Get ready to plan your 2026 vacations with NSW School Holidays! From local events to family-oriented activities, there’s plenty of exciting and memorable things to do this year. Check out our comprehensive list for dates, events, and activities that you must take advantage of during the school holidays.
Check the key dates below to find out when does school start and finish for each school terms in NSW in 2026.
Whether you’re a working parent needing to secure childcare, plan a trip to Japan, or simply looking to make the most of quality family time, our easy-to-access calendar will keep you informed and well-prepared!
What dates are NSW School Holidays in 2026
Here you can find all the term and holiday dates for public and private schools in New South Wales, including start and end dates for each term, as well as the dates for school holidays and public holidays.
| Term/Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Eastern) | Tuesday, 27 January 2026 | Thursday, 2 April 2026 |
| Term 1 (Western) | Tuesday, 3 February 2026 | Thursday, 2 April 2026 |
| Autumn School Holidays | Tuesday, 7 April 2026 | Friday, 17 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | Monday, 20 April 2026 | Friday, 3 July 2026 |
| Winter School Holidays | Monday, 6 July 2026 | Friday, 17 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | Monday, 20 July 2026 | Friday, 25 September 2026 |
| Spring School Holidays | Monday, 28 September 2026 | Friday, 9 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | Monday, 12 October 2026 | Thursday, 17 December 2026 |
| Summer School Holidays (Eastern) | Friday, 18 December 2026 | Wednesday, 27 January 2027 |
| Summer School Holidays (Western) | Friday, 18 December 2026 | Wednesday, 3 February 2027 |
Bookmark this page and keep up-to-date with all the latest school holiday and term dates for New South Wales schools.
Money Saving Tips – What’s the best time to book a holiday?
Booking in advance can often help save money when it comes to travel. Here are some general guidelines:
| Travel Type | Recommended Booking Lead Time (To Save Money) |
|---|---|
| Domestic Flights | 1-3 months |
| International Flights | 2-8 months |
| Peak Season Flights | Closer to 6-8 months |
| Midweek Travel (Flights) | Consider Tuesdays or Wednesdays |
| Hotels | 1-3 months |
| Vacation Rentals | Several months |
| Hostels/Budget Accommodations | Few weeks to a month |
| Peak Season/Special Events (Accommodations) | Book well in advance |
Here’s our handy reference guide for NSW school holidays in 2026. Whether you’re planning a holiday with kids, looking to avoid the crowds, these can have an impact on when you decide to go away, we all need to know when school’s out!
Note that the dates below represent official term dates however you should always check with your local school for the dates specific to you.
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Public holidays and national days in NSW in 2026
| Holiday | 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January 2026 |
| 2Australia Day | Monday 26 January 2026 |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April 2026 |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 8 June 2026 |
| 1Bank Holiday | Monday 3 August 2026 |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December 2026 |
| 3Additional Day | Monday 28 December 2026 |
School Holiday & Term One Tips
This is a very important term as this is when the children start school. Yes it’s time for your munchkins to get of bed and get motivated and go to that place they call school. This is probably the busiest school term of the year.
– So normally in the January school holidays it’s time to get ready for school.
– Yes, all the school supplies have to be bought.
– Normally schools will send out a list of what parents need to get. It’s always best to be prepared for that first day of term one to make it less stressful.
– Also in the January school holidays falls Australia Day so if your planning a barbeque with friends it’s best to organise it a couple of weeks beforehand.I heard that pouring beer on sausages gives them more flavour!
– There’s also plenty of festivals to go to as well if you feel like venturing out.
– Make sure you take a hat and sunscreen as you don’t want to come back as red as a tomato!
– If you want to plan an Easter get away now is the time to do it as well as a lot of stuff gets booked out in advance for the Easter long weekend.
School Holiday & Term Two Tips
In the April school holidays a lot of councils and a lot of different places have school holiday activities. Some are free and some are paid.
– There are really some great programs that the Museums and Galleries do for children.
– A lot of shopping centres also do activities for children as well.
– April is also the time for Easter! Chocolate time! But we can’t forget the religious significance of Easter as well when Jesus died on the cross.
– If you are planning to spend Easter with family make sure you plan it well beforehand otherwise there are bound to be disagreements in plans.
– We also can’t forget another really important date in April and that’s Anzac Day. Lest We Forget.
– There are plenty of children’s activities to do on Anzac Day and you could even take them to an Anzac Day March if there is one on.
School Holiday & Term Three Tips
In the June and July school holidays it is normally very cold so movies in bed with a cup of hot cocoa would be nice to warm you up.
– Even checking out the snow would be great as it’s snow time in Victoria in these months. Do you want to build a snowman?
– Also this is the time to book your Christmas holiday. Six months in advance would probably be the best as again a lot of stuff gets booked out well in advance.
– So many places to go. Do you want to stay in New South Wales or travel interstate or travel overseas? So many decisions.
– Again there would be heaps of school holiday activities in Winter to do. There would be Winter festivals to go to.
– If you are planning to do a big Christmas as well, it would be best to start planning Christmas at this time as well to make it stress free.
School Holiday & Term Four Tips
Again like Term one this is also a big term when everything is getting finished off for the school year.
– You can start finalising Christmas plans in the September and October school holidays.
– Also planning for New Year’s Eve is another big one. Some people have a quiet New Year’s Eve and some people like a big one.
– There are plenty of children’s festivals that do activities on New Years Eve.
– Camping is another great activity to do at this time of year because it’s not too hot or cold.
– I think it’s also great to include the children if they are old enough to plan school holidays. It teaches them planning skills and how to organise things.
Find school holiday activities in NSW in 2026
