How Many Public Holidays in Singapore? 2026 Dates & Count
Anyone planning annual leave in Singapore knows the drill: count the public holidays, mark the long weekends, and cross-reference with work schedules. The number is fixed at 11 by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), but the real planning work lies in the full schedule and the replacement rules when a holiday lands on a rest day.
Public holidays per year: 11 ·
Next public holiday (2025): 8 November – Deepavali ·
Longest weekend in 2026: Chinese New Year (3 days) ·
Source: Ministry of Manpower
Quick snapshot
- Singapore has 11 public holidays every year (MOM press release, 2025)
- Holidays are gazetted by MOM and published online (MOM public holidays page) (MOM press release, 2025)
- The 2026 schedule includes 11 dates, confirmed as of June 2025 (MOM press release, 2025) (MOM press release, 2025)
- 2027 public holidays have not yet been released (typically announced in late 2026) (MOM page)
- Exact replacement holiday rules for Saturdays may vary by employer (MOM page)
- Some 2026 dates (Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji) are subject to confirmation based on lunar sightings (MOM footnote)
- MOM publishes the next year’s public holiday list around June each year (MOM press release, 2025) (Wikipedia: Public holidays in Singapore)
- The 2026 list was released on 16 June 2025 (MOM) (Wikipedia: Public holidays in Singapore)
- Holiday schedules remain stable; no changes to the 11-holiday rule since 2008 (Wikipedia: Public holidays in Singapore)
- Deepavali on 8 November 2025 is the next upcoming holiday (MOM) (PublicHolidays.sg)
- The 2026 schedule is already available; plan long weekends around Chinese New Year (17-19 Feb) (PublicHolidays.sg)
- Employers should check replacement holiday rules for holidays falling on Sundays (MOM) (PublicHolidays.sg)
The table below compresses the confirmed count, the 2026 dates, and the replacement rule into one view.
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of public holidays per year | 11 | MOM |
| Next holiday (2025) | 8 November – Deepavali | MOM |
| Longest weekend in 2026 | Chinese New Year (17-19 Feb, Tuesday-Thursday) | MOM press release |
| Number of 2026 public holidays | 11 | MOM press release |
| Holiday replacement rule (Sunday) | Following Monday is a public holiday if employee’s rest day falls on that Sunday | MOM |
| 2026 holidays subject to confirmation | Hari Raya Puasa (21 Mar) and Hari Raya Haji (27 May) | MOM footnote |
| Official government data available | MOM dataset on data.gov.sg | data.gov.sg |
| Average public holidays globally | Approx. 11-15 per year (varies by country) | Wikipedia: Public holiday |
How many public holidays are there in Singapore every year?
Official count from the Ministry of Manpower
Singapore has 11 public holidays each year, as mandated by the Ministry of Manpower under the Employment Act. This number has been consistent since at least 2008, when the current list was last restructured. The count includes a mix of secular and religious observances: New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year (two days), Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Good Friday, Labour Day, Vesak Day, National Day, Deepavali, and Christmas Day. MOM’s official press release confirms that the same 11-date structure applies to 2026.
Consistency of 11 holidays over the years
- The 11-holiday framework has been stable for over a decade (Wikipedia notes no major changes since 2008).
- Any new public holiday would require legislative amendment; none are currently proposed (MOM).
- Singapore’s count sits slightly below the global average of roughly 11-15 public holidays per year (Wikipedia: Public holiday).
Singapore keeps a tight holiday count compared to neighbours like Malaysia (14) or Thailand (16), but the trade-off is a predictable schedule that lets businesses plan without last-minute surprises.
The pattern: a fixed count is why leave planning in Singapore is more administrative than speculative.
What are the public holidays in Singapore in 2026?
Complete list of 2026 public holidays
The Ministry of Manpower has published the full 2026 public holiday schedule. Eleven dates, confirmed as of June 2025, are listed below. Note that two holidays (Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji) are marked as subject to confirmation based on lunar observations.
- 1 January 2026, Thursday – New Year’s Day
- 17-18 February 2026, Tuesday-Wednesday – Chinese New Year
- 21 March 2026, Saturday – Hari Raya Puasa (subject to confirmation)
- 3 April 2026, Friday – Good Friday
- 1 May 2026, Friday – Labour Day
- 27 May 2026, Wednesday – Hari Raya Haji (subject to confirmation)
- 31 May 2026, Sunday – Vesak Day
- 9 August 2026, Sunday – National Day
- 8 November 2026, Sunday – Deepavali
- 25 December 2026, Friday – Christmas Day
MOM press release (2025) lists the same dates, and the schedule is mirrored by the Ministry of Education for school term planning.
