China 2026 public holiday guide
Mainland China’s public holidays are set each year in a notice from the General Office of the State Council. Besides fixed festival dates, “tiaoxiu” (weekend-workday swaps) often creates longer breaks. In 2026, major holidays typically include New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
Treat the festival date and the actual leave window as separate things. This calendar marks days off for planning trips and coverage; for payroll or attendance, follow the official notice and your employer’s rules.
Spring Festival and National Day are peak travel periods. Cross-border teams should mark these gaps early and compare them with holidays in nearby markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.
Planning tips for 2026
- New Year’s Day: a short break useful for wrap-up or a quick trip.
- Spring Festival: the main family-reunion holiday; book travel early.
- Qingming, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn: usually shorter long weekends.
- Labour Day and National Day: busy tourism seasons with higher prices.
China 2026 public holiday table
This 2026 view lists 29 public holiday dates for China. The earliest entry is 2026-01-01 (New Year's Day, Thu) and the latest is 2026-10-07 (National Day). The longest consecutive block in the dataset is about 7 days (2026-10-01–2026-10-07). The table below is fully readable without JavaScript.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2026-01-02 | Fri | New Year's Day |
| 2026-01-03 | Sat | New Year's Day |
| 2026-02-15 | Sun | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-17 | Tue | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-18 | Wed | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-19 | Thu | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-20 | Fri | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-21 | Sat | Spring Festival |
| 2026-02-22 | Sun | Spring Festival |
| 2026-04-04 | Sat | Qingming Festival |
| 2026-04-05 | Sun | Qingming Festival |
| 2026-05-01 | Fri | Labour Day |
| 2026-05-02 | Sat | Labour Day |
| 2026-05-03 | Sun | Labour Day / Constitution Memorial Day |
| 2026-05-04 | Mon | Labour Day / Greenery Day / Bank Holiday |
| 2026-05-05 | Tue | Labour Day / Children's Day |
| 2026-06-20 | Sat | Dragon Boat Festival |
| 2026-06-21 | Sun | Dragon Boat Festival |
| 2026-09-25 | Fri | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 2026-09-26 | Sat | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 2026-09-27 | Sun | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 2026-10-01 | Thu | National Day |
| 2026-10-02 | Fri | National Day |
| 2026-10-03 | Sat | National Day |
| 2026-10-04 | Sun | National Day |
| 2026-10-05 | Mon | National Day |
| 2026-10-06 | Tue | National Day |
| 2026-10-07 | Wed | National Day |
Note: Compiled from public notices for planning. Confirm critical dates with official sources.
Cross-border planning notes
Nearby contrast: Hong Kong and Taiwan observe Lunar New Year with different leave lengths and no Mainland-style tiaoxiu. Japan’s Golden Week (late April–early May) can overlap China’s Labour Day window. Mark Spring Festival and National Day as hard coverage gaps.
China holiday FAQ
Is tiaoxiu mandatory?
Public bodies generally follow the State Council notice; companies apply their own labor rules and contracts.
Is Christmas a public holiday in China?
No. It is not a statutory public holiday for most workplaces.
How do I confirm final dates?
Check the State Council’s holiday notice for that year, including makeup workdays.