School holidays in Australia, 2026
Term breaks region by region, taken from the published education calendars. Schools add their own staff-training and free-choice days on top, so confirm the exact first and last day with your school.
School holiday dates 2026
Australia has no national school calendar: every state and territory sets its own four terms, and the dates below are for government schools. The school year runs February to December, so the long summer break spans the turn of the year. Catholic and independent schools usually start a few days earlier and finish a few days later, and each system adds its own pupil-free days.
New South Wales (eastern division)
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 21 Apr 2026
19 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 4 Jul 2026
Ends: 20 Jul 2026
17 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 26 Sep 2026
Ends: 12 Oct 2026
17 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 18 Dec 2026
Ends: 2 Feb 2027
47 days
Victoria
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 19 Apr 2026
17 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 27 Jun 2026
Ends: 12 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 19 Sep 2026
Ends: 4 Oct 2026
16 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 19 Dec 2026
Ends: 27 Jan 2027
40 days
Queensland
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 19 Apr 2026
17 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 27 Jun 2026
Ends: 12 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 19 Sep 2026
Ends: 5 Oct 2026
17 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 12 Dec 2026
Ends: 26 Jan 2027
46 days
Western Australia
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 19 Apr 2026
17 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 4 Jul 2026
Ends: 19 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 26 Sep 2026
Ends: 11 Oct 2026
16 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 18 Dec 2026
Ends: 31 Jan 2027
45 days
South Australia
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 11 Apr 2026
Ends: 26 Apr 2026
16 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 4 Jul 2026
Ends: 19 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 26 Sep 2026
Ends: 11 Oct 2026
16 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 12 Dec 2026
Ends: 26 Jan 2027
46 days
Tasmania
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 18 Apr 2026
Ends: 3 May 2026
16 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 11 Jul 2026
Ends: 26 Jul 2026
16 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 3 Oct 2026
Ends: 18 Oct 2026
16 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 19 Dec 2026
Ends: 3 Feb 2027
47 days
Australian Capital Territory
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 20 Apr 2026
18 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 4 Jul 2026
Ends: 20 Jul 2026
17 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 26 Sep 2026
Ends: 12 Oct 2026
17 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 19 Dec 2026
Ends: 31 Jan 2027
44 days
Northern Territory
Term 1 holidays
Starts: 3 Apr 2026
Ends: 13 Apr 2026
11 days
Term 2 holidays
Starts: 20 Jun 2026
Ends: 13 Jul 2026
24 days
Term 3 holidays
Starts: 19 Sep 2026
Ends: 5 Oct 2026
17 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 11 Dec 2026
Ends: 26 Jan 2027
47 days
Dates published by: each state and territory education department. Official source
Public holidays that close schools anyway
New Year's Day
Nationwide
Australia Day
Nationwide
Labour Day
Regional · AU-WA
Canberra Day
Regional · AU-ACT
Adelaide Cup Day
Regional · AU-SA
Eight Hours Day
Regional · AU-TAS
Labour Day
Regional · AU-VIC
Good Friday
Nationwide
Easter Eve
Holy Saturday · Regional · AU-ACT, AU-NSW, AU-NT, AU-QLD, AU-SA, AU-VIC
Easter Sunday
Regional · AU-ACT, AU-NSW, AU-NT, AU-QLD, AU-SA, AU-VIC, AU-WA
Easter Monday
Nationwide
Anzac Day
Regional · AU-SA, AU-TAS, AU-VIC
Anzac Day
Regional · AU-NT, AU-QLD
Anzac Day
Regional · AU-NSW, AU-ACT, AU-WA
May Day
Regional · AU-NT
Labour Day
Regional · AU-QLD
Reconciliation Day
Regional · AU-ACT
Western Australia Day
Regional · AU-WA
King's Birthday
Regional · AU-ACT, AU-NSW, AU-NT, AU-SA, AU-TAS, AU-VIC
Picnic Day
Regional · AU-NT
Friday before AFL Grand Final
Regional · AU-VIC
King's Birthday
Regional · AU-WA
Labour Day
Regional · AU-ACT, AU-NSW, AU-SA
King's Birthday
Regional · AU-QLD
Melbourne Cup
Regional · AU-VIC
Christmas Day
Nationwide
Boxing Day
St. Stephen's Day · Nationwide