South Africa Public Holidays 2027

View the complete list of public holidays and bank holidays in South Africa for 2027. Plan your year ahead with official dates, weekdays, and observances.

Turn a holiday into a long break

Choose how many days of leave you are willing to book. We work out which holiday gives you the longest run of days off for that spend, and mark the days to book in the calendar below. How this works →

How many days of leave will you book?

Showing the best break you can get with 2 leave days of leave.

Longest breakMonday, June 14, 2027

Youth Day

Sat, Jun 12 → Wed, Jun 16

5
days off in a row
2
leave days booked
Fr11
Sa12
Su13
Mo14
Tu15
We16
Th17

Book the dashed days below. Combined with the holiday and the weekend around it, your 2 leave days turn into 5 days off in a row.

Other dates worth booking

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                          About Public Holidays in South Africa

                          South Africa's Human Rights Day (March 21) marks the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, while Freedom Day (April 27) marks the country's first democratic, all-race elections in 1994 - two holidays bookending the anti-apartheid struggle's most defining moments, two decades apart. Heritage Day (September 24) celebrates the country's cultural diversity broadly rather than any single event.

                          All Public Holidays in South Africa 2027

                          DateDayHolidayType
                          January 1, 2027FridayNew Year's DayPublic Holiday
                          March 21, 2027SundayHuman Rights DayPublic Holiday
                          March 22, 2027MondayPublic HolidayPublic Holiday
                          March 26, 2027FridayGood FridayPublic Holiday
                          March 29, 2027MondayFamily DayPublic Holiday
                          April 27, 2027TuesdayFreedom DayPublic Holiday
                          May 1, 2027SaturdayWorkers' DayPublic Holiday
                          June 16, 2027WednesdayYouth DayPublic Holiday
                          August 9, 2027MondayNational Women's DayPublic Holiday
                          September 24, 2027FridayHeritage DayPublic Holiday
                          December 16, 2027ThursdayDay of ReconciliationPublic Holiday
                          December 25, 2027SaturdayChristmas DayPublic Holiday
                          December 26, 2027SundayDay of GoodwillPublic Holiday
                          December 27, 2027MondayPublic HolidayPublic Holiday

                          All Public Holidays in South Africa 2026

                          DateDayHolidayType
                          January 1, 2026ThursdayNew Year's DayPublic Holiday
                          March 21, 2026SaturdayHuman Rights DayPublic Holiday
                          April 3, 2026FridayGood FridayPublic Holiday
                          April 6, 2026MondayFamily DayPublic Holiday
                          April 27, 2026MondayFreedom DayPublic Holiday
                          May 1, 2026FridayWorkers' DayPublic Holiday
                          June 16, 2026TuesdayYouth DayPublic Holiday
                          August 9, 2026SundayNational Women's DayPublic Holiday
                          August 10, 2026MondayPublic HolidayPublic Holiday
                          September 24, 2026ThursdayHeritage DayPublic Holiday
                          December 16, 2026WednesdayDay of ReconciliationPublic Holiday
                          December 25, 2026FridayChristmas DayPublic Holiday
                          December 26, 2026SaturdayDay of GoodwillPublic Holiday

                          Frequently Asked Questions

                          How many public holidays are there in South Africa?

                          South Africa has 14 public holidays in 2027, 1 more than the global average of 13.

                          Which South Africa public holidays fall on a weekend in 2027?

                          7 public holidays fall on a weekend in South Africa in 2027: Human Rights Day (Sunday, March 21), Public Holiday (Sunday, March 21), Workers' Day (Saturday, May 1), Public Holiday (Saturday, May 1), Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25), Day of Goodwill (Sunday, December 26), Public Holiday (Sunday, December 26). South Africa substitutes some of these with a working day but not others.

                          Does South Africa give a day off when a holiday falls on a weekend?

                          No — South Africa does not grant a substitute working day when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

                          What is the longest break possible in South Africa in 2027?

                          5 consecutive days off in South Africa in 2027, June 12–June 16, by booking 2 days of leave.

                          When is the next public holiday in South Africa?

                          The next public holiday in South Africa is Heritage Day on September 24, 2026.

                          Which holidays in South Africa change date each year?

                          Good Friday, Family Day, Rugby World Cup Win Public Holiday, Voting Day do not fall on the same date every year in South Africa, since they are set by a lunar or other variable calendar rather than a fixed date.

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