School and Public Holidays 2026 in Australia

Planning School and Public Holidays 2026 in Australia

For Australian families, knowing school and public holidays 2026 ahead of time is key to organising family trips, work leave, and daily routines. School term dates vary across states and territories, while public holidays include national dates with some state-specific additions. This guide provides an overview based on typical patterns and announcements up to late 2025. Families must verify exact dates with their state or territory education department websites, as schedules can shift slightly each year. Public holidays are more fixed but may include part-day or substitute days.

Advance planning helps avoid peak travel crowds and book affordable family holidays. Below, we break down expected school holidays 2026 and major public holidays.

Expected School Holidays 2026 by State and Territory

Australia’s school year generally runs from late January to mid-December, with four terms separated by holidays. Term breaks are around two weeks for Easter/autumn, winter, and spring, plus a longer summer break. Dates below are based on proposed 2026 calendars released by education departments (as of 2025 announcements). Always check official sources like education.nsw.gov.au for NSW or vic.gov.au for Victoria.

New South Wales (NSW)

Public schools typically follow:

Summer holidays: End ~28 January (start of Term 1).
Autumn holidays: ~4 April to 27 April.
Winter holidays: ~27 June to 11 July.
Spring holidays: ~19 September to 3 October.
Summer holidays: Start ~19 December. Non-term weeks (pupil-free days) may add flexibility. Private schools vary—check individually.

Victoria (VIC)

Victorian calendars often align closely with NSW:

Term 1: ~27 January to ~3 April.
Autumn: ~4 April to 25 April (including Easter).
Winter: ~27 June to 12 July.
Spring: ~19 September to 6 October.
End of year: ~18 December. Regional variations exist; verify via education.vic.gov.au.

Queensland (QLD)

Queensland starts slightly later:

Term 1: ~27 January to ~27 March.
Easter holidays: ~28 March to 14 April.
Winter: ~23 June to 11 July.
Spring: ~19 September to 6 October.
Summer: From ~12 December. Southern and northern QLD may differ—see qld.gov.au.

Western Australia (WA)

WA public schools:

Term 1: ~28 January to ~3 April.
Autumn: ~7 April to 24 April.
Winter: ~27 June to 21 July.
Spring: ~21 September to 6 October.
Summer: From ~10 December. Check education.wa.edu.au for updates.

South Australia (SA)

SA follows a similar rhythm:

Term 1: ~27 January to ~3 April.
Autumn: ~7 April to 27 April.
Winter: ~29 June to 13 July.
Spring: ~20 September to 6 October.
Summer: From ~9 December. Verify at education.sa.gov.au.

Tasmania (TAS)

Tasmanian dates:

Term 1: ~27 January to ~27 March.
Autumn: ~30 March to 14 April.
Winter: ~29 June to 13 July.
Spring: ~21 September to 6 October.
Summer: From ~18 December. See schools.tas.edu.au.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

ACT mirrors NSW:

Term 1: ~28 January to ~2 April.
Autumn: ~3 April to 27 April.
Winter: ~27 June to 11 July.
Spring: ~19 September to 3 October.
Summer: From ~19 December. Check act.gov.au.

Northern Territory (NT)

NT has unique timing:

Term 1: ~28 January to ~2 April.
Autumn: ~3 April to 20 April.
Winter: ~22 June to 6 July.
Spring: ~14 September to 2 October.
Summer: From ~11 December. Urban vs remote schools differ—verify nt.gov.au.

Key Public Holidays 2026 Across Australia

Public holidays 2026 include national observances, with state variations. Most fall on Mondays for long weekends, boosting family time. Confirm with fairwork.gov.au or state sites, as some are half-days or substituted.

National Public Holidays

New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January.
Australia Day: Monday, 26 January (substitute if needed).
Good Friday: Friday, 3 April.
Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April (some states).
Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April (varies).
Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April.
ANZAC Day: Saturday, 25 April (often part-day or substitute Monday 27 April).
King’s Birthday: Varies (e.g., June 8 in most states; October in WA/NT).
Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 December.
Boxing Day: Friday, 26 December.

State-Specific Additions

NSW/VIC/ACT: Labour Day (March, early Oct varies), Queen’s Birthday equivalent as King’s.
QLD: Labour Day (May), Queen’s Birthday (October).
SA: Adelaide Cup Day (March), Proclamation Day (December).
WA: Labour Day (March), WA Day (June).
TAS: Eight Hour Day (March), Recreation Day (summer).
NT: Picnic Day (August), Territory Day (July).

These create long weekends ideal for short family getaways, like Easter (late March/early April 2026) overlapping many school breaks.

Family Travel Tips Around 2026 Holidays

School holidays 2026 mean busy airports and roads. Easter (April) and summer (December-January) peak with families heading to beaches like Gold Coast or Sydney. Book flights 3-6 months early via Qantas or Virgin Australia. Drive safely—holidays see more traffic; use apps like Waze.

Budget options: Regional holidays (e.g., WA’s winter break) offer quieter spots like Margaret River. Camp in national parks during spring breaks. Family passes for attractions (e.g., Theme Parks QLD) save money.

Combine holidays: Australia Day long weekend for backyard BBQs or Sydney fireworks. ANZAC Day for reflective travel to war memorials.

Work-life balance: Many employers align leave with school breaks. Check enterprise agreements.

Staying Updated and Resources

Education departments release 2026 calendars by mid-2025—bookmark your state’s site. For public holidays, use the Fair Work Ombudsman tool. Apps like School Holidays Australia provide alerts.

Cross-state families: Align on overlapping breaks, like national Easter or Christmas. Plan inclusive activities for blended schedules.

By mapping school and public holidays 2026 now, you’ll maximise family time without stress. Verify dates officially for accuracy.

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