Quick answer
Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays in 2026. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday may be observed as a public holiday. Employees who are required to work on a public holiday may be entitled to extra pay or time off, depending on their employment arrangement.
Singapore public holidays 2026
The table below lists the public holidays in Singapore for 2026. Use this as a quick planning reference for annual leave, payroll, HR scheduling and long weekend planning.
| Date | Day | Public Holiday | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Take Friday leave to create a 4-day break. |
| 17 February 2026 | Tuesday | Chinese New Year | First day of Chinese New Year. |
| 18 February 2026 | Wednesday | Chinese New Year | Second day of Chinese New Year. |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Hari Raya Puasa | Falls on Saturday. |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Creates a 3-day weekend. |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Creates a 3-day weekend. |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Haji | Mid-week holiday. |
| 31 May 2026 | Sunday | Vesak Day | Monday, 1 June 2026, may be observed if Sunday is your rest day. |
| 9 August 2026 | Sunday | National Day | Monday, 10 August 2026, may be observed if Sunday is your rest day. |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Deepavali | Monday, 9 November 2026, may be observed if Sunday is your rest day. |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Creates a 3-day weekend. |
What happens if a public holiday falls on Sunday?
In Singapore, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday may be observed as a public holiday if Sunday is the employee’s rest day. In 2026, Vesak Day, National Day and Deepavali fall on Sunday.
| Holiday | Actual Date | Observed Date | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vesak Day | 31 May 2026, Sunday | 1 June 2026, Monday | Monday may be the public holiday if Sunday is your rest day. |
| National Day | 9 August 2026, Sunday | 10 August 2026, Monday | Monday may be the public holiday if Sunday is your rest day. |
| Deepavali | 8 November 2026, Sunday | 9 November 2026, Monday | Monday may be the public holiday if Sunday is your rest day. |
Public holiday pay in Singapore
Employees covered by the Employment Act are generally entitled to paid public holidays. The exact treatment depends on whether the employee works on the public holiday, whether it falls on a rest day, and the employment contract.
Paid public holiday
If you are entitled to the public holiday and you do not work on that day, you are generally paid for the holiday.
Working on a public holiday
If you are required to work on a public holiday, you may be entitled to extra salary or a substitute day off, depending on the applicable rules.
Holiday during leave
If a public holiday falls during annual leave, sick leave or other leave, the treatment may depend on MOM rules and your employment arrangement.
Can employers make employees work on public holidays?
Some businesses need employees to work on public holidays, especially in retail, hospitality, healthcare, logistics, customer service and operations roles. When this happens, employers should handle public holiday pay and time off correctly.
Retail and F&B
Employees may be scheduled during peak public holiday periods. The employer should communicate the roster clearly.
Shift workers
Public holiday treatment can be more complex for shift workers because the holiday may overlap with rest days or rostered days.
Office workers
Many office employees do not work on public holidays. If work is required, the arrangement should be agreed and documented.
Public holiday vs annual leave
Public holidays and annual leave are different. Public holidays are gazetted holidays, while annual leave is the employee’s personal leave entitlement. Employees often combine annual leave with public holidays to create longer breaks.
| Item | Public Holiday | Annual Leave |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Gazetted public holiday | Employee leave entitlement |
| Purpose | National, religious or cultural holiday | Personal rest, travel or personal matters |
| Planning | Fixed dates published by the government | Usually applied for by the employee and approved by employer |
| Common use | Everyone plans around the same date | Used to extend long weekends or take longer breaks |
Want to estimate annual leave?
Use our Annual Leave Calculator to estimate leave entitlement for Singapore employment planning.
Best leave planning opportunities in 2026
Public holidays can help employees plan longer breaks using fewer annual leave days. Below are simple examples for leave planning. Actual approval depends on your employer and work schedule.
| Holiday | Public Holiday Date | Leave Planning Idea | Possible Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January, Thursday | Take leave on Friday, 2 January | 4 days, from Thursday to Sunday |
| Chinese New Year | 17 and 18 February, Tuesday and Wednesday | Take leave around Monday, Thursday and Friday | Longer festive break |
| Good Friday | 3 April, Friday | No extra leave needed | 3-day weekend |
| Labour Day | 1 May, Friday | No extra leave needed | 3-day weekend |
| Christmas Day | 25 December, Friday | Take leave before Christmas week if approved | Long year-end break |
For employers and HR teams
Public holidays affect payroll, rostering, annual leave planning and employee communication. Employers should plan schedules early, especially for industries that operate on weekends and public holidays.
Payroll planning
Check whether employees worked on a public holiday and whether additional pay or time off applies.
Roster planning
Prepare public holiday rosters early, especially for shift-based teams and customer-facing roles.
Clear communication
Inform employees about public holiday schedules, replacement holidays, leave cut-off dates and approval rules.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Singapore have in 2026?
Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays in 2026, including New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Good Friday, Labour Day, Hari Raya Haji, Vesak Day, National Day, Deepavali and Christmas Day.
What are the Singapore public holidays in 2026?
The 2026 public holidays include 1 January, 17 and 18 February, 21 March, 3 April, 1 May, 27 May, 31 May, 9 August, 8 November and 25 December.
What happens when a public holiday falls on Sunday in Singapore?
If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday may be observed as a public holiday if Sunday is your rest day. In 2026, Vesak Day, National Day and Deepavali fall on Sunday.
Do employees get paid for public holidays in Singapore?
Employees covered by the Employment Act are generally entitled to paid public holidays. The exact treatment depends on employment terms, work schedule and whether the employee works on that day.
What if I have to work on a public holiday?
If you are required to work on a public holiday, you may be entitled to extra salary or a substitute day off, depending on the applicable rules and your employment arrangement.
Can I use annual leave to extend a public holiday weekend?
Yes. Many employees use annual leave around public holidays to create longer breaks. However, annual leave is usually subject to employer approval.
Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in Singapore?
Yes. Chinese New Year is a public holiday in Singapore. In 2026, Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, 17 February and Wednesday, 18 February.
Is National Day a public holiday in Singapore?
Yes. National Day is a public holiday in Singapore. In 2026, National Day falls on Sunday, 9 August, with Monday, 10 August potentially observed if Sunday is your rest day.
Is this public holiday guide official?
No. SG Salary Tools provides general information for salary and leave planning only. For official public holiday dates and employment rules, always check MOM directly.