Northern Territory students go back on Wednesday 27 January 2027, and Term 4 finishes on Thursday 9 December. There are four school holiday breaks: April (3–12 April), the winter break (19 June to 12 July), the spring break (18 September to 4 October) and the summer holidays, which start on 10 December.
Last updated: September 2026. Dates are from the NT Government and apply to NT government schools.
Jump to: Term dates and holidays table | Term 1 | April holidays | Term 2 | Winter holidays | Term 3 | Spring holidays | Term 4 | Summer holidays | FAQs
NT School Terms and Holidays 2027
| Term / Holidays | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 27 January 2027 | Friday 2 April 2027 |
| Term 1 Holidays (April) | Saturday 3 April 2027 | Monday 12 April 2027 |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 13 April 2027 | Friday 18 June 2027 |
| Term 2 Holidays (Winter) | Saturday 19 June 2027 | Monday 12 July 2027 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 13 July 2027 | Friday 17 September 2027 |
| Term 3 Holidays (Spring) | Saturday 18 September 2027 | Monday 4 October 2027 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 5 October 2027 | Thursday 9 December 2027 |
| Term 4 Holidays (Summer) | Friday 10 December 2027 | Monday 24 January 2028 |
Teachers go back a couple of days before students at the start of Term 1 and each later term (for example Monday 25 January for Term 1). Gunbalanya School runs a flexible school year with separate dates, and private schools can differ, so check with your own school before you book anything.
Term 1 2027 in the NT: 27 January to 2 April
Term 1 is about 10 weeks, and it’s the hottest and wettest part of the school year in the Top End. Easter falls inside the term this year. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March, so you get a long weekend in the last week of term, and the school holidays start the following Saturday.
April School Holidays 2027: 3 to 12 April
This is a 10-day break, and it comes straight after Easter rather than around it. That’s useful to know if you’re planning a trip, because Easter travel and the holidays don’t overlap this year. It’s also the very end of the Wet season, when the waterfalls in Kakadu and Litchfield are still flowing hard and some roads and attractions may not have reopened for the season.
Term 2 2027 in the NT: 13 April to 18 June
Term 2 is another 10-week stretch, and the weather turns dry and much more comfortable. May Day (Monday 3 May) and the King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June) are the two public holidays in term. Check our NT public holidays 2027 page for the confirmed list.
Winter School Holidays 2027: 19 June to 12 July
The NT winter break is one of the longest mid-year holidays in the country at 24 days, and it lands in the middle of the Dry season, which is the best time to travel in the Top End. It’s the peak time for visitors, so book accommodation and tours in Darwin, Kakadu, Litchfield and Katherine well ahead. In Alice Springs and the Red Centre the days are warm and the nights are cold, which is ideal for walking and camping.
Term 3 2027 in the NT: 13 July to 17 September
Term 3 is a busy one for families. Picnic Day, an NT-only public holiday on the first Monday of August (2 August 2027), gives everyone a long weekend halfway through. It’s also festival season in Darwin and around the Territory, so check what’s on before you plan weekends away.
Spring School Holidays 2027: 18 September to 4 October
This 17-day break is at the end of the Dry season, and the humidity starts building again in the “build-up” from about October. It’s a good time for water activities and for getting out early before the heat, and it’s often a bit quieter and cheaper than the winter break.
Term 4 2027 in the NT: 5 October to 9 December
Term 4 is a hot, humid one. Storms start rolling in during the build-up, and the Wet season often begins in earnest towards the end of the term. It finishes earlier than in most other states, so the NT is on holidays well before Christmas.
Summer School Holidays 2027–28: 10 December to 24 January
The summer holidays run for about six weeks and sit right in the Wet season. It’s the quietest time for tourism, with cheaper accommodation and dramatic storms, though it’s also very humid. If you’re heading south to visit family or for a beach holiday, the earlier finish to Term 4 gives you extra time to book cheaper flights before the rest of the country breaks up. Students go back on Tuesday 25 January 2028.
Planning around the NT’s seasons
The Northern Territory doesn’t follow the usual four seasons. It has two, the Dry (roughly May to October) and the Wet (roughly November to April). The Term 2 and Term 3 holidays fall in the Dry season, which is the most popular and comfortable time to visit, so book early. The Term 4 holidays are in the Wet season, which is quieter and cheaper, with spectacular storms and waterfalls at full flow if you don’t mind the humidity.
Looking for things to do these school holidays? Browse our Things To Do With Kids directory for activities, playgrounds and family-friendly venues.
NT school holidays 2027 FAQs
When do NT school holidays start in 2027?
Term 1 starts on Wednesday 27 January 2027, and the first break, the April school holidays, starts on Saturday 3 April 2027.
When does Term 1 start in the NT in 2027?
NT students start Term 1 on Wednesday 27 January 2027, with teachers going back a couple of days earlier.
When are the NT winter school holidays in 2027?
The winter school holidays run from Saturday 19 June to Monday 12 July 2027, which is about 24 days.
When do NT school holidays finish in 2027?
The final break of the year, the summer holidays, starts on Friday 10 December 2027 and runs until Monday 24 January 2028.
Do the Easter holidays fall in the school holidays in the NT in 2027?
No. Easter is 26–29 March 2027, which is in Term 1. The April school holidays start on 3 April, the week after.
How many school holiday breaks does the NT have in 2027?
Four, one after each term. The last one runs from December 2027 into late January 2028.
Are NT school holidays the same as other states?
No. Each state and territory sets its own term dates, and the NT’s Term 4 finishes earlier than most. Compare every state on our School Holidays Australia 2027 page.
Other years and states
Looking at a different year? See NT school holidays 2026 or NT school holidays 2028. Planning around long weekends? Check NT public holidays 2027.
