Chinese Public Holidays: Golden Weeks and Make-Up Workdays
Understand China’s public holidays, Golden Weeks and make-up workdays, with festival context and practical advice for travel, payroll and planning.
11 min readChina holiday calendar
Public holidays in China 2026
Calendar compilation last reviewed
Plan the year with every China public holiday, regional date and major cultural observance in our calendar. Each entry links to a detailed guide covering its history, status, traditions and sources.
- Public holidays
- 33
- Regional dates
- 0
- Observances
- 8
- Substitute dates
- 0
How public holidays work in China
The calendar separates public holidays from regional dates and cultural observances. Public holidays are the broadest category in our China calendar. Regional holidays may apply only in a particular state, province, territory or community, while an observance does not automatically mean that workplaces, schools or public services close.
No separate substitute dates are currently listed for 2026. Weekend and time-off rules can still vary by employer, region and holiday, so consult the linked guide and primary source before making arrangements. February is the busiest month, with 11 listed dates.
China holiday dates in 2026
The table lists 41 calendar entries. Follow a holiday name for its full background, observance details and traditions.
| Date | Holiday | Type | Observed day |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s DayThe January 1 statutory public holiday opening China’s Gregorian civil year; the official 2026 break runs January 1–3. | Public holiday | — | |
| New Year HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the New Year’s Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| New Year HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the New Year’s Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| New Year Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the New Year’s Day holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Spring Festival Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the Spring Festival holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Spring Festival HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Lunar New Year’s EveAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring FestivalChina’s principal lunisolar new-year holiday, beginning February 17 in 2026 and forming a nine-day official break from February 15–23. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival Second DayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival Third DayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Spring Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Spring Festival Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the Spring Festival holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Lantern FestivalA widely observed cultural festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, closing the traditional Chinese New Year season; it is not a statutory day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Qingming HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Qingming Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Qingming FestivalA statutory public holiday for tomb sweeping, remembrance and spring outings; the 2026 official break runs April 4–6. | Public holiday | — | |
| Qingming HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Qingming Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour DayThe May 1 statutory public holiday recognising workers; the official 2026 Labour Day break runs May 1–5. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour Day Second DayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Labour Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Labour Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Labour Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Labour Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Labour Day Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the Labour Day holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Dragon Boat FestivalA statutory public holiday on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, marked by dragon-boat races, zongzi and cultural remembrance; June 19 in 2026. | Public holiday | — | |
| Dragon Boat HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Dragon Boat Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Dragon Boat HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Dragon Boat Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the National Day holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Mid-Autumn FestivalA statutory public holiday on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, centred on moon viewing, reunion and mooncakes; September 25 in 2026. | Public holiday | — | |
| Mid-Autumn HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| Mid-Autumn HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National DayThe October 1 statutory public holiday marking the founding of the People’s Republic of China; the 2026 National Day break runs October 1–7. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day Second DayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day Third DayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day HolidayAn official 2026 mainland rest day within the National Day holiday period, canonicalised to the main festival guide. | Public holiday | — | |
| National Day Working DayAn official 2026 adjusted working day supporting the National Day holiday arrangement; it is not a public holiday or day off. | Cultural observance | — | |
| Double Ninth FestivalA cultural observance on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, associated with respect for older people; it is not a statutory public holiday. | Cultural observance | — |
Stories behind the dates
Understand China holidays and traditions
Go beyond the calendar with editorial guides to public-holiday rules, historical context and the ways people observe important dates.
Sources for China holidays
Calendar dates and classifications are checked against the primary calendar sources below. Historical and cultural claims have additional citations on each individual holiday guide.
- gov.cnPrimary calendar source
- en.chinaculture.orgPrimary calendar source
- en.chinaculture.orgPrimary calendar source
- english.www.gov.cnPrimary calendar source
- english.www.gov.cnPrimary calendar source