Dates & holidays
Leave planner
See which breaks give you the most time off for the leave days you use around South Africa's public holidays.
Your entries stay only in this tab.
Longest upcoming breaks within your budget
Compare the most days off, then fewer leave days and earlier starts. Each is a separate option.
- 10 days off · 4 leave days25 Dec 2026 to 03 Jan 2027
Take leave on: 28 Dec 2026, 29 Dec 2026, 30 Dec 2026, 31 Dec 2026.
- 9 days off · 4 leave days19 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026
Take leave on: 21 Dec 2026, 22 Dec 2026, 23 Dec 2026, 24 Dec 2026.
- 5 days off · 2 leave days31 Oct 2026 to 04 Nov 2026
Take leave on: 02 Nov 2026, 03 Nov 2026.
Compare all 25 breaks for 2026
All breaks for 2026
Ranked by days off per leave day, then longer breaks, fewer leave days and earlier dates. A break needing no leave counts as one day for ranking.
Earlier this year labels mark breaks that have already started. They remain here for reference.
- 1. 03 Apr 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started4 days off · 0 leave days
Take leave on: No leave needed.
Public holidays: Good Friday, Family Day. - 2. 01 Jan 2026 to 04 Jan 2026Earlier this year · already started4 days off · 1 leave day
Take leave on: 02 Jan 2026.
Public holidays: New Year's Day. - 3. 13 Jun 2026 to 16 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started4 days off · 1 leave day
Take leave on: 15 Jun 2026.
Public holidays: Youth Day. - 4. 24 Sept 2026 to 27 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started4 days off · 1 leave day
Take leave on: 25 Sept 2026.
Public holidays: Heritage Day. - 5. 25 Apr 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started9 days off · 3 leave days
Take leave on: 28 Apr 2026, 29 Apr 2026, 30 Apr 2026.
Public holidays: Freedom Day, Workers' Day. - 6. 25 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started3 days off · 0 leave days
Take leave on: No leave needed.
Public holidays: Freedom Day. - 7. 01 May 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started3 days off · 0 leave days
Take leave on: No leave needed.
Public holidays: Workers' Day. - 8. 08 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started3 days off · 0 leave days
Take leave on: No leave needed.
Public holidays: National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed). - 9. 25 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 20263 days off · 0 leave days
Take leave on: No leave needed.
Public holidays: Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill. - 10. 28 Mar 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started10 days off · 4 leave days
Take leave on: 30 Mar 2026, 31 Mar 2026, 01 Apr 2026, 02 Apr 2026.
Public holidays: Good Friday, Family Day. - 11. 03 Apr 2026 to 12 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started10 days off · 4 leave days
Take leave on: 07 Apr 2026, 08 Apr 2026, 09 Apr 2026, 10 Apr 2026.
Public holidays: Good Friday, Family Day. - 12. 25 Dec 2026 to 03 Jan 202710 days off · 4 leave days
Take leave on: 28 Dec 2026, 29 Dec 2026, 30 Dec 2026, 31 Dec 2026.
Public holidays: Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill, New Year's Day. - 13. 31 Oct 2026 to 04 Nov 20265 days off · 2 leave days
Take leave on: 02 Nov 2026, 03 Nov 2026.
Public holidays: Local Government Elections. - 14. 04 Nov 2026 to 08 Nov 20265 days off · 2 leave days
Take leave on: 05 Nov 2026, 06 Nov 2026.
Public holidays: Local Government Elections. - 15. 12 Dec 2026 to 16 Dec 20265 days off · 2 leave days
Take leave on: 14 Dec 2026, 15 Dec 2026.
Public holidays: Day of Reconciliation. - 16. 16 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 20265 days off · 2 leave days
Take leave on: 17 Dec 2026, 18 Dec 2026.
Public holidays: Day of Reconciliation. - 17. 08 Aug 2026 to 16 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started9 days off · 4 leave days
Take leave on: 11 Aug 2026, 12 Aug 2026, 13 Aug 2026, 14 Aug 2026.
