an employee may lawfully refuse to do so.

2026 public holidays in South Africa

South Africa has 12 official public holidays. In terms of the PHA, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the public holiday will be observed the following Monday, which will also be regarded as a public holiday.

The official public holidays for 2026 include (at the time when this article was written):

• 1 January (Thursday) — New Year’s Day

• 21 March (Saturday) — Human Rights Day

• 3 April (Friday) — Good Friday

• 6 April (Monday) — Family Day (Easter Monday)

• 27 April (Monday) — Freedom Day

• 1 May (Friday) — Workers’ Day

• 16 June (Tuesday) — Youth Day

• 9 August (Sunday) — National Women’s Day

• 10 August (Monday) — National Women’s Day (observed)

• 24 September (Thursday) — Heritage Day

• 16 December (Wednesday) — Day of Reconciliation

• 25 December (Friday) — Christmas Day

• 26 December (Saturday) — Day of Goodwill

Note that government is yet to announce the date for the 2026 Local Government Elections. We might therefore see an additional public holiday being declared by the President in terms of the PHA later in the year.