Hong Kong public holidays 2026: how to maximise your annual leave

One of the best things about living in Hong Kong is the plethora of public holidays. With myriad religious and ceremonial celebrations in the SAR, residents enjoy 17 general holidays annually. But with three of those falling on Saturdays in 2026, the average full-time office worker will only get 14.

So how do you make the most of them? We ran the numbers, and you can enjoy 19 days’ travel over Chinese New Year and Easter, by using just five days of annual leave. Better yet, those with annual leave entitlement of 16 days can maximise travel to 46 days away over five trips. And even if you don’t have the luxury of ample leave to spare, don’t worry – this year everyone will enjoy seven long weekends. Time to get planning.  

No-brainer getaways 

1. Chinese New Year (17–19 February) 

Enjoy nine days away with two days annual leave

With the three-day Chinese New Year holiday falling between Tuesday and Thursday, you only need to take off Monday 16 and Friday 20 February to secure a nine-day break. Flights and hotels at popular regional locations fill up fast, so book a trip slightly further afield to the world’s most colourful country, India, where February offers cooler climates, ideal for exploration and adventure. 
 
To make the most of your time, we recommend flying into one city and out of another – in nine days you can easily explore the spirited capital of Delhi and the modern hub of Mumbai. For return visitors, our pro tip would be combining Chennai, the heart of Tamil culture, with the nearby futuristic tech capital and foodie paradise of Bengaluru. 

2. Easter (3–7 April) 

Enjoy 10 days away with three days of annual leave 

Due to a lunar calendar clash, this year the traditional Chinese Ching Ming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) falls in the middle of Easter weekend. Thankfully, Hongkongers get a day off for both, which means many get a five-day weekend, from 3–7 April. Why not add three extra days and extend your break until 12 April?

Regionally, it’s a great time to visit South Korea and catch the cherry blossom in full bloom, or maybe even learn to surf. But with 10 whole days, you could also consider a more expansive adventure. The climate in Italy is great, and Rome is the ultimate place to see Catholic observances.  

3. Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day (1 July) 

Take five days away with two days annual leave  

The citywide celebration falls on a Wednesday, so by tacking on two days before or after (29–30 June or 2–3 July), you’ll enjoy a five-day mid-year break, ideal for a regional reset in idyllic island Phuket or vibrant Kuala Lumpur. 

Those with a more generous annual leave allowance might take all four and escape to Canada for nine days, with summer being the ideal time to visit Toronto and Vancouver – dynamic urban hubs that also offer easy gateways to nature. Make the most of it, as it’s nearly three months until your next prime escape. 

4. National Day (1 October) 

Enjoy four days away with one day of annual leave 

This year, Mid-Autumn Festival falls on a Friday, which means the traditional day-following holiday is a Saturday. That means the next welcome weekday holiday is National Day, which falls on a Thursday. Book off the day after (2 October) for a quick four-day escape (1–4 October) to Bali, still enjoying great weather but in a quieter spell after the summer rush. 

But again, four days will get you nine days away (26 September – 4 October). This is the appealing shoulder season in South Africa, so why not book a flight to Johannesburg and splash out on that bucket-list safari? 

Long weekends 

1. Labour Day (1 May) 

The three-day weekend this Labour Day is ideal for a quick getaway to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. Take off the four days before the global workers’ holiday (27–30 April) and you can enjoy a nine-day run from 25 April to 3 May – a great time to take a blissed-out break in Barcelona, with its pleasant spring climate. Explore the dreamlike architecture of “Gaudi’s City” and consider splitting your stay and flying out of capital, Madrid.

2. Buddha’s Birthday (25 May) 

This year Buddha’s Birthday falls on a Monday, offering another welcome, mid-year three-day weekend. Chalk up the four days following it (26–29 May) as annual leave and enjoy a nine-day getaway from 23–31 May. With that time, consider a trip to Paris, the city not just of love – but also of art and food; or New York, the city of just about everything, which still sets the trends the rest of the world lives by. 

3. Dragon Boat Festival (19 June) 

In another happy holiday fluke, there’s a third three-day weekend within a seven-week period, with the Dragon Boat Festival (or Tuen Ng Festival) falling on a Friday. Add on the four preceding dates (15–18 June) and you get nine days at a destination of your choice, 13–21 June. Our pick would be Chicago, which also happens to be the starting point of Route 66. And 2026 is the year the road turns 100.

4. Chung Yeung Festival (19 October) 

This traditional festival celebrates elders and is known as “Double-Ninth Festival”. In 2026 it falls on a Monday, which presents another opportunity to upgrade to a nine-day getaway, by booking the following four days off (17–25 October). Post Golden Week, there’s never been a better time to visit the Chinese Mainland, with the southern cities of Chengdu, Changsha and Chongqing all enjoying great autumnal weather.

5. Christmas Day (25 December) 

In another blow for those who like to max out their winter break, this year Christmas Day falls on a Friday, so the day-after holiday traditionally observed on 26 December falls on a Saturday – which all adds up to just a three-day holiday rather than the usual four-day festive break. Enjoy nine days away by booking four days away from your desk and plan a trip to Australia – for the novelty of Christmas on the beach, complete with surfing Santas in Sydney.