South Africans will technically have fewer public holidays in 2026 due to how the calendar aligns with the Public Holidays Act. While the official calendar still lists 12 public holidays, two of them fall on Saturdays, meaning many workers will not receive an extra day off.
In 2026, Human Rights Day (21 March) and the Day of Goodwill (26 December) both fall on a Saturday. In terms of the Public Holidays Act, only holidays that fall on a Sunday are automatically moved to the following Monday. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are not shifted, resulting in fewer actual days off for those who do not work weekends.
As a result, many employees will only experience 10 public holidays in 2026 that fall on normal working days.
However, there is some relief, as several other public holidays in 2026 create long weekends, including Easter and National Women’s Day, which will be observed on Monday, 10 August. South Africans are encouraged to plan their leave carefully to make the most of these extended breaks.
What’s Going On With Public Holidays in 2026?
Written on January 6, 2026
Gideon Muteb