Question 1

When does school start in South Africa 2026?

Accepted Answer

Schools in South Africa open for Term 1 on 14 January 2026. This applies to all public schools in all 9 provinces, including Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, as they all follow the unified national school calendar.

Question 2

Are school term dates the same for all provinces?

Accepted Answer

Yes, since 2024, all nine South African provinces follow a unified national school calendar. This includes Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and Northern Cape. This was implemented by the Department of Basic Education to simplify planning for families and schools across the country.

Question 3

How many school days are there in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The 2026 South African school year has 200 school days, spread across 4 terms: Term 1 (51 days), Term 2 (55 days), Term 3 (46 days), and Term 4 (48 days). The exact number is calculated excluding weekends, public holidays, and school holidays.

Question 4

When is the longest school holiday in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

The December holidays (summer break) is the longest school holiday in South Africa, lasting approximately 6 weeks from early December to mid-January. The second longest is the June/July winter holiday between Term 2 and Term 3.

Question 5

Do independent schools follow the same calendar?

Accepted Answer

Independent (private) schools may have slightly different term dates. While many follow the national calendar, some schools set their own schedules. Always check with your specific school for their calendar.

Question 6

Can I download the school calendar as PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can print the school calendar directly from our School Terms page using the Print button. This creates a printer-friendly version you can save as PDF. You can also export dates to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook.

Question 7

How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2026?

Accepted Answer

South Africa has 12 official public holidays in 2026, as defined by the Public Holidays Act (Act 36 of 1994). These are: New Year's Day, Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day, Freedom Day, Workers' Day, Youth Day, National Women's Day, Heritage Day, Day of Reconciliation, Christmas Day, and Day of Goodwill.

Question 8

When is Good Friday 2026 in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Good Friday 2026 falls on 3 April 2026 in South Africa. It's a moveable holiday that's always the Friday before Easter Sunday. Combined with Family Day (Easter Monday) on 6 April, it creates a 4-day long weekend.

Question 9

Is Youth Day a public holiday in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Youth Day on 16 June is an official public holiday in South Africa. It commemorates the Soweto Uprising of 1976 when students protested against apartheid education policies. All workers are entitled to the day off.

Question 10

What happens when a public holiday falls on a Sunday?

Accepted Answer

When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday. This is specified in the Public Holidays Act to ensure workers still receive their day off. In 2026, no public holidays fall on a Sunday.

Question 11

What is open on public holidays in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

On public holidays, most government offices, banks, and schools are closed. However, many shopping malls, supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, and tourist attractions remain open, often with reduced hours. Hospitals and emergency services operate normally.

Question 12

Are public holidays paid days off?

Accepted Answer

Yes, public holidays are generally paid days off for most employees. If you work on a public holiday, you're typically entitled to double pay or a day off in lieu. Specific terms depend on your employment contract and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

Question 13

Why does Easter change dates every year?

Accepted Answer

Easter (Good Friday and Family Day) follows the lunar calendar. Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This means the date shifts each year between late March and late April.

Question 14

How does the Leave Optimizer work?

Accepted Answer

The Leave Optimizer analyzes public holidays and weekends to find the best dates to take leave for maximum consecutive days off. Simply enter how many leave days you have available, and it will show you the most efficient combinations.

Question 15

Can I export calendar dates?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can export school terms and public holidays to your calendar using the iCal download feature on our holiday pages. This creates an .ics file compatible with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and most other calendar apps.

Question 16

How do I find long weekends?

Accepted Answer

Our Long Weekend Finder tool shows all public holidays that create 3+ day weekends. Visit the Long Weekends page to see all opportunities for the year, including which ones can be extended with strategic leave days.

Question 17

Is Holiday Hub free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Holiday Hub is completely free. We provide school term calendars, public holiday information, and planning tools at no cost. We believe everyone should have easy access to this information.

Question 18

How can I maximize my leave days in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Use strategic "bridge days" - take leave on days between public holidays and weekends to create longer breaks. For example, taking 1 day off can turn a 3-day weekend into a 4-day break. Our Leave Optimizer tool automatically finds the best opportunities for your available leave days.

Question 19

What are the best long weekends in South Africa 2026?

Accepted Answer

The best long weekends in 2026 include: Easter (3-6 April, 4 days off with no leave needed), Freedom Day weekend (25-27 April), Youth Day (13-16 June with 1 bridge day), and Heritage Day (26-27 September). Check our Long Weekends page for the complete list.

Question 20

How can I maximize my leave days?

Accepted Answer

With just 5 strategic leave days in 2026, you can create 34 days of extended break time by placing them around public holidays and weekends. Our Leave Optimizer shows you exactly which bridge days to book for maximum consecutive time off.

Question 21

When is the best time to take leave in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

The best times depend on your goals: December/January for summer holidays (peak prices but longest break), Easter for autumn weather and fewer crowds, or June/July school holidays for winter activities. Our seasonal guides help you plan for each period.

Question 22

Where does your data come from?

Accepted Answer

Our school term dates come from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) official announcements. Public holiday dates follow the Public Holidays Act and any government gazette updates. We update our data as soon as official announcements are made.

Question 23

How often is the data updated?

Accepted Answer

We update school term dates as soon as the DBE releases the official calendar, typically several months before the new school year. Public holidays are updated annually and whenever there are legislative changes.

Question 24

What if I find an error?

Accepted Answer

If you notice any incorrect information, please let us know through our contact page. We take accuracy seriously and will investigate and correct any errors promptly.

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