December holidays 2026: School closing dates and public holidays

Take a look at the dates you need to note for December holidays 2026 from the day schools close to the public holidays.

WHEN DOES SCHOOL CLOSE?

Public schools across South Africa officially close on 9 December. Educators stay on until 11 December. This is the long December school holidays. So, schools only reopen on 12 January 2027. The 2027 school year opens on 13 January. Private schools may differ from these dates, it would be best to check dates with the school directly.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

• Wednesday 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Day of Goodwill
• 1 January: New Year’s Day

Please note: Day of Goodwill falls on a Saturday. South African law only moves a public holiday to Monday when it falls on a Sunday. So, there is no extra day off. There is also a “bonus” public holiday this year on 4 November.

The declaration follows the formal gazetting and proclamation of 4 November 2026 as the election date by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa in August 2026. Ramaphosa first announced the election date on 30 April 2026, at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, during discussions at the Extended Presidential Coordinating Council meeting.

At the time, he stated that as the local government elections were due in 2026, the date “should be held on a Wednesday, which is the middle of the week,” settling on 4 November 2026.

PLANNING YOUR LEAVE AHEAD OF TIME

You could take Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December off to give you five days off from 16 to 20 December or you could take Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 off to extend your weekend from 12 December. Christmas Day is on Friday the 25th and this will give you a long weekend. 1 January also falls on a Friday so you will also have a long weekend without using an leave.

It would be advisable to book your leave days in advance. The first full week after schools close become peak period with busier roads, flights and coastal accomodation. Book flights, accomodations and anythign else in advance if you are able to.