When planning holidays and travel, knowing the school term and public holiday dates is essential. Mark them early before booking trips or major events. Use this quick summary to compare key school holiday periods across Australia before exploring your state’s full calendar below.
| State | Term 1 Start | Autumn Break | Winter Break | Spring Break | Term 4 Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Early Feb | 7–17 Apr | 6–17 Jul | 28 Sep–9 Oct | 17 Dec |
| QLD | 27 Jan | 3–19 Apr | 27 Jun–12 Jul | 19 Sep–5 Oct | 11 Dec |
| VIC | 27 Jan | 3–19 Apr | 27 Jun–12 Jul | 19 Sep–4 Oct | 18 Dec |
| WA | 2 Feb | 3–19 Apr | 4–19 Jul | 26 Sep–11 Oct | 17 Dec |
| SA | 27 Jan | 11–26 Apr | 4–19 Jul | 26 Sep–11 Oct | 11 Dec |
| TAS | 5 Feb | 18 Apr–3 May | 11–26 Jul | 3–18 Oct | 18 Dec |
| NT | 29 Jan | 3–13 Apr | 20 Jun–13 Jul | 19 Sep–5 Oct | 10 Dec |
| ACT | 30 Jan | 3–20 Apr | 4–20 Jul | 26 Sep–12 Oct | 18 Dec |
NSW School Holidays 2026
Here is a summary of the NSW school terms for the 2026 academic year.
| TERM 1 | |
| Eastern Division | Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April |
| Western Division | Monday 9 February to Thursday 2 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Divisions | Wednesday 22 April to Friday 3 July |
| Winter School Holidays | Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Divisions | Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Divisions | Tuesday 13 October to Thursday 17 December |
| Summer School Holidays (Eastern Division) | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| Summer School Holidays (Western Division) | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 3 February 2027 |
| New South Wales school holidays 2026 Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, and Wollongong. 1 | |
For a more detailed state-by-state breakdown, seasonal travel ideas, and planning tips for families, read our full guide to NSW school holidays.
QLD School Holidays 2026
| TERM 1 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December |
| 6-week Summer Holiday Schools | End: Friday 11 December |
| 7-week Summer Holiday Schools | End: Friday 4 December |
| Summer Holiday Ends for All Schools | Tuesday 26 January 2027 |
| Queensland school holidays 2026 Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, and Toowoomba. 2 | |
Currently, some state schools in Queensland have a 7-week summer holiday, which starts 1 week before all other schools. These schools meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The school is north of 16 degrees south latitude and west of 144 degrees east longitude
- The school is located in the following towns and centres: Alpha, Aramac, Augathella, Barcaldine, Blackall, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Hughenden, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Jericho, Longreach, Mount Surprise, Muttaburra, Prairie, Quilpie, Tambo, Tangorin, Wyandra and Yaraka.
Double-check with your school to be sure of the proper holiday dates.
If you want more planning ideas for family breaks, regional travel, and school-term timing across the state, see our complete guide to Queensland school holidays.
School Terms Victoria 2026
Victorian families often plan long weekends, interstate trips, and study schedules around the term calendar, especially when public holidays line up with the autumn or spring breaks. Because start dates can vary slightly for staff and students, it is useful to look at the full school-year pattern rather than only the first and last day of each term.
| TERM 1 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April |
| * Students start Wednesday 28 January in Victorian government schools | |
| Autumn School Holidays | Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December |
| Summer School Holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| Victoria school holidays 2026 Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo. 3 | |
For destination ideas, school-break planning advice, and a closer look at term timing, visit our guide to Victoria school holidays.
WA School Holidays 2026
| TERM 1 | |
| All Schools | Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December |
| Summer School Holidays | Friday 18 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027 |
| Western Australia school holidays 2026 Perth, Bunbury, and Geraldton. 4 | |
Western Australia’s term calendar is especially useful for families planning long-distance trips, coastal breaks, and regional travel across the state. For more ideas and a fuller overview, explore our guide to Western Australia school holidays.
SA School Holidays 2026
| TERM 1 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 27 January to Friday 10 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Saturday 11 April to Sunday 26 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Monday 27 April to Friday 3 July |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December |
| Summer School Holidays | Saturday 12 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| South Australia school holidays 2026 Adelaide. 5 | |
South Australian term dates can make a big difference when organising family time, local getaways, and exam-year routines. For more inspiration and a dedicated overview, read our guide to South Australia school holidays.
