China Announces 5-Day May Day Holiday for 2026

The General Office of the State Council has officially released the 2026 public holiday schedule. Labor Day (May Day) will be observed as a 5-day break from Friday, May 1, to Tuesday, May 5, 2026. To compensate for the extended holiday, employees will work on Saturday, May 9.

This adjustment follows a national policy update in November 2025, which maintains the extended holiday pattern for both the Spring Festival and May Day, ensuring a total of seven major public holidays for Chinese citizens.

May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, is a public holiday in China honoring workers' contributions. The 5-day holiday is expected to boost domestic tourism, consumption, and short-distance travel nationwide.