Last updated: 18 September 2026.
Short answer: Hong Kong has 15 statutory holidays in 2026 and 15 in 2027. Easter Monday became a statutory holiday for the first time in 2026, under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which is phasing statutory holidays up to 17 days a year by 2030.
Statutory holidays in Hong Kong 2026
| # | Holiday | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 1 January 2026 |
| 2 | Lunar New Year’s Day | 17 February 2026 |
| 3 | Second day of Lunar New Year | 18 February 2026 |
| 4 | Third day of Lunar New Year | 19 February 2026 |
| 5 | Ching Ming Festival | 5 April 2026 |
| 6 | Easter Monday (new) | 6 April 2026 |
| 7 | Labour Day | 1 May 2026 |
| 8 | Buddha’s Birthday | 24 May 2026 |
| 9 | Tuen Ng Festival | 19 June 2026 |
| 10 | HKSAR Establishment Day | 1 July 2026 |
| 11 | Day after Mid-Autumn Festival | 26 September 2026 |
| 12 | National Day | 1 October 2026 |
| 13 | Chung Yeung Festival | 18 October 2026 |
| 14 | Winter Solstice or Christmas Day | 22 or 25 December 2026 |
| 15 | Day after Christmas | 26 December 2026 |
Statutory holidays in Hong Kong 2027
| # | Holiday | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 |
| 2 | Lunar New Year’s Day | 6 February 2027 |
| 3 | Third day of Lunar New Year | 8 February 2027 |
| 4 | Fourth day of Lunar New Year | 9 February 2027 |
| 5 | Easter Monday | 29 March 2027 |
| 6 | Ching Ming Festival | 5 April 2027 |
| 7 | Labour Day | 1 May 2027 |
| 8 | Buddha’s Birthday | 13 May 2027 |
| 9 | Tuen Ng Festival | 9 June 2027 |
| 10 | HKSAR Establishment Day | 1 July 2027 |
| 11 | Day after Mid-Autumn Festival | 16 September 2027 |
| 12 | National Day | 1 October 2027 |
| 13 | Chung Yeung Festival | 8 October 2027 |
| 14 | Winter Solstice or Christmas Day | 22 or 25 December 2027 |
| 15 | First weekday after Christmas | 27 December 2027 |
In 2027 the second day of Lunar New Year falls on a Sunday, so the fourth day is designated as the statutory holiday instead. Source: Labour Department, 2026 statutory holidays and 2027 statutory holidays.
Statutory holidays are not the same as general holidays
This is the single most common payroll error in Hong Kong. Statutory holidays are the days every employee is entitled to under the Employment Ordinance. General holidays (often called bank holidays or public holidays) are a longer list of 17 days that banks, schools and government offices observe. Many white-collar employers voluntarily give the general holiday list, but only the statutory list is a legal entitlement.
The two lists are converging. The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 is adding statutory holidays in stages until the statutory list matches the general holiday list at 17 days in 2030. Easter Monday was the addition that took effect in 2026.
Who gets paid for a statutory holiday?
All employees are entitled to the statutory holidays themselves, regardless of length of service. Whether the day is paid depends on continuous contract status: an employee who has been employed under a continuous contract for at least three months before the holiday is entitled to holiday pay. Since 18 January 2026 the continuous contract test itself has changed, which brings more part-time staff into scope. See our guide to the 468 continuous contract rule.
What if the business needs to open on a statutory holiday?
An employer can require work on a statutory holiday, but must arrange an alternative holiday within 60 days before or after it, and must give the employee at least 48 hours’ notice. A substituted holiday can be agreed instead, again with 48 hours’ notice. Employers cannot pay an employee in lieu of a statutory holiday.
What this costs an employer
Fifteen statutory holidays is roughly three working weeks a year once you add paid annual leave, which starts at 7 days after 12 months of service and rises with length of service. When you are budgeting a new hire in Hong Kong, the working-days-per-year figure to plan against is closer to 230 than 260. Our Hong Kong hiring guide works through the full cost of a hire, including MPF.
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays are there in Hong Kong in 2026?
Fifteen. Easter Monday was added for the first time in 2026.
How many statutory holidays will there be in 2030?
Seventeen, at which point the statutory holiday list will match the general holiday list.
Is Easter Monday a statutory holiday in Hong Kong?
Yes, from 2026 onwards, under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.
Can an employer pay an employee instead of giving a statutory holiday?
No. Payment in lieu of a statutory holiday is not permitted. If the employee works the day, an alternative or substituted holiday must be arranged.
Do part-time employees get statutory holidays in Hong Kong?
All employees are entitled to the holidays. Holiday pay requires a continuous contract of at least three months before the holiday.
Planning your 2026 and 2027 headcount
FuturRecruit is a licensed Hong Kong employment agency (Employment Agency Licence 83821) helping employers hire, cost and staff roles across Hong Kong. Get in touch or browse our recruitment services.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm current dates with the Labour Department.
Related guides
- The 468 Continuous Contract Rule — the test that changed on 18 January 2026
- Minimum Wage in Hong Kong 2026 — HK$43.1 per hour and how it is calculated
- MPF for Employers in Hong Kong — contribution rates and the end of offsetting
- How to Hire Staff in Hong Kong — the full process and cost of a Hong Kong hire
