December 2026 Holidays in South Africa: Public Holidays, School Closing and Festive Dates
December 2026 Public Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Day of Reconciliation | 16 December 2026 | Wednesday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday |
| Day of Goodwill | 26 December 2026 | Saturday |
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday |
Under the Public Holidays Act, only a public holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the Monday. A holiday on a Saturday does not move, so Monday 28 December 2026 is a normal working day.
School Holidays December 2026 to January 2027
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Last school day for learners | Wednesday, 9 December 2026 |
| Teacher admin days | 10 and 11 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays for learners | 10 December 2026 to 12 January 2027 |
| Schools reopen for learners | Wednesday, 13 January 2027 |
These dates are for public schools. Private schools set their own calendars. See the full 2027 school calendar.
Long Weekends Over the Festive Season
| Dates | Why |
|---|---|
| Friday 25 to Sunday 27 December 2026 | Christmas Day on Friday, Day of Goodwill on Saturday |
| Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January 2027 | New Year’s Day on Friday |
Taking leave on 17 and 18 December, and on 28 to 31 December, gives you a long break with only a few leave days. For next year’s breaks, see our 2027 long weekend planner.
SASSA Payments in December and January
| Grant | December 2026 | January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant | 2 December | 5 January |
| Disability Grant | 3 December | 6 January |
| Children’s Grants | 4 December | 7 January |
The gap between the December and January payments is the longest of the year, so plan carefully. See the full SASSA payment calendar.
Other Festive Dates to Know
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 27 November 2026 | Black Friday |
| 2 December 2026 | Next monthly fuel price change (see the petrol price page) |
| 26 to 30 December 2026 | Proteas v England Boxing Day Test at Centurion |
| 3 to 7 January 2027 | Proteas v England New Year’s Test at Newlands |
Working on a Public Holiday
If you work on a public holiday that is a normal working day for you, you must be paid at least double your normal daily wage, or your normal wage plus what you earn for the time worked, whichever is more. This is set out in section 18 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
December Holiday Questions
When do schools close in December 2026?
Public schools close for learners on Wednesday, 9 December 2026.
Is 28 December 2026 a public holiday?
No. The Day of Goodwill falls on Saturday, 26 December, and Saturday holidays do not move to Monday.
When do schools reopen in 2027?
Learners go back on Wednesday, 13 January 2027.
What public holidays are in December 2026?
Day of Reconciliation (16 December), Christmas Day (25 December) and Day of Goodwill (26 December).