Retail calendarThe South African retail year.
Paydays, public holidays and the sales moments that move them, for the next twelve months.
Plan your content, offers and ad budget to the dates your customers live by. Paydays use the 25th rule, moved for weekends and public holidays. A public holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday.
- Public holiday
- Retail moment
- Payday
October 2026
December 2026
January 2027
- Fri 1New Year’s DayPublic holiday
- January, as schools reopenBack to schoolRetail moment
- Mon 25PaydayPayday
February 2027
- Sun 14Valentine’s DayRetail moment
- Thu 25PaydayPayday
March 2027
- Sun 21Human Rights DayPublic holiday
- Mon 22Human Rights Day (observed)Public holiday
- Thu 25PaydayPayday
- Fri 26Good FridayPublic holiday
- Sun 28Easter SundayRetail moment
- Mon 29Family DayPublic holiday
April 2027
- Fri 23PaydayPayday
- Tue 27Freedom DayPublic holiday
May 2027
- Sat 1Workers’ DayPublic holiday
- Sun 9Mother’s DayRetail moment
- Tue 25PaydayPayday
June 2027
- Wed 16Youth DayPublic holiday
- Sun 20Father’s DayRetail moment
- Fri 25PaydayPayday
July 2027
August 2027
- Mon 9National Women’s DayPublic holiday
- Wed 25PaydayPayday
September 2027
- Thu 23PaydayPayday
- Fri 24Heritage DayPublic holiday
Updated 9 October 2026.
Go deeperThe plans
- PaydayMany South African employers pay on the 25th, or the working day before when it falls on a weekend or public holiday. The next one is Friday, 23 October 2026.
- Black FridayBlack Friday 2026 is Friday, 27 November 2026, with Cyber Monday on Monday, 30 November 2026.
- Festive seasonFrom Black Friday to New Year: the dates that shape December 2026 sales in South Africa, and what to run around each.
- Back to schoolPublic schools reopen in January, and parents shop in the weeks before and the first weeks after.
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