Keeping track of public holidays is an important part of managing manpower planning and payroll in Singapore because it lets you prepare for busy periods and adjust your staffing needs as required. You can also plan company-wide schedules more effectively.
Need a quick list? We’ve gathered the full list of Singapore’s public holidays for 2026 — along with upcoming long weekends — so that you can align leave policies with shift planning.
Key Takeaways
• Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays in 2026, which employers should incorporate into workforce planning and payroll.
• Public holidays affect employee scheduling, overtime calculations, and payroll processing.
• Employees covered by the Employment Act are generally entitled to paid public holidays and applicable compensation if they work on those days.
• Using HR and payroll software can simplify holiday scheduling, attendance tracking, and payroll calculations.
Singapore public holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Public holiday | Notes |
| 01-Jan-26 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Start of the new year; you and your employees can enjoy a 4-day break by taking Friday, 2 Jan, off. |
| 17-Feb-26 | Tuesday | Chinese New Year | First day of Chinese New Year. |
| 18-Feb-26 | Wednesday | Chinese New Year | Second day of Chinese New Year. |
| 21-Mar-26 | Saturday | Hari Raya Puasa | Muslim festival. The final date depends on moon-sighting confirmation. |
| 03-Apr-26 | Friday | Good Friday | Creates a 3-day long weekend (Friday to Sunday). |
| 01-May-26 | Friday | Labour Day | 3-day long weekend (Friday to Sun). |
| 27-May-26 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Haji | Muslim festival. The date may change depending on moon-sighting. |
| 31-May-26 | Sunday | Vesak Day | The following Monday is a public holiday. |
| 01-Jun-26 | Monday | Vesak Day Holiday | In-lieu holiday for Vesak Day falling on a Sunday; results in a 3-day long weekend (Saturday to Monday). |
| 09-Aug-26 | Sunday | National Day | The following Monday is a public holiday. |
| 10-Aug-26 | Monday | National Day Holiday | In-lieu holiday; 3-day long weekend (Saturday to Monday). |
| 08-Nov-26 | Sunday | Deepavali | The following Monday is a public holiday. |
| 09-Nov-26 | Monday | Deepavali Holiday | In-lieu holiday; 3-day long weekend (Saturday to Monday). |
| 25-Dec-26 | Friday | Christmas Day | 3-day long weekend (Friday to Sunday). |
What are the long weekends in Singapore in 2026?
| Holiday | Dates | Weekend Length |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | 3–5 Apr | 3 Days |
| Labour Day | 1–3 May | 3 Days |
| Vesak Day | 30 May–1 Jun | 3 Days |
| National Day | 8–10 Aug | 3 Days |
| Deepavali | 7–9 Nov | 3 Days |
| Christmas | 25–27 Dec | 3 Days |
Employer and payroll notes (MOM-aligned)
Keep these key points in mind when managing staffing and payroll in Singapore:
- Employees covered under the Employment Act are entitled to 11 paid public holidays each year.
- If an employee works on a public holiday, you must either:
– Pay one additional day of basic salary on top of their regular pay, or
– Grant time off in lieu, especially for managers, executives, and higher-earning staff (if mutually agreed).
- When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday. This affects in-lieu days — such as National Day and Deepavali in 2026 — and should be factored into scheduling.
These rules impact:
- Monthly payroll cut-off dates
- Overtime and public holiday pay calculations
- Shift planning and business operating hours
What are my employees entitled to if they work on a public holiday?
When your employees are protected by the Employment Act, and they work on a public holiday, you need to provide them with:
- Their gross pay for the day, and
- One extra day of basic pay, or time off in lieu if both parties agree (commonly applied to managers, executives, and higher-earning staff)
Manage holidays with ease
Singapore’s 2026 public holiday calendar is confirmed, so you must ensure that your HR and payroll processes are aligned. Instead of updating calendars manually or calculating public holiday pay on your own, you can automate everything with Adaptive Pay.
With our all-in-one cloud HRMS, you can sync leave and attendance with your payroll processes in Singapore seamlessly, keeping your organisation accurate and compliant. Sign up for a demo today to experience how our platform can help ease your organisation’s HR woes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many public holidays are there in Singapore in 2026?
Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays in 2026.
2. What happens if a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is generally observed as a public holiday in accordance with Singapore regulations.
3. Are employees entitled to paid public holidays?
Employees covered under the Employment Act are generally entitled to paid public holidays, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
