How Singapore's public holidays are set
Checked against MOM on 15 November 2026
Singapore has 11 public holidays every year. The list stays the same; only the dates move for the festivals that follow lunar or religious calendars.
The 11 holidays
| Holiday | Calendar it follows |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Gregorian, 1 January |
| Chinese New Year (2 days) | Chinese lunisolar calendar |
| Hari Raya Puasa | Islamic calendar |
| Good Friday | Christian, tied to Easter |
| Labour Day | Gregorian, 1 May |
| Hari Raya Haji | Islamic calendar |
| Vesak Day | Buddhist lunar calendar |
| National Day | Gregorian, 9 August |
| Deepavali | Hindu calendar |
| Christmas Day | Gregorian, 25 December |
The mix reflects Singapore’s main communities: Chinese, Malay, Indian and others, and the religions they practise.
Who sets them and when
Public holidays are set under Singapore’s Holidays Act. Each year, usually around June, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announces the dates for the following year. The 2027 list was announced on 18 June 2026. For festival dates, the government takes advice from the relevant religious bodies.
The Sunday rule
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day is a public holiday. That is why Monday 8 February 2027 is a holiday: the second day of Chinese New Year falls on a Sunday. There is no similar rule for Saturdays. See Sunday holidays and Saturday holidays.
Extra holidays
- Polling Day for a general or presidential election is a public holiday. For example, Saturday 3 May 2025 was Polling Day for the 2025 General Election.
- The government can also declare a one-off holiday, as it did for the nation’s 50th birthday in 2015.
When an extra holiday is declared, it applies like any other: paid for employees covered by the Employment Act, with extra pay or time off for those who work.
Are public holidays paid?
For employees covered by the Employment Act, yes: all 11 are paid holidays. If you are not covered, your contract decides. More in working on a public holiday.
Sources: MOM, public holidays; MOM, public holidays for 2027.
Plan your 2027 leave around the public holidays.