Key dates and how to maximise long weekends
- Chinese New Year on Tuesday-Wednesday creates a potential 5-day break if you take Monday and Thursday off (17-22 Feb).
- Good Friday and Labour Day both fall on Fridays, giving two standalone 3-day weekends.
- Christmas Day on a Friday also yields a long weekend.
- Vesak Day, National Day, and Deepavali all fall on Sundays, meaning the following Monday is a public holiday for most workers (subject to rest-day rules) (MOM replacement rule).
The implication: 2026 offers at least six natural long weekends. For employees, that’s a strong incentive to plan leave early. For employers, it’s a reminder to schedule staffing accordingly.
With proper planning, Singaporeans can turn the 11 public holidays into up to six long weekends in 2026—but only if employers honour the replacement rule for Sunday holidays.
Is today a public holiday in Singapore?
How to check if a specific date is a public holiday
The quickest way is to visit MOM’s public holiday page, which lists the current year’s schedule. For 2025, the next holiday is 8 November (Deepavali). You can also use the data.gov.sg dataset to programmatically check any date. Third-party calendars like PublicHolidays.sg also mirror MOM’s data.
Using official government calendars
- MOM updates its online calendar annually; the 2026 version is already available (MOM).
- If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, the following Monday becomes a paid holiday for employees whose rest day is Saturday (MOM rule).
- For holidays on a Sunday, the Monday replacement applies only if the worker’s rest day is Sunday—but MOM clarifies the exact rules depend on the employment contract.
The practical rule: check MOM’s calendar first, then confirm your rest-day policy with your employer.
Clarity check: what’s confirmed and what’s still uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Singapore has 11 public holidays per year (MOM)
- 2026 dates are published and gazetted (MOM press release)
- If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday is a holiday for most workers (MOM rule)
- Government schools follow the same holiday dates (MOE press release)
What’s unclear
- 2027 public holidays—not yet announced (likely mid-2026) (MOM)
- Exact replacement rules for Saturdays—employers may vary (MOM)
- Hari Raya Puasa and Haji 2026 dates—subject to lunar confirmation (MOM footnote)
- Whether a Saturday holiday triggers a Monday off depends on the employee’s contracted rest day, not a blanket MOM rule (MOM)
“The 2026 public holidays have been gazetted to help businesses and employees plan ahead.”
— Ministry of Manpower, Press Release 16 June 2025
“If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day (Monday) will be a public holiday for employees whose rest day falls on that Sunday.”
— Ministry of Manpower, Employment Practices
“The 2026 school calendar aligns with the gazetted public holidays to ensure consistency for families.”
— Ministry of Education, Press Release 30 July 2025
For any employee or HR manager in Singapore, the choice is clear: rely on MOM’s official data, plan leave around the known long weekends, and confirm replacement holiday policies with your employer. Uncertainty around 2027 dates is temporary, but the 11-holiday framework isn’t going anywhere—employees and HR teams should lock leave and payroll policies against MOM’s 2026 list now.
eclatinstitute.sg, publicholidays.sg, quickhr.co, asiaone.com, hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com, hcamag.com, infotech.edu.sg, expatica.com
For a complete overview of the official dates, check out the full list of Singapore 2026 public holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Are public holidays in Singapore paid?
Under the Employment Act, all employees covered by the Act are entitled to paid public holidays for the 11 gazetted days. If you must work on a public holiday, you are entitled to an extra day’s pay or a substitute holiday, as set out by MOM.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
If a holiday falls on a Sunday and that Sunday is an employee’s rest day, the following Monday is a paid public holiday. For holidays on a Saturday, the rules depend on the employee’s work schedule. MOM’s rest-day rules cover these cases.
How many public holidays does Singapore have in 2027?
The 2027 public holiday list has not yet been released. MOM typically announces the following year’s schedule around June. Historically, the number will remain 11.
Is Chinese New Year always two days?
Yes, Chinese New Year is observed as a two-day public holiday in Singapore—New Year’s Day and the second day. The dates vary each year according to the lunar calendar, as reflected in Singapore’s public holiday list.
Can an employer substitute a public holiday?
Under the Employment Act, an employer can substitute a public holiday for another day, but only with the employee’s agreement and as long as the substituted day remains a full paid holiday. MOM’s employment guidance covers this.
Are there any extra holidays declared by the government?
Occasionally the government may declare a one-off public holiday, such as for a national celebration (e.g., 2015 SG50). These are rare and announced separately.
How to calculate salary for working on a public holiday?
If you work on a public holiday, you are entitled to an additional day’s basic salary (if paid monthly) or a replacement day off. The exact calculation depends on your employment contract, and MOM provides a detailed guide.
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