Taiwan undecided over 2026 New Year holiday schedule

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The government said Thursday it would listen to public opinion about the length of the next New Year holiday.

Because Jan. 1, 2026, falls on a Thursday, under present arrangements, there would be no day off the following day to attain a four-day vacation. The finding reportedly led to an online war of words between supporters and opponents.

The government said that each year, its plans for flexible holidays receive opposing reactions. The Directorate-General of Personnel Administration will study the issue and take societal opinions into consideration for its policies, Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said.

Action groups earlier also called for other changes to holidays, including giving May 1’s Labor Day and Sept. 28’s Teachers’ Day off to all people, and not just to laborers or teachers and students. The government is evaluating the requests from labor and parents groups.