Public holidays: National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed). - 18. 19 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 20269 days off · 4 leave days
Take leave on: 21 Dec 2026, 22 Dec 2026, 23 Dec 2026, 24 Dec 2026.
Public holidays: Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill. - 19. 18 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started10 days off · 5 leave days
Take leave on: 20 Apr 2026, 21 Apr 2026, 22 Apr 2026, 23 Apr 2026, 24 Apr 2026.
Public holidays: Freedom Day. - 20. 01 May 2026 to 10 May 2026Earlier this year · already started10 days off · 5 leave days
Take leave on: 04 May 2026, 05 May 2026, 06 May 2026, 07 May 2026, 08 May 2026.
Public holidays: Workers' Day. - 21. 01 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started10 days off · 5 leave days
Take leave on: 03 Aug 2026, 04 Aug 2026, 05 Aug 2026, 06 Aug 2026, 07 Aug 2026.
Public holidays: National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed). - 22. 16 Jun 2026 to 21 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started6 days off · 3 leave days
Take leave on: 17 Jun 2026, 18 Jun 2026, 19 Jun 2026.
Public holidays: Youth Day. - 23. 19 Sept 2026 to 24 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started6 days off · 3 leave days
Take leave on: 21 Sept 2026, 22 Sept 2026, 23 Sept 2026.
Public holidays: Heritage Day. - 24. 14 Mar 2026 to 22 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started9 days off · 5 leave days
Take leave on: 16 Mar 2026, 17 Mar 2026, 18 Mar 2026, 19 Mar 2026, 20 Mar 2026.
Public holidays: Human Rights Day. - 25. 21 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started9 days off · 5 leave days
Take leave on: 23 Mar 2026, 24 Mar 2026, 25 Mar 2026, 26 Mar 2026, 27 Mar 2026.
Public holidays: Human Rights Day.
| Break | Days off | Leave days to book | Public holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Apr 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | None | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 01 Jan 2026 to 04 Jan 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 02 Jan 2026 | New Year's Day |
| 13 Jun 2026 to 16 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 15 Jun 2026 | Youth Day |
| 24 Sept 2026 to 27 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 25 Sept 2026 | Heritage Day |
| 25 Apr 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 28 Apr 2026, 29 Apr 2026, 30 Apr 2026 | Freedom Day, Workers' Day |
| 25 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | Freedom Day |
| 01 May 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | Workers' Day |
| 08 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 25 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026 | 3 | None | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 28 Mar 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 30 Mar 2026, 31 Mar 2026, 01 Apr 2026, 02 Apr 2026 | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 03 Apr 2026 to 12 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 07 Apr 2026, 08 Apr 2026, 09 Apr 2026, 10 Apr 2026 | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 25 Dec 2026 to 03 Jan 2027 | 10 | 28 Dec 2026, 29 Dec 2026, 30 Dec 2026, 31 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill, New Year's Day |
| 31 Oct 2026 to 04 Nov 2026 | 5 | 02 Nov 2026, 03 Nov 2026 | Local Government Elections |
| 04 Nov 2026 to 08 Nov 2026 | 5 | 05 Nov 2026, 06 Nov 2026 | Local Government Elections |
| 12 Dec 2026 to 16 Dec 2026 | 5 | 14 Dec 2026, 15 Dec 2026 | Day of Reconciliation |
| 16 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026 | 5 | 17 Dec 2026, 18 Dec 2026 | Day of Reconciliation |
| 08 Aug 2026 to 16 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 11 Aug 2026, 12 Aug 2026, 13 Aug 2026, 14 Aug 2026 | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 19 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026 | 9 | 21 Dec 2026, 22 Dec 2026, 23 Dec 2026, 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 18 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 20 Apr 2026, 21 Apr 2026, 22 Apr 2026, 23 Apr 2026, 24 Apr 2026 | Freedom Day |