Tasmania School Holidays 2026
| TERM 1 | |
| All Schools | Thursday 5 February to Friday 17 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Saturday 18 April to Sunday 3 May |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Monday 4 May to Friday 10 July |
| Statewide: No Students K – Year 12 | Friday 5 June |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 11 July to Sunday 26 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Monday 27 July to Friday 2 October |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 3 October to Sunday 18 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Monday 19 October to Friday 18 December |
| South: No Students K – Year 10 | Friday 23 October |
| Summer School Holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 3 February 2027 |
| Colleges have their own finishing dates, which may depend on exam dates. | |
| Tasmanian school holidays 2026 Hobart and Launceston. 6 | |
Tasmania’s school calendar can be especially handy for planning island travel, seasonal breaks, and public-holiday weekends. For more ideas and a dedicated state guide, check out our article on Tasmania school holidays.
NT School Holidays 2026
| TERM 1 | |
| All Other Schools | Students: Thursday 29 January to Thursday 2 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Friday 3 April to Monday 13 April |
| Gunbalanya School | Flexible schedule determined through separate consultation |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Other Schools | Students: Tuesday 14 April to Friday 19 June |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 20 June to Monday 13 July |
| Gunbalanya School | Flexible schedule determined through separate consultation |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Other Schools | Students: Tuesday 14 July to Friday 18 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October |
| Gunbalanya School | Flexible schedule determined through separate consultation |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Other Schools | Students: Tuesday 6 October to Thursday 10 December |
| Summer School Holidays | Friday 11 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 |
| Gunbalanya School | Flexible schedule determined through separate consultation |
| Northern Territory school holidays 2026 Darwin and Alice Springs. 7 | |
Gunbalanya School operates on a flexible school year, with term dates determined through separate consultation.
ACT School Holidays 2026
As you read about the term dates for schools in Canberra, have a look at the overall calendar to help plan long weekends, family activities, and study periods more effectively.
| TERM 1 | |
| New Students Begin | Friday 30 January |
| Continuing Students Begin | Monday 2 February |
| End of Term | Thursday 2 April |
| Autumn School Holidays | Friday 3 April to Monday 20 April |
| TERM 2 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 21 April to Friday 3 July |
| Winter School Holidays | Saturday 4 July to Monday 20 July |
| TERM 3 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September |
| Spring School Holidays | Saturday 26 September to Monday 12 October |
| TERM 4 | |
| All Schools | Tuesday 13 October to Friday 18 December |
| Summer School Holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027 (for New Students) or Tuesday 2 February 2027 (for Continuing Students) |
| Australian Capital Territory school holidays 2026 Canberra. 8 | |
Australian Public Holidays 2026
Australia's National Public Holidays are:
- New Year's Day
- Australia Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Anzac Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
All other public holidays such as King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and several regional holidays are individually declared by state and territory governments.
Check local government sites for regional holidays, like show days and local observances.
| Holiday | Date | Region |
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January 2026 | All |
| Devonport Cup (generally Tasmanian State Service only; Devonport area) | Wednesday 7 January 2026 | Tas |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January 2026 | All |
| Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state, including Hobart) | Monday 9 February 2026 | Tas |
| Launceston Cup (generally Tasmanian Public Service only) | Wednesday 25 February 2026 | Tas |
| Labour Day | Monday 2 March 2026 | WA |
| King Island Show (King Island only) | Tuesday 3 March 2026 | Tas |
| Canberra Day | Monday 9 March 2026 | ACT |
| Eight Hours Day | Monday 9 March 2026 | Tas |
| Adelaide Cup Day | Monday 9 March 2026 | SA |
| Labour Day | Monday 9 March 2026 | Vic |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | All |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 | ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, Vic, WA |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 | ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, Vic, WA |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | All |
| Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only) | Tuesday 7 April 2026 | Tas |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April 2026 | NSW, NT, QLD, SA, Tas, Vic, WA |
| Anzac Day public holiday (observed) | Monday 27 April 2026 | ACT |
| Additional public holiday for Anzac Day | Monday 27 April 2026 | NSW, WA |
| May Day | Monday 4 May 2026 | NT |
