School holidays 2026/2027, public holidays 2026, 2026 South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe

Public & School Holidays 2026/27 South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe & Botswana — Plan your travels smart! Planning a trip to Southern Africa in 2026 or 2027? Our comprehensive holiday guide helps you avoid peak travel periods, navigate public holidays and school holidays, and choose the best times to explore the region with fewer crowds. Covering South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and more — from long weekends and national holidays to major school breaks and events — all important travel dates are compiled in one place to help you plan your journey with confidence. Why this info matters: Avoid crowded parks and busy border posts during peak travel dates Plan safaris and lodging around school break traffic Align with public festivities or steer clear for a quieter getaway Time your visit for cultural events, public closures, and seasonal pricing Whether you're a traveler, tour operator, or expat planning a visit, this 2026/27 holiday overview helps you travel smarter, cheaper, and with better timing throughout Southern Africa.
School/public holidays in South Africa 2026/27 Top tours and activities in South Africa » back to South Africa country guide » School/public holidays in South Africa 2026, countrywide 13 December 2025 - 13 January 2026 28 March 2026 - 07 April 2026 27 June 2026 - 20 July 2026 24 September 2026 - 05 October 2026 12 December 2025 - tba src. School/public holidays in South Africa 2027, countrywide 20 March 2027 – 05 April 2027 26 June 2027 – 19 July 2027 02 October 2027 – 10 October 2027 08/10 December 2027 - ?? January 2028 Public Holidays 2026: 01 January 2026 - New Year's Day 21 March 2026 - Human Rights Day 03 April 2026 - Good Friday 06 April 2026 - Family Day 27 April 2026 - Freedom Day 01 May 2026 - Workers' Day 16 June 2026 - Youth Day 09 August 2026 - National Women's Day 10 August 2026 - Public Holiday 24 September 2026 - Heritage Day 16 December 2026 - Day of Reconciliation 25 December 2026 - Christmas Day 26 December 2026 - Day of Goodwill Public Holidays 2027: 01 January 2027 - New Year's Day 21 March 2027 - Human Rights Day 22 March 2027 - Human Rights Day observed 26 March 2027 - Good Friday 29 March 2027 - Family Day 27 April 2027 - Freedom Day 01 May 2027 - Workers' Day 16 June 2027 - Youth Day 09 August 2027 - National Women's Day 24 September 2027 - Heritage Day 16 December 2027 - Day of Reconciliation 25 December 2027 - Christmas Day 26 December 2027 - Day of Goodwill 27 December 2027 - Day of Goodwill observed (Sunday rule) Under the Public Holidays Act, when a holiday falls on a Sunday the following Monday is also a public holiday — this applies to 21 March and 26 December in 2027. School/public holidays in Namibia 2026/27 Top tours and activities in Namibia » back to Namibia country guide » Government School Holidays 2026, countrywide 06 December 2025 - 11 January 2026 29 April 2026 - 31 May 2026 21 August 2026 - 06 September 2026 05 Dezember 2026 - 10 January 2027 Government School Holidays 2027, countrywide Namibia's Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture had only provisionally confirmed the First Term 2027 start date: Monday, 11 January 2027 at time of writing (August 2026); the full-year calendar had not yet been gazetted. Namibia currently runs a three-term (semester-based) system introduced after COVID-19. Public Holidays 2026 01 January 2026 - New Year's Day 21 March 2026 - Independence Day 03 April 2026 - Good Friday 05 April 2026 - Easter Sunday 06 April 2026 - Family Day 01 May 2026 - Workers' Day 04 May 2026 - Cassinga Day 14 May 2026 - Ascension Day 25 May 2026 - Africa Day 28 May 2026 - Genocide Remembrance Day 26 August 2026 - Heroes' Day 10 December 2026 - Day of the Namibia Women / International Human Rights Day 16 December 2026 - Day of Reconciliation 25 December 2026 - Christmas Day 26 December 2026 - Family Day According to the Public Holidays Act, 1990 (Act 26 of 1990) the Monday, following a Sunday which is a public holiday, shall also be a public holiday, unless the Monday is already a public holiday. Public Holidays 2027 01 