2026 School and Public Holidays Australia Guide

· 2026 school and public holidays

Planning 2026 School and Public Holidays in Australia

As families look ahead to 2026 school and public holidays, understanding term dates and long weekends is key for booking travel, organising childcare, or simply enjoying quality time. Australia’s school calendars vary by state and territory, while public holidays include national dates like Australia Day and state-specific ones like Labour Day. These projected dates are based on typical patterns and official announcements where available, but families must verify exact dates with their state or territory education department websites, as they can change due to unforeseen events.

This guide covers school term dates, public holidays, long weekends, and practical family travel tips to help you make the most of 2026 school and public holidays.

Projected School Term Dates for 2026

School terms generally follow a four-term structure, with holidays in between. Term 1 often aligns around Easter (projected Good Friday: 3 April 2026), creating an early autumn break. Here’s a state-by-state breakdown—always confirm via official sources like education.nsw.gov.au or equivalent.

New South Wales (NSW)

  • Term 1: 28 Jan – 10 Apr (approx. 11 weeks)
  • Autumn Holidays: 13 Apr – 27 Apr
  • Term 2: 28 Apr – 26 Jun (10 weeks)
  • Winter Holidays: 29 Jun – 11 Jul
  • Term 3: 12 Jul – 18 Sep (10 weeks)
  • Spring Holidays: 19 Sep – 3 Oct
  • Term 4: 4 Oct – 18 Dec (11 weeks)

NSW public schools often start on the last Thursday in January.

Victoria (VIC)

  • Term 1: 27 Jan – 2 Apr
  • Autumn: 3 Apr – 20 Apr
  • Term 2: 21 Apr – 26 Jun
  • Winter: 27 Jun – 11 Jul
  • Term 3: 12 Jul – 18 Sep
  • Spring: 19 Sep – 3 Oct
  • Term 4: 6 Oct – 18 Dec

Victorian calendars emphasise student-free days at term starts.

Queensland (QLD)

  • Term 1: 27 Jan – 3 Apr
  • Easter: 4 Apr – 14 Apr
  • Term 2: 15 Apr – 26 Jun
  • Winter: 27 Jun – 13 Jul
  • Term 3: 14 Jul – 18 Sep
  • Spring: 19 Sep – 6 Oct
  • Term 4: 7 Oct – 11 Dec

QLD has shorter terms in some regions; check for South East Queensland variations.

Western Australia (WA)

  • Term 1: 29 Jan – 3 Apr
  • Autumn: 4 Apr – 27 Apr
  • Term 2: 28 Apr – 3 Jul
  • Winter: 4 Jul – 20 Jul
  • Term 3: 21 Jul – 25 Sep
  • Spring: 26 Sep – 10 Oct
  • Term 4: 11 Oct – 18 Dec

WA holidays can extend slightly in non-metro areas.

South Australia (SA)

  • Term 1: 27 Jan – 3 Apr
  • Autumn: 4 Apr – 27 Apr
  • Term 2: 28 Apr – 5 Jul
  • Winter: 6 Jul – 20 Jul
  • Term 3: 21 Jul – 18 Sep
  • Spring: 19 Sep – 5 Oct
  • Term 4: 6 Oct – 17 Dec

Tasmania (TAS)

  • Term 1: 3 Feb – 27 Mar (early Easter finish)
  • Autumn: 28 Mar – 13 Apr
  • Term 2: 14 Apr – 26 Jun
  • Winter: 27 Jun – 13 Jul
  • Term 3: 14 Jul – 18 Sep
  • Spring: 19 Sep – 5 Oct
  • Term 4: 6 Oct – 16 Dec

Tasmania often starts later.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Aligns closely with NSW:

  • Term 1: 28 Jan – 10 Apr
  • Follows similar pattern to NSW.

Northern Territory (NT)

  • Term 1: 27 Jan – 2 Apr
  • Autumn: 3 Apr – 20 Apr
  • Term 2: 21 Apr – 3 Jul
  • Winter: 4 Jul – 20 Jul
  • Term 3: 21 Jul – 25 Sep
  • Spring: 26 Sep – 12 Oct
  • Term 4: 13 Oct – 11 Dec

Key Public Holidays in 2026

Public holidays boost school breaks into long weekends. National holidays apply everywhere; state ones vary—check fairwork.gov.au or state sites for substitutes if on weekends.

National Public Holidays

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 Jan
  • Australia Day: Tuesday, 26 Jan
  • Good Friday: Friday, 3 Apr
  • Easter Monday: Monday, 6 Apr
  • ANZAC Day: Saturday, 25 Apr (observed Friday, 24 Apr in most states)
  • Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 Dec
  • Boxing Day: Friday, 26 Dec

State-Specific Highlights

  • NSW/VIC/ACT: King’s Birthday 8 Jun (3rd Mon), Labour Day Oct (1st Mon)
  • QLD: Labour Day 5 May (1st Mon)
  • WA: Labour Day 2 Mar (1st Mon), WA Day 1 Jun
  • SA: Adelaide Cup 10 Mar, King’s Birthday 9 Jun (2nd Mon)
  • TAS: Eight Hour Day 9 Mar, King’s Birthday 14 Jun (2nd Mon)
  • NT: May Day 4 May, Picnic Day 3 Aug (1st Mon)

Long Weekends and Family Travel Opportunities

2026 school and public holidays align for great getaways:

  • January: Australia Day long weekend (24-26 Jan)—beach trips.
  • Easter (3-6 Apr): Four-day break across most states; caravan parks book fast.
  • June King’s Birthdays: Mid-winter escapes to snowfields in VIC/NSW.
  • September/October Labour Days: Spring drives to national parks.
  • December: Early Christmas holidays from mid-Dec.

Practical Family Travel Tips

  1. Book Early: Popular spots like Great Ocean Road (VIC) or Gold Coast (QLD) fill during school holidays.
  2. Budget Smart: Use public holidays for three-day trips to cut costs.
  3. Road Trips: Drive to Uluru (NT/QLD border) over Easter or winter.
  4. Flights: Monitor Qantas/Virgin for intra-state deals; families save with multi-city bookings.
  5. Alternatives: Staycations—visit local zoos (Taronga NSW, Lone Pine QLD) or theme parks (Dreamworld).
  6. Check Restrictions: Bushfire seasons or COVID rules may apply; use apps like Roadtrippers.
  7. Childcare: Grandparents or holiday programs during short breaks.

Final Advice

These projections for 2026 school and public holidays help with initial planning, but official calendars are released 12-18 months ahead—cross-check with your state education department (e.g., education.vic.gov.au) and holiday.gov.au. Apps like School Holidays Australia provide updates. Enjoy stress-free family adventures!

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