South Africa
2027 South African holidays
A list of South Africa holidays for 2027, including observed dates and stock market closures.
| Date | Holiday | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 1, 2027 | New Year's Day | Public holiday | – |
| Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Human Rights Day | Public holiday | – |
| Friday, March 26, 2027 | Good Friday | Public holiday | – |
| Monday, March 29, 2027 | Family Day | Public holiday | – |
| Tuesday, April 27, 2027 | Freedom Day | Public holiday | – |
| Saturday, May 1, 2027 | Workers' Day | Public holiday | – |
| Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | Youth Day | Public holiday | – |
| Monday, August 9, 2027 | National Women's Day | Public holiday | – |
| Friday, September 24, 2027 | Heritage Day | Public holiday | – |
| Thursday, December 16, 2027 | Day of Reconciliation | Public holiday | – |
| Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Christmas Day | Public holiday | – |
| Sunday, December 26, 2027 | Day of Goodwill | Public holiday | – |
Source basis: Government of South Africa — public holidays. Last updated: June 2026.
JSE holidays 2027
Market holiday reference. Verify exact closures and early-close schedules directly with the exchange.
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 1, 2027 | New Year's Day | – |
| Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Human Rights Day | – |
| Friday, March 26, 2027 | Good Friday | – |
| Monday, March 29, 2027 | Family Day | – |
| Tuesday, April 27, 2027 | Freedom Day | – |
| Saturday, May 1, 2027 | Workers' Day | – |
| Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | Youth Day | – |
| Monday, August 9, 2027 | National Women's Day | – |
| Friday, September 24, 2027 | Heritage Day | – |
| Thursday, December 16, 2027 | Day of Reconciliation | – |
| Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Christmas Day | – |
| Sunday, December 26, 2027 | Day of Goodwill | – |
Source reference: JSE trading calendar. Verify directly with the exchange before trading decisions.
Practical uses
PTO and leave planning
Use this list to plan your annual leave around South African public holidays. Combining a holiday with a weekend can create longer breaks — see the south african long weekends in 2027 for pre-built three-day and four-day weekends.
Payroll and deadlines
Public holidays affect payroll processing deadlines and direct deposit schedules. When a holiday falls on a weekday, it reduces the number of business days in that period. See business days in 2027 for net working day counts per month.
School and childcare
Public holidays typically mean school closures, but exact dates vary by state, province or region. Check your local school district or education authority for the full academic calendar.
Travel and events
Book travel early around major holidays like New Year's Day and Day of Reconciliation when demand — and prices — are typically highest.
Frequently asked questions
- Do holidays that fall on a weekend get observed on a different day?
- When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday by South African law.
- Are these national or regional holidays?
- These are national public holidays. No provincial variation exists in South Africa's public holiday schedule.
- Can I download these holidays for my calendar app?
- Yes. Download the ICS file to import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook. Or download the CSV file to open in Excel or Google Sheets.
- How many public holidays fall on weekdays in 2027?
- 8 of the 12 public holidays in 2027 fall on weekdays. 4 fall on a weekend.