2026 Public School Holidays: Australian State Guide

· 2026 public school holidays

Planning Ahead for 2026 School Holidays

For Australian families, mapping out the year begins with understanding school term dates. The 2026 public school holidays vary significantly between states and territories, as each education department sets its own calendar. While exact, finalised dates are typically confirmed in late 2025, we can provide a reliable, indicative guide based on historical patterns. This helps you start planning potential family trips, childcare arrangements, and budget for the year ahead. Crucially, all families must verify the official 2026 term dates with their respective state or territory education department or their school directly before making any binding commitments.

Why 2026 Dates Are Not Yet Final

School calendars are usually published 12-18 months in advance. For 2026, most departments will release the official calendars in late 2025. The dates provided below are projections based on the standard term structures, public holiday placements, and historical cycles for each jurisdiction. They are intended for preliminary planning only.

State and Territory 2026 Term Date Overview

The following tables outline the estimated term start and end dates, and the subsequent holiday periods for 2026. “Public school” refers to government schools. Independent and Catholic schools often align closely but may have slight variations, particularly for professional development days (often called “pupil-free days”).

New South Wales (NSW)

NSW typically operates on a three-term structure with a longer summer break.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Friday, 30 January 2026Friday, 10 April 202611 Apr - 26 Apr
Term 2Monday, 27 April 2026Friday, 3 July 20264 Jul - 19 Jul
Term 3Monday, 20 July 2026Friday, 25 September 202626 Sep - 11 Oct
Term 4Monday, 12 October 2026Friday, 18 December 202619 Dec 2026 - 29 Jan 2027

Note: The 2026 NSW calendar includes an additional “extra day” holiday on Monday, 26 January for Australia Day observed, and a 3-day Easter break aligning with Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April).

Victoria (VIC)

Victoria also uses a three-term system, with dates often differing from NSW.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Tuesday, 27 January 2026Friday, 27 March 202628 Mar - 12 Apr
Term 2Monday, 13 April 2026Friday, 26 June 202627 Jun - 11 Jul
Term 3Monday, 12 July 2026Friday, 18 September 202619 Sep - 4 Oct
Term 4Monday, 5 October 2026Friday, 18 December 202619 Dec 2026 - 25 Jan 2027

Queensland (QLD)

Queensland’s three-term year often starts and ends slightly earlier than southern states.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Monday, 26 January 2026Friday, 27 March 202628 Mar - 12 Apr
Term 2Monday, 13 April 2026Friday, 19 June 202620 Jun - 5 Jul
Term 3Monday, 6 July 2026Friday, 11 September 202612 Sep - 27 Sep
Term 4Monday, 28 September 2026Friday, 11 December 202612 Dec 2026 - 25 Jan 2027

South Australia (SA)

SA follows a three-term structure similar to Victoria but with its own timing.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Tuesday, 27 January 2026Friday, 10 April 202611 Apr - 26 Apr
Term 2Monday, 27 April 2026Friday, 3 July 20264 Jul - 19 Jul
Term 3Monday, 20 July 2026Friday, 25 September 202626 Sep - 11 Oct
Term 4Monday, 12 October 2026Friday, 11 December 202612 Dec 2026 - 25 Jan 2027

Western Australia (WA)

WA also uses three terms, with a slightly different mid-year break.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Monday, 26 January 2026Friday, 27 March 202628 Mar - 12 Apr
Term 2Monday, 13 April 2026Friday, 25 June 202626 Jun - 11 Jul
Term 3Monday, 12 July 2026Friday, 18 September 202619 Sep - 4 Oct
Term 4Monday, 5 October 2026Friday, 10 December 202611 Dec 2026 - 25 Jan 2027

Tasmania (TAS)

Tasmania’s public school calendar is set by the Tasmanian Department of Education.

TermStart (Est.)End (Est.)Holiday Period (Est.)
Term 1Thursday, 29 January 2026Friday, 10 April 202611 Apr - 26 Apr
Term 2Monday, 27 April 2026Friday, 3 July 20264 Jul - 19 Jul
Term 3Monday, 20 July 2026Friday, 25 September 202626 Sep - 11 Oct
Term 4Monday, 12 October 2026Friday, 11 December 202612 Dec 2026 - 25 Jan 2027

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) & Northern Territory (NT)

The ACT and NT follow patterns similar to NSW and WA respectively, but with their own specific public holidays (like Canberra Day in ACT and Picnic Day in NT) which can create extra days off.

TerritoryKey Estimated 2026 Features
ACTFour-term year, similar to NSW. Term 1 likely starts late Jan, with breaks in Apr, Jul, Oct, and a long Dec/Jan break.
NTThree-term year, similar to WA. Term dates will include a long “Term 3” break in July/August (known as the “Dry Season” break).

Again, these are projections. Check the ACT Education Directorate and NT Department of Education websites in late 2025 for the official calendars.

Key Considerations for Family Travel Planning

  1. Peak Periods & Pricing: School holiday periods, especially the long Christmas/New Year break and the July/August holidays, are peak travel times. Flights, accommodation, and popular attractions will be at their most expensive and crowded. Booking well in advance (often 6-12 months ahead) is essential for major destinations.
  2. Shoulder Seasons: Consider travelling just before or after the official school holidays. For example, a trip in late January (after NSW/QLD start) or early December can offer better value and fewer crowds, though you must check for any pupil-free days at your child’s school.
  3. Long Weekends: Public holidays that fall near weekends often extend the break. A public holiday on a Monday or Friday creates a three-day weekend. Some states also have “show days” or local holidays. Factor these into your planning as they can make short getaways very popular.
  4. State-Specific Events: Aligning your trip with a state’s unique school holiday period can let you experience local festivals (e.g., the Ekka in Brisbane during QLD’s August holidays, or the Royal Adelaide Show during SA’s Term 3 break).
  5. Childcare & Activities: For families staying home, school holidays mean a need for vacation care, workshops, and activities. Many councils, libraries, and community centres publish their holiday program guides months in advance. These often book out quickly during popular periods.

Actionable Steps for 2026

  1. Bookmark Official Sources: Save your state/territory education department’s website. Search for “[Your State] Department of Education school calendar 2026” in late 2024/early 2025.
  2. Check Your School’s Calendar: Your school will publish its own calendar, incorporating the state dates but also adding staff professional development days, which are student-free. This is the definitive document for your family.
  3. Create a Family Calendar: Once you have the dates, plot them on a shared family calendar (digital or physical). Highlight the start/end of terms and the full holiday blocks.
  4. Set Travel Alerts: If you have a destination in mind, set up price alerts for flights and accommodation now. Monitor prices as the 2026 holiday periods approach.
  5. Plan Local Adventures: Use the holiday blocks to plan local day trips, museum visits, or outdoor activities. Having a few options pre-planned prevents the “I’m bored” syndrome during the long summer break.

Final Important Disclaimer

The term dates and holiday periods listed in this article are intelligent estimates only, based on historical patterns and known public holidays for 2026. They are not official and must not be used for contractual or financial decisions. The only authoritative source for 2026 public school holidays is the relevant state or territory education department or your individual school. Always confirm before booking non-refundable travel or paying for long-term childcare.

By using this guide as a starting point and verifying the final dates, Australian families can strategically and confidently plan for a fantastic 2026.