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What are China's public holidays in 2026 — and what actually closes?

The official 2026 schedule, and which windows actually matter for travel planning.

Short answer

Seven official holiday periods in 2026 — two matter most for travel planning

China's State Council publishes an official yearly holiday schedule. For 2026: New Year, Spring Festival, Qingming, Labor Day, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, and National Day. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and National Day (Golden Week) are the two that most affect transport, crowds, and small-business closures for tourists.

2026 official holiday schedule

New Year's DayJanuary 1–33 daysMinor for tourism — most businesses stay open.
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)February 15–239 daysThe biggest one — see our dedicated Chinese New Year travel guide.
Qingming FestivalApril 4–63 daysModerate domestic travel bump; a family tomb-sweeping holiday.
Labor DayMay 1–55 daysA real domestic travel peak — book transport and hotels ahead if you overlap it.
Dragon Boat FestivalJune 19–213 daysModerate; regional dragon boat races draw local crowds in some cities.
Mid-Autumn FestivalSeptember 25–273 daysModerate domestic travel bump; a family holiday.
National Day (Golden Week)October 1–77 daysThe other big one — see our dedicated Golden Week guide.

Frequently asked questions

China's General Office of the State Council, in an official notice on 2026 holiday arrangements published 2025-11-04. See the official source below.

Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, Feb 15–23) and National Day / Golden Week (Oct 1–7) are the two big ones for transport crowding and small-business closures. The others are milder.

No — this page covers 2026 only. China's holiday calendar is published fresh each year, and Spring Festival's date shifts with the lunar calendar. Check for an updated schedule when planning a different year.

These are the nationally observed public holiday periods from the official notice. Some regions and ethnic groups observe additional local holidays not covered by this national schedule.

Official sources

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→Should I avoid Golden Week?→Traveling China during Chinese New Year→China readiness checklist