2026 Hong Kong Public Holiday Calendar
Seventeen days. Western and Chinese festivals, three of them pushed to a Monday by the Sunday rule.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 17 February | Tuesday | Chinese New Year |
| 18 February | Wednesday | Second day of Chinese New Year |
| 19 February | Thursday | Third day of Chinese New Year |
| 5 April | Sunday | Tomb-Sweeping Day |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 7 April | Tuesday | Tomb-Sweeping Day (observed) |
| 1 May | Friday | Labour Day |
| 24 May | Sunday | Buddha’s Birthday |
| 25 May | Monday | Buddha’s Birthday (observed) |
| 19 June | Friday | Dragon Boat Festival |
| 1 July | Wednesday | HKSAR Establishment Day |
| 26 September | Saturday | Day following Mid-Autumn Festival |
| 1 October | Thursday | National Day |
| 18 October | Sunday | Double Ninth Festival |
| 19 October | Monday | Double Ninth Festival (observed) |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | First weekday after Christmas Day |
The year ends with New Year’s Day 2027 on Friday 1 January. Take Thursday 31 December off and you get a four-day weekend.
The “Observed” Rule: Sundays and Mondays
A Sunday holiday is not lost. The government designates the next working day, usually Monday, as the observed holiday. In 2026, three dates shift:
- Tomb-Sweeping Day (5 April, Sunday) moves to Tuesday 7 April, after Easter Monday on 6 April. Saturday through Tuesday, four days off.
- Buddha’s Birthday (24 May, Sunday) is observed on Monday 25 May.
- Double Ninth Festival (18 October, Sunday) is observed on Monday 19 October.
An observed day carries the same weight as the original. Banks close. Government offices shut. Holiday pay rules apply.
When does Chinese New Year close Hong Kong in 2026?
Chinese New Year lands on Tuesday 17 February. The official public holidays run three days, the 17th through the 19th. Reality stretches further.
Many offices and factories close for the full week, reopening Monday 23 February. Small shops in traditional districts may stay shut for two weeks. Banks and government offices resume Thursday 20 February. Supermarkets, convenience stores and major retail chains reopen by Friday 20 February or Saturday 21 February.
See Chinese New Year in Hong Kong: Dates, Closures & Traditions for the full closure timeline.
What Stays Open on Public Holidays
Government and finance stop. Commerce continues.
| Sector | Status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed all 17 days. ATMs and online banking work. |
| Government offices | Closed. Passport, ID card, and license services unavailable. |
| Schools | Closed. |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange | Closed. No trading on public holidays. See HKEX Trading Hours 2026. |
| MTR and buses | Regular Sunday/public holiday schedule, reduced frequency on some lines. |
| Retail, malls, restaurants | Open, except on Chinese New Year’s Day and sometimes the second day. |
| Tourist attractions | Open. Check individual sites for CNY closures. |
Planning Around the Holidays
Three clusters matter for business travellers.
Late January to mid-February: Chinese New Year slows everything. Meetings are difficult from 17 to 21 February.
Early April: the Tomb-Sweeping and Easter Monday break, 4 to 7 April, empties offices.
Late December: Christmas and Boxing Day, 25 to 26 December, then New Year’s Day on 1 January 2027. An 11-day gap between clear working days.
For standard business hours across the year, see Hong Kong Business Hours 2026: Offices, Banks & Shops.