Asia public holidays 2026: plan your business calendar

Asia public holidays 2026 arrive in clusters, and a cluster can close three markets in the same week. If you run teams or deadlines in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, the safest move is to mark the long breaks now and keep those days clear. This guide walks through the year in four blocks. It uses the official lists from each government.

Public holidays differ by country, and they differ by contract. Check your own employment terms and your local rules before you lock a date.

January to March: the first break comes early

All three markets pause on Thursday 1 January. Japan adds Coming of Age Day on Monday 12 January and National Foundation Day on Wednesday 11 February. The Emperor's Birthday follows on Monday 23 February, and Vernal Equinox Day on Friday 20 March.

The big event is Lunar New Year in mid February. Hong Kong closes on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 February. Singapore closes on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February. Japan stays open, but your partners in the other two markets will be away for most of that week. Do not plan a filing or a launch for 16 to 19 February.

Singapore also lists Hari Raya Puasa on Saturday 21 March. It falls on a weekend, so it does not remove a working day on the list, but check whether your contract gives a day in lieu.

Sources: Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays; Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays; Hong Kong Government, general holidays.

April to June: the busiest stretch

Easter creates the first long break. Good Friday is on 3 April in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Hong Kong then adds Saturday 4 April, Monday 6 April and Tuesday 7 April. Ching Ming Festival falls on Sunday 5 April, so Monday 6 April is the day off in its place. That Monday is also Easter Monday, so Hong Kong adds Tuesday 7 April as an extra day. That gives Hong Kong a five day stretch from Friday 3 April to Tuesday 7 April, with Sunday 5 April in the middle.

Japan's Golden Week holidays start with Showa Day on Wednesday 29 April. Then Constitution Memorial Day is Sunday 3 May, Greenery Day is Monday 4 May and Children's Day is Tuesday 5 May. Because 3 May is a Sunday, Wednesday 6 May is a substitute holiday. Thursday 30 April to Saturday 2 May are not holidays, but many Japanese teams take leave then, so expect slow replies for the whole stretch.

Friday 1 May is Labour Day in Singapore and Hong Kong. Hong Kong also closes on Monday 25 May for the day after the Buddha's Birthday. Singapore closes on Wednesday 27 May for Hari Raya Haji. Vesak Day is Sunday 31 May in Singapore, so Monday 1 June is the day off for staff whose rest day is Sunday. Hong Kong closes again on Friday 19 June for Tuen Ng Festival.

In short, almost every week from late April to early June has a closure somewhere. Treat those weeks as light weeks for approvals and sign offs.

Sources: Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays; Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays; Hong Kong Government, general holidays.

July to September: quieter, with one long weekend in Japan

Hong Kong marks Establishment Day on Wednesday 1 July. Japan has Marine Day on Monday 20 July and Mountain Day on Tuesday 11 August. Singapore's National Day is Sunday 9 August, so Monday 10 August is the day off for staff whose rest day is Sunday.

September has two items to note. Hong Kong closes on Saturday 26 September, the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival. It lands on a Saturday, so it adds no weekday closure. In Japan, Respect for the Aged Day is Monday 21 September and the Autumnal Equinox is Wednesday 23 September. The day between them, Tuesday 22 September, is also a holiday under Japan's rule for a weekday that sits between two holidays. Together with the weekend, Japan has a five day break from Saturday 19 September to Wednesday 23 September.

Sources: Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays; Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays; Hong Kong Government, general holidays.

October to December: three markets close in quick turns

Thursday 1 October is National Day in Hong Kong. Japan has Sports Day on Monday 12 October. Hong Kong closes on Monday 19 October for the day after Chung Yeung Festival, which falls on a Sunday.

In November, Japan closes on Tuesday 3 November for Culture Day and Monday 23 November for Labor Thanksgiving Day. Singapore's Deepavali is Sunday 8 November, so Monday 9 November is the day off for staff whose rest day is Sunday.

December ends with Christmas Day on Friday 25 December in Singapore and Hong Kong. Hong Kong also lists Saturday 26 December as the first weekday after Christmas. Japan has no national holiday in December. Plan year end deliveries for the first half of the month, before staff in Singapore and Hong Kong start to leave.

Sources: Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays; Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays; Hong Kong Government, general holidays.

Three habits that keep deadlines safe

First, build one shared calendar with all three markets on it, and send it to your teams and partners before the year starts. Second, set every hard deadline at least two working days before a closure, because people leave early and replies slow down. Third, ask each market lead to confirm the dates against the official source. Governments can change a list, and Sunday rules shift the day off to a Monday.

A quick check works well each quarter. Open the calendar, look at the next 90 days, and move anything that lands inside a cluster. Small moves now cost far less than a missed filing.

Sources: Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays; Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays; Hong Kong Government, general holidays.

Sources

Singapore Ministry of Manpower, public holidays: https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/public-holidays
Cabinet Office of Japan, national holidays: https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html
Hong Kong Government, general holidays: https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/