CNY 2026 in Singapore: Public Holiday Dates & HR Guide
Posted on 15 Jan 2026 in Business | Suki Bajaj
Chinese New Year (CNY) 2026 in Singapore marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is a major public holiday observed nationwide.
In 2026, CNY affects employee leave planning, payroll processing, and statutory holiday entitlements under MOM regulations.
For HR leaders, keeping track of these dates and navigating the MOM public holiday guidelines is essential for maintaining compliance and operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
- Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday, February 17, and Wednesday, February 18, as gazetted public holidays in Singapore.
- Employees who are required to work during the holiday must be compensated with an extra day's basic salary or a mutually agreed day off-in-lieu.
- To qualify for holiday pay, employees must NOT be absent without reason on the working days immediately preceding or following the holiday.
- HR teams should prepare for a surge in "bridge leave" requests on Monday, February 16, to ensure adequate staffing levels.
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
Simplify Your Public Holiday and Leave Management in Singapore
Get Started TodayWhen Is CNY 2026 in Singapore?
Planning ahead is key for workforce management. For those checking the CNY 2026 SG dates, the festivities fall in mid-February.
| Public Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| CNY Day 1 | Tuesday, 17 February 2026 |
| CNY Day 2 | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 |
In Singapore, CNY 2026 falls on 17 and 18 February 2026, both of which are gazetted public holidays applicable to all eligible employees.
📌 Check out the full list of 2026 Singapore Public Holidays, including mandatory pay and entitlement rules.
CNY 2026 Calendar – Singapore Public Holidays Overview
To help you visualize the month, here’s the CNY 2026 calendar at a glance:
February 2026 - Chinese New Year Public Holiday Dates
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (PH) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 🧧 |
18 🧧 |
19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
- February 17 (Tuesday): Chinese New Year (Day 1) – Gazetted Public Holiday.
- February 18 (Wednesday): Chinese New Year (Day 2) – Gazetted Public Holiday.
- February 16 (Monday): Many people take this day as "bridge leave" to create a 5-day long weekend starting from Saturday, February 14.
CNY 2026 Public Holiday Rules (MOM Guidelines)
In accordance with the Employment Act, the CNY 2026 MOM guidelines state that eligible employees who are required to work on a public holiday must be compensated. Employers must provide:
- A day off-in-lieu (mutually agreed upon), or
- Extra pay (typically an additional day's basic salary) as per the employment contract.
To qualify for CNY holiday pay, an employee must not be absent without reason on the working day immediately before or after the holiday, unless they were on authorised leave (e.g. medical leave, annual leave, unpaid leave)
If an employee is not covered under Part IV of the Employment Act, the employer can grant time off in lieu for working on a public holiday. The time off should consist of a mutually agreed number of hours.
If there is no mutual agreement on the duration of time off in lieu, the employer can decide on one of the following:
- Pay an extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay for one day’s work.
- For working 4 hours or less on a holiday, grant time off in lieu of 4 hours on a working day.
- For working more than 4 hours on a holiday, grant a full day off on a working day.
You can also use this public holiday pay calculator to check the employee’s pay for working on a public holiday that falls on a working day or non-working day.
NOTE: This calculator is only applicable for full-time employees covered by the Employment Act.
💡 Smart HR Tip: QuickHR Payroll Management Software seamlessly integrates with your leave system, ensuring accurate calculations of the employees’ pay on public holidays.
How Does CNY 2026 Affect Employers & HR Teams?
Festive periods often create conflicts when planning work schedules and shifts. You can expect:
- Leave Planning Spikes: A rush of "block leave" requests as employees look to extend their break.
- Complex Payroll: Manual calculations for public holiday pay and overtime can lead to errors.
- Attendance Tracking: Managing shifts for essential staff who work on Feb 17 and 18
💡 Smart HR Tip: QuickHR Leave Management System instantly flags schedule conflicts to prevent staff shortages and ensure smooth business operations even during peak seasons.
Employer Checklist for CNY 2026
Stay ahead of the festive season rush by preparing your to-do list when managing holiday pay, off-in-lieu, overtime, and more.
- Confirm public holiday dates in your company calendar.
- Plan and discuss work schedules early to avoid last-minute conflicts.
- Set clear off-in-lieu rules for those working the holiday.
- Ensure payroll accuracy by double-checking public holiday rate calculations.
- Update leave calendars to reflect team availability.
Streamline Your Public Holiday and Leave Management
QuickHR Leave Management System offers simplified leave processing where you can:
- Auto-sync public holidays and stay compliant with the latest official MOM public holiday dates and observed holidays.
- Automatically credit a day off-in-lieu or the next working day is gazetted as the holiday.
- Visualise leave schedules across departments with calendar integration to prevent staffing gaps, especially during seasonal peak period.
- Ensure MOM and CPF compliance with automated leave-to-payroll integration, ensuring accurate public holiday pay, off-in-lieu, and overtime.
- Seamlessly manage year-end leave balances and easily track PH Normal vs. OT hours, for smoother payroll and leave approvals.
To learn more about QuickHR, you may contact us or start your 14-day FREE trial with absolutely no terms and conditions!
Frequently Asked Questions
In the CNY 2026 calendar, the festive season formally begins on 17 February, which is a Tuesday and the official CNY 2026 last day falls on 18 February.
For HR planning, most businesses typically resume full operations after these two gazetted days, though individual leave requests often extend throughout the month.
According to the 2026 MOM guidelines, Singapore will observe a total of 11 gazetted public holidays. These dates are crucial for calculating payroll and determining rest day entitlements under the Employment Act.
The 15th day of the lunar new year, also known as Chap Goh Mei or the Lantern Festival, falls on 3 March 2026. While this isn't a public holiday, it is a culturally significant day for many employees, marking the final crescendo of family reunions and festive tossing of Yu Sheng.
Absolutely. Per the official CNY 2026 MOM dates, 17 and 18 February 2026 (Tuesday and Wednesday) are gazetted public holidays. Employers should ensure that any staff required to work on these dates are compensated with an extra day's basic pay or a substituted day off, in accordance with the Employment Act regulations.