Hong Kong Public Holidays 2026: Complete List & Statutory Dates
If you’re planning 2026 around Hong Kong’s public holidays, you’ve probably noticed two different lists — one for general holidays and another for statutory holidays. The distinction matters, especially for domestic helpers and their employers, and this guide breaks down every date to help you make the most of each long weekend.
Number of general holidays: 17 ·
Number of statutory holidays: 15 ·
First holiday in 2026: 1 January (New Year’s Day) ·
Last holiday in 2026: 25 December (Christmas Day) ·
Longest holiday break: Lunar New Year (17–19 February) ·
Statutory holidays for domestic helpers: Same 15 as general workforce
Quick snapshot
- Hong Kong has 17 general holidays and 15 statutory holidays in 2026 (GovHK (official government portal))
- Whether the day after Mid-Autumn Festival (26 September) appears as a general holiday on the final gazette (Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority))
- Easter Monday becomes a statutory holiday for the first time in 2026 (Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority))
- Employers should check employment contracts for the 14th statutory holiday option between Chinese Winter Solstice (22 Dec) and Christmas Day (25 Dec) (Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority))
Six key figures that define the 2026 holiday landscape at a glance.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Total general holidays | 17 |
| Total statutory holidays | 15 |
| First holiday | 1 January |
| Last holiday | 25 December |
| Longest consecutive holiday period | Lunar New Year (17–19 Feb, plus possible weekend) |
| Domestic helper statutory holidays | Same 15 as other employees |
What are the public holidays in Hong Kong in 2026?
List of all general holidays
The Hong Kong government publishes the official list of 17 general holidays every year. The 2026 schedule, published on GovHK (the city’s official government portal), includes all major traditional, cultural, and civic observances.
- 1 January (Thu) — New Year’s Day
- 17 February (Tue) — Lunar New Year’s Day
- 18 February (Wed) — Second day of Lunar New Year
- 19 February (Thu) — Third day of Lunar New Year
- 3 April (Fri) — Good Friday
- 4 April (Sat) — Day after Good Friday
- 6 April (Mon) — Easter Monday
- 1 May (Fri) — Labour Day
- 25 May (Mon) — Buddha’s Birthday
- 19 June (Fri) — Tuen Ng Festival
- 1 July (Wed) — HKSAR Establishment Day
- 27 September (?) — Day after Mid-Autumn Festival (check official list)
- 1 October (Thu) — National Day
- 2 October (Fri) — Day after National Day
- 27 October (Tue) — Chung Yeung Festival
- 25 December (Fri) — Christmas Day
- 26 December (Sat) — First weekday after Christmas
Key dates for 2026
Several holidays cluster in specific months, creating natural break periods. February’s three-day Lunar New Year window (17–19 February) is the longest single-holiday stretch. April follows with Good Friday (3 April), the day after Good Friday (4 April), and Easter Monday (6 April). October delivers a consecutive pair: National Day (1 October) and the day after National Day (2 October).
What are the statutory holidays for 2026?
Difference between statutory and general holidays
Hong Kong’s holiday system has two layers. Statutory holidays — 15 in 2026 — are mandated by the Employment Ordinance and apply to all employees, including domestic helpers. General holidays include those 15 plus two additional days (the day after Good Friday and the first weekday after Christmas), but those extras are not compulsory for every employer to observe.
The Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority) confirmed the 15 statutory holidays, with a notable addition: Easter Monday becomes a statutory holiday from 2026 onward, bringing the list from 14 to 15.
