Holidays & Celebrations

Mark your calendars with South Africa’s public holidays, attend the local celebrations and festivals, and take part in the country’s holiday traditions.

Family and friends standing in the back yard with drinks. Everyone is looking cheerful.

Public holidays in South Africa in 2026

Jot down South Africa’s public holidays in your calendar for 2024, 2025, and 2026 to make sure you are in time to plan a family get-together.

The best festivals in South Africa

From jazz festivals to kite flying contests, gay pride to Mozart festivals and minstrel carnivals, South African festivals celebrate everything under the sun.

A family sits around for their Christmas dinner at an outdoor table, all wearing festive hats

10 South African Christmas traditions

Curious what a summer Christmas looks like? Get ready for a sunny day with friends and family with these South African Christmas traditions.

Yellow children's table with four chairs, yellow, green, red, and blue in a classroom

School holidays in South Africa in 2026 and 2027

Want to take your kids on a vacation? Here are the school holidays for 2026 and 2027, plus tips for expat parents in South Africa. Parents in South Africa will need to know when the local school holidays are. Luckily, all schools have the same holiday dates, and they all close on national public holidays, […]

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Cape Town

South Africa’s Mother City is a great place to ring in the new year. Discover the best things to do in Cape Town on New Year’s Eve.