| Labour Day | Monday 4 May 2026 | QLD |
| Agfest (Municipal area of Circular Head only) | Friday 8 May 2026 | Tas |
| Reconciliation Day | Monday 1 June 2026 | ACT |
| Western Australia Day | Monday 1 June 2026 | WA |
| King's Birthday | Monday 8 June 2026 | ACT, NSW, NT, SA, Tas, Vic |
| Alice Springs Show Day (Regional) | Friday 3 July 2026 | NT |
| Tennant Creek Show Day (Regional) | Friday 10 July 2026 | NT |
| Katherine Show Day (Regional) | Friday 17 July 2026 | NT |
| Darwin Show Day (Regional) | Friday 24 July 2026 | NT |
| Picnic Day | Monday 3 August 2026 | NT |
| Bank Holiday | Monday 3 August 2026 | NSW |
| Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only) | Wednesday 12 August 2026 | QLD |
| Borroloola Show Day (Regional) | Friday 14 August 2026 | NT |
| King's Birthday (for most regions) | Monday 28 September 2026 | WA |
| Burnie Show (only observed in certain areas of the state) | Friday 2 October 2026 | Tas |
| King's Birthday | Monday 5 October 2026 | QLD |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October 2026 | ACT, NSW, SA |
| Royal Launceston Show (only observed in certain areas of the state) | Thursday 8 October 2026 | Tas |
| Flinders Island Show (Municipal area of Flinders Island only) | Friday 16 October 2026 | Tas |
| Royal Hobart Show (Most of Tasmania south of Oatlands/Swansea) | Thursday 22 October 2026 | Tas |
| Friday before the AFL Grand Final | Subject to AFL schedule | Vic |
| Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta) | Monday 2 November 2026 | Tas |
| Melbourne Cup | Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Vic |
| Devonport Show (Devonport, Kentish and Latrobe) | Friday 27 November 2026 | Tas |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 24 December 2026 (7 PM to midnight) | NT, SA |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 24 December 2026 (6 PM to midnight) | QLD |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 | All |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December 2026 | ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, Tas, Vic, WA |
| Proclamation Day holiday | Saturday 26 December 2026 | SA |
| Additional public holiday for Boxing Day | Monday 28 December 2026 | ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, Tas, Vic, WA |
| Additional public holiday for Proclamation Day holiday | Monday 28 December 2026 | SA |
| New Year's Eve | Thursday 31 December 2026 (7 PM to midnight) | NT, SA |
| Information gathered from official state, territory, and national government sites. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | ||
Note that private schools may have a different schedule from government schools, so be sure to check with your particular institution if you do not attend a public school or state school.
As schedules and curriculum may differ, it’s always worth checking your school and local authority before you make firm travel plans.
Additionally, each region may celebrate different holidays, so be sure to check with your local government to determine the exact holiday schedule for your area.
References
- NSW Department of Education. (2026). 2026 term dates. https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/calendars/2026
- Education Queensland. (2026). School holidays and term dates. https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/calendar/term-dates
- Victorian Government. (2026). School term dates and holidays in Victoria. https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria
- Department of Education, Western Australia. (2026). Term dates. https://www.education.wa.edu.au/future-term-dates
- Government of South Australia, Department for Education. (2026). Term dates for South Australian state schools. https://www.education.sa.gov.au/students/term-dates-south-australian-state-schools
- Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania. (2026). School terms and holidays. https://decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/term-dates/
- Northern Territory Government. (2026). School term and holiday dates in NT. https://nt.gov.au/learning/primary-and-secondary-students/school-term-dates-in-nt
- ACT Government. (2026). Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving. https://www.act.gov.au/living-in-the-act/public-holidays-school-terms-and-daylight-saving
- Fair Work Ombudsman. (2026). 2026 public holidays. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/public-holidays/2026-public-holidays
- NSW Government. (2026). NSW public holidays. https://www.nsw.gov.au/about-nsw/public-holidays
- Queensland Government. (2026). Public holidays. https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public
- WorkSafe Tasmania. (2026). Public holidays. https://worksafe.tas.gov.au/topics/laws-and-compliance/public-holidays
- Business Victoria. (2026). Victorian public holidays 2026. https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays/victorian-public-holidays-2026
- SafeWork SA. (2026). Public holidays. https://safework.sa.gov.au/resources/public-holidays
- Western Australian Government. (2026). Public holidays in Western Australia. https://www.wa.gov.au/service/employment/workplace-arrangements/public-holidays-western-australia
- ACT Government. (2026). ACT Public Holidays 2026. https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/2155495/ACT-Public-Holidays-2026.pdf
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