Vesak Day Singapore 2026, 2027 & 2028

Vesak Day, sometimes called Buddha’s Birthday, is one of the more spiritually significant dates on Singapore’s holiday calendar, and one of the trickier ones to plan around since it follows the lunar calendar rather than a fixed date. Here’s what’s confirmed and what’s still an estimate.

Vesak Day Dates

In 2026, Vesak Day itself falls on a Sunday, which is a non-working day for most people anyway. Since it’s a gazetted holiday landing on a rest day, Monday 1 June 2026 is observed as the paid holiday in lieu, per MOM’s rules. In 2027, Vesak Day falls on a Thursday, so there’s no day-in-lieu — but it does sit close to Hari Raya Haji (17 May 2027), so it’s worth checking whether taking the Friday off between them makes sense for a longer break.

Why the 2028 Date Isn’t Final Yet

Vesak Day is set according to the lunar calendar, and MOM typically only gazettes the official date around a year or so in advance. The 24 May 2028 date above is a calculated estimate based on the lunar cycle, not an official MOM confirmation — we’ll update this page the moment the real date is announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a day off in lieu for Vesak Day 2026?

Yes. Vesak Day 2026 falls on Sunday, 31 May, so Monday, 1 June 2026 is observed as the holiday in lieu.

Why does Vesak Day fall on a different date every year?

Vesak Day follows the lunar calendar, tied to the full moon in the fourth or fifth lunar month, so its Gregorian calendar date shifts from year to year, similar to Chinese New Year or Hari Raya.

Source: Ministry of Manpower (MOM) gazetted public holidays for 2026 and 2027. The 2028 date is a lunar-calendar estimate pending official confirmation. Last verified: September 2026.

See also: Singapore Public Holidays 2027 | Singapore Public Holidays 2026