List of 15 statutory holidays
- 1 January (Thu) — New Year’s Day
- 17 February (Tue) — Lunar New Year’s Day
- 18 February (Wed) — Second day of Lunar New Year
- 19 February (Thu) — Third day of Lunar New Year
- 5 April (Sun) — Ching Ming Festival
- 6 April (Mon) — Easter Monday
- 1 May (Fri) — Labour Day
- 24 May (Sun) — Birthday of the Buddha
- 19 June (Fri) — Tuen Ng Festival
- 1 July (Wed) — HKSAR Establishment Day
- 26 September (Sat) — Day following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
- 1 October (Thu) — National Day
- 18 October (Sun) — Chung Yeung Festival
- 22 December (Tue) or 25 December (Fri) — Chinese Winter Solstice Festival or Christmas Day (employer’s option)
The implication: two general holidays (day after Good Friday and first weekday after Christmas) are not automatically statutory. That means some workers get those days off only if their contract specifies it.
When are the major traditional holidays in 2026?
Lunar New Year dates
Lunar New Year falls on 17–19 February 2026 — Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All three days are both general and statutory holidays. For many workers, this three-day window combined with the preceding weekend creates a five-day break with minimal annual leave.
Easter dates
Good Friday is 3 April, the day after Good Friday is 4 April, and Easter Monday is 6 April 2026, as confirmed by GovHK (the city’s official government portal). The Saturday and Sunday in between are standard days off for most workers, making the stretch from 3 April to 6 April a four-day weekend.
Festival dates (Buddha’s Birthday, Tuen Ng, Chung Yeung)
The Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority) lists Buddha’s Birthday on 24 May 2026 (Sunday — falls on a weekend), Tuen Ng Festival on 19 June (Friday), and Chung Yeung Festival on 18 October (Sunday). When a statutory holiday lands on a Sunday, no substitution day is automatically provided unless the ordinance specifies otherwise — a nuance that catches many workers off guard.
Two major statutory holidays — Buddha’s Birthday and Chung Yeung — fall on Sundays in 2026. That means employees entitled to paid statutory holidays may lose one of their 15 days unless the employer offers a substitute day. This is not legally required under the Employment Ordinance for Sunday-falling holidays.
How do public holidays affect domestic helpers?
Statutory holiday entitlements for foreign domestic helpers
Domestic helpers in Hong Kong are entitled to the same 15 statutory holidays as all other employees under the Employment Ordinance. The Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority) explicitly states that Easter Monday, newly added to the statutory list in 2026, applies to helpers too.
Employer obligations
Employers must grant paid leave for statutory holidays. If a helper works on a statutory holiday, the employer must pay overtime at the agreed rate plus grant an alternative holiday within 60 days. General holidays that are not statutory — the day after Good Friday and the first weekday after Christmas — are only compulsory if specified in the employment contract.
The catch: many standard contracts for domestic helpers follow the government’s model, which typically grants all general holidays. But the law only guarantees the 15 statutory ones. Employers who want clarity should check the specific terms in their helper’s contract. For more protection, see our Domestic Helper Insurance: Complete Guide.
How to plan your leave around the 2026 holidays?
Maximizing annual leave for long weekends
Several long weekends in 2026 require only one or two days of annual leave. Easter (3–7 April) becomes a five-day break by taking 5 April (Sunday is standard off) and 7 April (Tuesday leave). National Day (1–2 October) paired with 3 October (Saturday) creates a three-day weekend.
Printable calendar and PDF resources
The GovHK (the city’s official government portal) offers a downloadable PDF calendar for 2026 general holidays. The Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority) provides a separate PDF specifically for statutory holidays, including a version tailored for domestic helpers. For other financial planning, check CDC Voucher 2026 Payout Date.
For domestic helpers, the 2026 calendar delivers four Friday holidays (Good Friday, Labour Day, Tuen Ng, National Day) and one Monday holiday (Easter Monday). That’s five built-in three-day weekends with zero annual leave required — the best arrangement in recent years.