January 2027 - New Year's Day 21 March 2027 - Independence Day 22 March 2027 - Independence Day observed 26 March 2027 - Good Friday 29 March 2027 - Easter Monday 01 May 2027 - Workers' Day 04 May 2027 - Cassinga Day 06 May 2027 - Ascension Day 25 May 2027 - Africa Day 28 May 2027 - Genocide Remembrance Day 26 August 2027 - Heroes' Day 10 December 2027 - Human Rights Day 25 December 2027 - Christmas Day 26 December 2027 - Family Day 27 December 2027 - Family Day observed (Sunday rule) Namibia's Public Holidays Act shifts any holiday that falls on a Sunday to the following Monday — this applies to 21 March and 26 December in 2027. Genocide Remembrance Day (28 May) is a newly gazetted public holiday, first observed in 2025, commemorating the 1904–1908 Ovaherero and Nama genocide.	School/public holidays in Zimbabwe 2026/27 Top tours and activities in Zimbabwe » back to Zimbabwe country guide » Government School Holidays 2026, countrywide 02 December 2025 - 12 January 2026 02 April 2026 - 11 May 2026 07 August 2026 - 07 Septemer 2026 09 December 2026 - tba School Holidays 2027 Zimbabwe's Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had not yet gazetted the final 2027 calendar at time of writing (August 2026). Based on the standard three-term pattern (and the 2026 calendar as a guide), expect approximately: School term 1: mid-January – late March/early April School term 2: early/mid-May – early August School term 3: early September – early December Public Holidays 2026 01 January 2026 - New Year's Day 21 February 2026 - Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day 03 April 2026 - Good Friday 04 April 2026 - Holy Satuday 05 April 2026 - Easter Sunday 06 April 2026 - Easter Monday 18 April 2026 - Independence Day 01 May 2026 - Workers' Day 25 May 2026 - Africa Day 10 August 2026 - Heroes' Day 11 August 2026 - Defence Forces Day 22 December 2026 - Unity Day 25 December 2026 - Christmas Day 26 December 2026 - Boxing Day Public Holidays 2027: 01 January 2027 - New Year's Day 21 February 2027 - Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day 26 March 2027 - Good Friday 27 March 2027 - Easter Saturday 28 March 2027 - Easter Sunday 29 March 2027 - Easter Monday 18 April 2027 - Independence Day 01 May 2027 - Workers' Day 25 May 2027 - Africa Day 09 August 2027 - Heroes' Day 10 August 2027 - Defence Forces Day 22 December 2027 - National Unity Day 25 December 2027 - Christmas Day 26 December 2027 - Boxing Day School/public holidays in Botswana 2026/27 Top tours and activities in Botswana » back to Botswana country guide » Government School Holidays 2026 : 05 December 2025 - 12 January 2026 03 April 2026 - 10 May 2026 08 August 2026 - 06 September 2026 10 December 2026 - tba Government School Holidays 2027 The Ministry of Basic Education's 2027 calendar wasn't finalised at time of writing (August 2026). Botswana schools run three terms; the 2026 school year is confirmed to close in late November 2026, with the 2027 academic year reopening around 12–13 January 2027. Expect roughly: School term 1: mid-January – early April School term 2: mid-May – mid-August School term 3: mid-September – early December Public Holidays 2026 01 January 2026 - New Year's Day 02 January 2026 - New Year Holiday (additional) 03 April 2026 - Good Friday 04 April 2026 - Holy Saturday 06 April 2026 - Easter Monday 01 May 2026 - Labour Day 14 May 2026 - Ascension Day 01 July 2026 - Sir Seretse Khama Day 20 July 2026 - President's Day 21 July 2026 - President’s Day Holiday (observed) 30 September 2026 - Botswana Day (Independence Day) 01 October 2026 - Botswana Day Holiday (second day) 25 December 2026 - Christmas Day 26 December 2026 - Boxing Day Public Holidays 2027** 01 January 2027 - New Year's Day 26 March 2027 - Good Friday 29 March 2027 - Easter Monday 01 May 2027 - Labour Day 06 May 2027 - Ascension Day 01 July 2027 - Sir Seretse Khama Day 19 July 2027 - Presidents' Day 20 July 2027 - Presidents' Day (second day) 30 September 2027 - Botswana Day 01 October 2027 - Botswana Day (second day) 25 December 2027 - Christmas Day 26 December 2027 - Boxing Day Presidents' Day is always the third Monday and Tuesday of July; Botswana Day (independence, 30 September) is a two-day public holiday.