School Holidays 2025 & 2026 Australia: Dates by State

· school holidays 2025 and 2026

Planning School Holidays 2025 and 2026 in Australia

Searching for “school holidays 2025 and 2026”? Australian families know school terms vary by state and territory, making national planning tricky. Each education department sets dates annually, often aligning with public holidays but differing slightly. This guide provides indicative dates based on published schedules as of late 2024. Always verify exact dates with your state or territory’s education department website, as changes can occur due to weather, events, or policy updates.

School years typically feature four terms with holidays in between: summer (December-January), autumn (late April), winter (late June-July), and spring (late September-October). Pupil-free days and teacher-only days may shorten terms further. Use this to sketch family travel, but cross-check official sources like education.nsw.gov.au or vic.gov.au.

Indicative School Term Dates for 2025

Dates below are proposed or confirmed schedules. Holiday periods are the breaks between terms.

New South Wales (NSW)

  • Summer holidays: Until 29 January (Term 1: 30 Jan – 11 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 14 Apr – 27 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 6 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 18 Jul (Term 3: 21 Jul – 26 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 29 Sep – 13 Oct (Term 4: 14 Oct – 20 Dec) Verify: education.nsw.gov.au.

Victoria (VIC)

  • Summer holidays: Until 27 January (Term 1: 28 Jan – 4 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 7 Apr – 25 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 6 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 18 Jul (Term 3: 21 Jul – 19 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 22 Sep – 6 Oct (Term 4: 7 Oct – 19 Dec) Verify: vic.gov.au/school-term-dates.

Queensland (QLD)

  • Summer holidays: Until 27 January (Term 1: 28 Jan – 4 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 7 Apr – 18 Apr (Term 2: 21 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 21 Jul (Term 3: 22 Jul – 26 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 29 Sep – 13 Oct (Term 4: 14 Oct – 12 Dec) Verify: qld.gov.au/education.

Western Australia (WA)

  • Summer holidays: Until 3 February (Term 1: 4 Feb – 11 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 14 Apr – 27 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 21 Jul (Term 3: 22 Jul – 27 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 30 Sep – 14 Oct (Term 4: 15 Oct – 19 Dec) Verify: education.wa.edu.au.

South Australia (SA)

  • Summer holidays: Until 27 January (Term 1: 28 Jan – 11 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 14 Apr – 27 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 20 Jul (Term 3: 21 Jul – 19 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 22 Sep – 6 Oct (Term 4: 7 Oct – 19 Dec) Verify: education.sa.gov.au.

Tasmania (TAS)

  • Summer holidays: Until 27 January (Term 1: 28 Jan – 4 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 7 Apr – 25 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 20 Jul (Term 3: 21 Jul – 26 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 29 Sep – 13 Oct (Term 4: 14 Oct – 19 Dec) Verify: education.tas.gov.au.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

  • Summer holidays: Until 28 January (Term 1: 29 Jan – 11 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 14 Apr – 28 Apr (Term 2: 29 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 20 Jul (Term 3: 21 Jul – 26 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 29 Sep – 13 Oct (Term 4: 14 Oct – 19 Dec) Verify: act.gov.au/education.

Northern Territory (NT)

  • Summer holidays: Until 3 February (Term 1: 4 Feb – 11 Apr)
  • Autumn holidays: 14 Apr – 27 Apr (Term 2: 28 Apr – 4 Jul)
  • Winter holidays: 7 Jul – 21 Jul (Term 3: 22 Jul – 26 Sep)
  • Spring holidays: 29 Sep – 13 Oct (Term 4: 14 Oct – 11 Dec) Verify: education.nt.gov.au.

Indicative School Term Dates for 2026

2026 dates are preliminary; confirm closer to the year.

New South Wales (NSW)

  • Summer holidays: 21 Dec 2025 – 28 Jan 2026 (Term 1: 29 Jan – 10 Apr)
  • Autumn: 13 Apr – 26 Apr
  • Winter: 6 Jul – 17 Jul
  • Spring: 29 Sep – 12 Oct

Victoria (VIC)

  • Summer: 19 Dec 2025 – 26 Jan 2026 (Term 1: 27 Jan – 3 Apr)
  • Autumn: 6 Apr – 24 Apr
  • Winter: 6 Jul – 17 Jul
  • Spring: 21 Sep – 5 Oct

Queensland (QLD)

  • Summer: 13 Dec 2025 – 26 Jan 2026 (Term 1: 27 Jan – 3 Apr)
  • Autumn: 6 Apr – 17 Apr
  • Winter: 6 Jul – 20 Jul
  • Spring: 28 Sep – 12 Oct

(Similar patterns for other states; check official sites for full 2026 lists to avoid repetition here.)

Family Travel Tips for School Holidays

School holidays mean peak travel times. Book flights, accommodations, and attractions 3-6 months ahead, especially for summer and winter breaks when domestic spots like the Gold Coast or Snowy Mountains fill up.

  • Budgeting: Use school holiday overlaps (e.g., NSW/VIC autumn align) for interstate trips. Look for family deals on Virgin Australia or Qantas.
  • Destinations: Beach holidays in QLD (e.g., Cairns for reef trips), ski resorts in VIC/NSW (Thredbo, Perisher), or city stays in Sydney/Melbourne with free museums.
  • Road Trips: Drive the Great Ocean Road (VIC) or Tasmania’s east coast during spring. Pack for variable weather.
  • Staycations: National parks, zoos (Taronga, Lone Pine), or theme parks (Dreamworld, Sea World) offer low-cost fun.

Activities and Avoiding Crowds

Educational Outings

Holidays are for learning too. Visit Questacon (ACT) for science, or Powerhouse Museum (NSW). Many offer holiday programs.

Outdoor Adventures

Bushwalks in Blue Mountains (NSW), surfing lessons in WA, or whale watching in QLD (June-Oct peak).

Quiet Times

Autumn and spring holidays are less crowded than summer. Mid-week travel saves money.

Public Holidays Overlap

Watch for Australia Day (26 Jan), Easter (varies, often in Term 1/autumn), Anzac Day (25 Apr), King’s Birthday (June/July varies), and Labour Day (Oct varies). These extend breaks—perfect for long weekends.

Tools for Families

  • Apps: School holiday calendars on state education sites or apps like TimeTree.
  • Email Alerts: Subscribe to newsletters from education departments.
  • Calendars: Print state calendars and mark family events.

By planning around these school holidays 2025 and 2026, you’ll maximize family time without surprises. Safe travels!

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