Timeline
- — New Year’s Day (statutory & general) (GovHK)
- — Lunar New Year holidays (statutory & general) (GovHK)
- — Good Friday (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Day after Good Friday (general only) (GovHK)
- — Easter Monday (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Labour Day (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Buddha’s Birthday (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Tuen Ng Festival (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — HKSAR Establishment Day (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — National Day (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Day after National Day (general only) (GovHK)
- — Chung Yeung Festival (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — Christmas Day (statutory & general) (Labour Dept)
- — First weekday after Christmas (general only) (GovHK)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- All dates from GovHK and Labour Department are official and confirmed. (GovHK)
- 15 statutory holidays are mandated by law. (Labour Dept)
- Easter Monday is a new statutory holiday from 2026. (Labour Dept)
- Domestic helpers are entitled to all 15 statutory holidays. (Labour Dept)
What’s unclear
- Exact dates for some floating festivals like Mid-Autumn Festival (observed in 2026? Not on official list; check). (GovHK)
- Whether a public holiday falling on a Sunday will be observed on the following Monday (HK rules: usually no substitute unless designated by law). (Labour Dept)
- Whether the employer’s option for Chinese Winter Solstice or Christmas Day will be further defined by the Labour Department. (Labour Dept)
- Whether the government will issue a final gazette with exact dates for floating festivals before the year. (GovHK)
What others are saying
Domestic helpers are entitled to all 15 statutory holidays under the Employment Ordinance. Employers must grant paid leave for these days.
— Hong Kong Labour Department (statutory holiday authority)
The general holidays for 2026 include 17 days, with the full list published for public reference.
— GovHK (the city’s official government portal)
The pattern across official sources: consistent on statutory dates, but general holiday lists can vary by year, especially for floating festivals.
Bottom line for 2026
For Hong Kong employers and domestic helpers, the 2026 calendar brings one significant change — Easter Monday joins the statutory list, giving workers their 15th guaranteed day off. The real challenge is the two statutory holidays falling on Sundays (Buddha’s Birthday and Chung Yeung), which means some employees effectively lose those days unless their employer voluntarily provides substitutes. For domestic helpers, the choice is clear: check your contract’s holiday clause against the statutory list, or risk missing two of your 15 guaranteed days.
humanresourcesonline.net, eskimo.travel, helperplace.com, gov.hk
For reference to recent changes, the 2025 Hong Kong holiday schedule provides a useful comparison to the 2026 list.
Frequently asked questions
Are public holidays the same every year in Hong Kong?
No. Some holidays — especially traditional Chinese festivals — shift dates annually based on the lunar calendar. The government publishes the official list each year.
Do I get paid if I work on a public holiday?
If it’s a statutory holiday, you must receive paid leave or overtime plus an alternative holiday. General holidays that are not statutory may not require paid leave unless your contract says so.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
Under Hong Kong law, no automatic substitution is provided unless the holiday is specifically designated otherwise. Check the ordinance for each holiday.
Is the first weekday after Christmas a public holiday?
Yes, 26 December 2026 (Saturday) is a general holiday. But it is not a statutory holiday, so not all workers are entitled to paid leave on that day.
Are there any public holidays in Hong Kong that are not statutory?
Yes. The day after Good Friday and the first weekday after Christmas are general holidays but not statutory. Two additional general-only days may be added annually.
Can an employer require a domestic helper to work on a statutory holiday?
Yes, but only if the employer pays overtime and grants an alternative holiday within 60 days as per the Employment Ordinance.
How can I download the official 2026 holiday calendar?
The GovHK website and Labour Department both offer free PDF downloads of the holiday schedules.
Are all general holidays also statutory holidays for all workers?
No. Only 15 of the 17 general holidays are statutory. The two general-only days depend on your employment contract.
More related posts
Plate Carlton City Hotel – Reviews, Location and Free Parking
Al Azhar Bukit Timah: Menu, Hours, Location & Orders
Sap Asia Pte Ltd – UEN Address Directors Profile
19.34 Viral Video Original Link: How to Find It Safely
Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam: Reviews & Prices
Premier League schedule 2025/26: fixtures, standings, live scores
Best Scenic Train Rides: Top Routes, Costs, and Tips
How to Cure a Sore Throat Fast: Remedies & Tips
