Term 1 starts the week of 27 January 2026 for most states — NSW (Eastern Division), VIC, QLD and SA all begin that Tuesday, with NT starting a day later. WA is the exception, starting a full week later on 2 February, and NSW’s own Western Division doesn’t return until 3 February either.
From there it’s the usual four-term rhythm through to the long Summer break starting mid-December. The exact dates shift by state and by division, so the tables below are broken down state by state to save you cross-checking eight different education department calendars.
If you’re planning further ahead, 2027 term dates are here too. If you’re planning travel, tutoring, or holiday programs around these dates, it’s worth locking them in early — the popular weeks book out fast.
School Holidays Australia 2026 — Holiday Dates by State
| State | Autumn School Holidays | Winter School Holidays | Spring School Holidays | Summer School Holidays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW School Holidays | 7 – 17 Apr | 6 – 17 Jul | 28 Sep – 9 Oct | 18 Dec – 27 Jan |
| VIC School Holidays | 3 – 19 Apr | 27 Jun – 12 Jul | 19 Sep – 4 Oct | 19 Dec – 26 Jan |
| QLD School Holidays | 3 – 19 Apr | 27 Jun – 12 Jul | 19 Sep – 5 Oct | 12 Dec – 26 Jan |
| WA School Holidays | 3 – 19 Apr | 4 – 19 Jul | 26 Sep – 11 Oct | 18 Dec – 31 Jan |
| SA School Holidays | 11 – 26 Apr | 4 – 19 Jul | 26 Sep – 11 Oct | 12 Dec – 27 Jan |
| NT School Holidays | 3 – 12 Apr | 20 Jun – 13 Jul | 19 Sep – 4 Oct | 12 Dec – 26 Jan |
Please choose your state.
2026 School Holidays and Term Dates
NSW School Holidays and School Terms in 2026
Eastern Division students go back a week earlier than Western Division in Term 1 (27 January vs 3 February) — worth double-checking which applies to your school before booking anything around late January. The Autumn break (7–17 April) lines up close to Easter, so expect this to be one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. See the full NSW 2026 calendar →
| 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 |
VIC School Holidays and School Terms in 2026
Victoria’s Term 1 holidays run 3–19 April, overlapping with the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne — accommodation in the city gets tight and pricier through that window, so book ahead if you’re staying local. See the full VIC 2026 calendar →
| School Terms/ Holidays | Start Date | End Date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 (Staff) | Tuesday, 27 January 2026 | Thursday, 2 April 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 1 (Students) | Wednesday, 28 January 2026* | Thursday, 2 April 2026 | |
| School Holidays | Friday, 3 April 2026 | Sunday, 19 April 2026 | |
| Term 2 | Monday, 20 April 2026 | Friday, 26 June 2026 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 27 June 2026 | Sunday, 12 July 2026 | |
| Term 3 | Monday, 13 July 2026 | Friday, 18 September 2026 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 19 September 2026 | Sunday, 4 October 2026 | |
| Term 4 | Monday, 5 October 2026 | Friday, 18 December 2026 | 11 weeks |
| Summer School Holidays 2026/2027 | Saturday, 19 December 2026 | Tuesday, 26 January 2027 |
QLD School Holidays and School Terms in 2026
The Term 4 school holiday stretch is the longest of the year at 46 days, running from 12 December through to 26 January — Queensland’s summer break gives families the most lead time to plan a longer trip compared to other states. See the full QLD 2026 calendar →
| School Term | Dates | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday, 27 January – Thursday, 2 April | Term Dates | 10 weeks |
| Friday, 3 April – Sunday, 19 April | School Holidays | 17 days | |
| Term 2 | Monday, 20 April – Friday, 26 June | Term Dates | 10 weeks |
| Saturday, 27 June – Sunday, 12 July | School Holidays | 16 days | |
| Term 3 | Monday, 13 July – Friday, 18 September | Term Dates | 10 weeks |
| Saturday, 19 September – Monday, 5 October | School Holidays | 17 days | |
| Term 4 | Tuesday, 6 October – Friday, 11 December | Term Dates | 10 weeks |
| Saturday, 12 December – Tuesday, 26 January | School Holidays | 46 days |
WA School Holidays and School Terms in 2026
Term 1 starts later than most other states, on Monday 2 February rather than the 27 January start seen elsewhere — and the Term 4 break runs all the way to 31 January 2027, one of the longer summer breaks nationally. See the full WA 2026 calendar →
| School Term | 2026 School Dates | School Holiday Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Term One | Mon 2 Feb – Thurs 2 April | Fri 3 April – Sun 19 April |
| Term Two | Mon 20 April – Fri 3 July | Sat 4 July – Sun 19 July |
| Term Three | Mon 20 July – Fri 25 Sept | Sat 26 Sept – Sun 11 Oct |
| Term Four | Mon 12 Oct – Thurs 17 Dec | Fri 18 Dec – Sun 31 Jan (2027) |
SA School Holidays and School Terms in 2026
South Australia’s Term 3 holidays (26 September – 11 October) line up closely with most other states’ Spring break, making it a good window if you’re coordinating a trip with interstate family. See the full SA 2026 calendar →
| Term | 2026 Dates | School Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 27 January – 10 April | 11 April – 26 April |
| Term 2 | 27 April – 3 July | 4 July – 19 July |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September | 26 September – 11 October |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 11 December | 12 December – 27 January 2027 |
NT School Holidays in 2026
The Northern Territory splits its calendar into Urban & Remote school terms — the dates above apply to both, but it’s worth confirming with your specific school if you’re in a remote community, since local variations are more common here than in other states. See the full NT 2026 calendar →
Start Date | End Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 – Urban & Remote Schools | Wednesday, 28 January 2026 | Thursday, 2 April 2026 | 10 Weeks |
| School Holidays | Friday, 3 April 2026 | Sunday, 12 April 2026 | |
| Term 2 | Monday, 13 April 2026 | Friday, 19 June 2026 | 10 Weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 20 June 2026 | Monday, 13 July 2026 | |
| Term 3 | Tuesday, 14 July 2026 | Friday, 18 September 2026 | 10 Weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 19 September 2026 | Sunday, 4 October 2026 | |
| Term 4 – Urban & Remote Schools | Monday, 5 October 2026 | Friday, 11 December 2026 | 10 Weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 12 December 2026 | Tuesday, 26 January 2027 |
If you are looking for school holiday activities or idea, we have put together a massive list for you from cooking competition to solving puzzles in an escape room.
See full school holidays activity ideas list
NSW (Eastern Division), VIC, QLD and SA all start Tuesday 27 January. WA starts latest, on 2 February — a full week behind the others.
Popular school holiday programs and tutors tend to book out in the last two weeks of term, not during the holidays themselves — booking a few weeks ahead of each break gives you the best chance of getting a spot.
No, pupil-free (school development) days are separate from official holiday periods and vary by individual school — check with your school directly for these dates.
No — each state and territory sets its own term dates, and even divisions within a state (like NSW’s Eastern and Western Divisions) can differ by a week or more.
Summer holidays vary by state. NSW Eastern Division runs 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027; WA runs through to 31 January 2027, one of the longer breaks nationally.
Queensland’s, at 46 days — running from 12 December through to 26 January. Most other states’ summer breaks land closer to 40 days.
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