| 01 May 2026 to 10 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 04 May 2026, 05 May 2026, 06 May 2026, 07 May 2026, 08 May 2026 | Workers' Day |
| 01 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 03 Aug 2026, 04 Aug 2026, 05 Aug 2026, 06 Aug 2026, 07 Aug 2026 | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 16 Jun 2026 to 21 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started | 6 | 17 Jun 2026, 18 Jun 2026, 19 Jun 2026 | Youth Day |
| 19 Sept 2026 to 24 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started | 6 | 21 Sept 2026, 22 Sept 2026, 23 Sept 2026 | Heritage Day |
| 14 Mar 2026 to 22 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 16 Mar 2026, 17 Mar 2026, 18 Mar 2026, 19 Mar 2026, 20 Mar 2026 | Human Rights Day |
| 21 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 23 Mar 2026, 24 Mar 2026, 25 Mar 2026, 26 Mar 2026, 27 Mar 2026 | Human Rights Day |
See all breaks in a table
| Break | Days off | Leave days to book | Public holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Apr 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | None | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 01 Jan 2026 to 04 Jan 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 02 Jan 2026 | New Year's Day |
| 13 Jun 2026 to 16 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 15 Jun 2026 | Youth Day |
| 24 Sept 2026 to 27 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started | 4 | 25 Sept 2026 | Heritage Day |
| 25 Apr 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 28 Apr 2026, 29 Apr 2026, 30 Apr 2026 | Freedom Day, Workers' Day |
| 25 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | Freedom Day |
| 01 May 2026 to 03 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | Workers' Day |
| 08 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 3 | None | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 25 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026 | 3 | None | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 28 Mar 2026 to 06 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 30 Mar 2026, 31 Mar 2026, 01 Apr 2026, 02 Apr 2026 | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 03 Apr 2026 to 12 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 07 Apr 2026, 08 Apr 2026, 09 Apr 2026, 10 Apr 2026 | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 25 Dec 2026 to 03 Jan 2027 | 10 | 28 Dec 2026, 29 Dec 2026, 30 Dec 2026, 31 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill, New Year's Day |
| 31 Oct 2026 to 04 Nov 2026 | 5 | 02 Nov 2026, 03 Nov 2026 | Local Government Elections |
| 04 Nov 2026 to 08 Nov 2026 | 5 | 05 Nov 2026, 06 Nov 2026 | Local Government Elections |
| 12 Dec 2026 to 16 Dec 2026 | 5 | 14 Dec 2026, 15 Dec 2026 | Day of Reconciliation |
| 16 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026 | 5 | 17 Dec 2026, 18 Dec 2026 | Day of Reconciliation |
| 08 Aug 2026 to 16 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 11 Aug 2026, 12 Aug 2026, 13 Aug 2026, 14 Aug 2026 | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 19 Dec 2026 to 27 Dec 2026 | 9 | 21 Dec 2026, 22 Dec 2026, 23 Dec 2026, 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 18 Apr 2026 to 27 Apr 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 20 Apr 2026, 21 Apr 2026, 22 Apr 2026, 23 Apr 2026, 24 Apr 2026 | Freedom Day |
| 01 May 2026 to 10 May 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 04 May 2026, 05 May 2026, 06 May 2026, 07 May 2026, 08 May 2026 | Workers' Day |
| 01 Aug 2026 to 10 Aug 2026Earlier this year · already started | 10 | 03 Aug 2026, 04 Aug 2026, 05 Aug 2026, 06 Aug 2026, 07 Aug 2026 | National Women's Day, National Women's Day (observed) |
| 16 Jun 2026 to 21 Jun 2026Earlier this year · already started | 6 | 17 Jun 2026, 18 Jun 2026, 19 Jun 2026 | Youth Day |
| 19 Sept 2026 to 24 Sept 2026Earlier this year · already started | 6 | 21 Sept 2026, 22 Sept 2026, 23 Sept 2026 | Heritage Day |
| 14 Mar 2026 to 22 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 16 Mar 2026, 17 Mar 2026, 18 Mar 2026, 19 Mar 2026, 20 Mar 2026 | Human Rights Day |
| 21 Mar 2026 to 29 Mar 2026Earlier this year · already started | 9 | 23 Mar 2026, 24 Mar 2026, 25 Mar 2026, 26 Mar 2026, 27 Mar 2026 | Human Rights Day |