Australia’s school year runs from late January to mid-December, divided into four terms with holiday breaks between each one. Because each state and territory manages its own education system, term dates vary — sometimes by one to two weeks — across the country.
Here are the confirmed school holiday dates for every Australian state and territory in 2026.
2026 school holidays at a glance
Australia has four main holiday periods each year:
- Autumn holidays (April) — 2 weeks around Easter
- Winter holidays (late June to mid-July) — 2 weeks
- Spring holidays (late September to early October) — 2 weeks
- Summer holidays (mid-December to late January) — approximately 6 weeks
The exact dates for each period differ by state. Here’s the full breakdown.
New South Wales (NSW)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 2 February – 2 April 2026 (Eastern Division; teachers return 27 January) |
| Autumn holidays | 7 April – 17 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 20 April – 3 July 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 4 July – 19 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 26 September – 11 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 17 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 18 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: Western Division schools (rural and remote NSW) start Term 1 one week later, on Monday 9 February. Eastern Division covers Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and most metropolitan areas. Source: NSW Department of Education. Private schools may vary.
Victoria (VIC)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 27 January – 2 April 2026 (students start 28 January) |
| Autumn holidays | 3 April – 19 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 20 April – 26 June 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 27 June – 12 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 13 July – 18 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 19 September – 4 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 5 October – 18 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 19 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Source: Department of Education Victoria. Private schools may vary.
Queensland (QLD)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 27 January – 27 March 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 March – 14 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 15 April – 19 June 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 20 June – 5 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 6 July – 11 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 12 September – 27 September 2026 |
| Term 4 | 28 September – 11 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 12 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: Queensland schedules earlier mid-year breaks than southern states, reflecting subtropical climate. Source: Queensland Department of Education. Private schools may vary.
Western Australia (WA)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 2 February – 9 April 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 10 April – 26 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 27 April – 3 July 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 4 July – 19 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 26 September – 11 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 17 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 18 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Source: Western Australia Department of Education. Private schools may vary.
South Australia (SA)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 27 January – 10 April 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 11 April – 26 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 27 April – 3 July 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 4 July – 19 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 26 September – 11 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 11 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 12 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: SA has a slightly longer Term 1 than most states. Source: South Australia Department for Education. Private schools may vary.
Tasmania (TAS)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 5 February – 9 April 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 10 April – 26 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 27 April – 3 July 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 4 July – 19 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 26 September – 11 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 17 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 18 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: Tasmania starts the latest of any state, beginning Term 1 on 5 February. Source: Tasmania Department for Education, Children and Young People. Private schools may vary.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 2 February – 9 April 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 10 April – 26 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 27 April – 3 July 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 4 July – 19 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 20 July – 25 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 26 September – 11 October 2026 |
| Term 4 | 12 October – 18 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 19 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: ACT calendar closely aligns with NSW. Canberra Day (9 March) and Family and Community Day (28 September) are ACT-specific public holidays. Source: ACT Education Directorate. Private schools may vary.
Northern Territory (NT)
| Term/Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | 29 January – 27 March 2026 |
| Autumn holidays | 28 March – 13 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | 14 April – 19 June 2026 |
| Winter holidays | 20 June – 5 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | 6 July – 11 September 2026 |
| Spring holidays | 12 September – 27 September 2026 |
| Term 4 | 28 September – 10 December 2026 |
| Summer holidays | 11 December 2026 – January 2027 |
Note: NT has the shortest school year of any state or territory, with Term 4 ending on 10 December. The earlier finish reflects the Territory’s tropical climate and the wet season. Source: NT Department of Education. Private schools may vary.
Key dates to note in 2026
- Easter (3–6 April 2026): Falls during the autumn school holiday break for most states, or at the very end of Term 1. This creates a natural extended break for families.
- Anzac Day (25 April 2026): Falls on a Saturday in 2026. WA and ACT observe a substitute public holiday on Monday 27 April. Other states do not.
- Ekka (Brisbane show holiday, 12 August 2026): The Royal Queensland Show public holiday falls on Wednesday 12 August for Brisbane metropolitan areas. Falls during Term 3.
- Boxing Day (26 December 2026): Falls on a Saturday in 2026, so Monday 28 December is observed as a public holiday in all states.
School holidays and international money transfers
During school holiday periods, banks and financial institutions may experience higher transaction volumes. Transfers initiated around public holidays that fall within school holidays — particularly Easter and Christmas/New Year — may take slightly longer than usual if both the sending and receiving country observe public holidays simultaneously.
To avoid delays around school holiday periods:
- Send transfers a day or two before a long weekend or public holiday where possible
- Check estimated delivery times in the OrbitRemit app before confirming
- Mobile wallet transfers (GCash, M-PAiSA, bKash and others) are typically less affected by bank holiday processing delays than bank deposit transfers
For the full list of Australian public holidays in 2026, including state-specific dates, see: Public Holidays 2026: Australia and New Zealand
FAQ’s (Frequently asked questions)
When do school holidays start in Australia in 2026?
Most states begin the first school holiday break (autumn holidays) in late March or early April 2026. Victoria and Queensland start their autumn break on 28 March; NSW, WA, SA, TAS and ACT start on 10 April; NT starts on 28 March.
Which state has the longest summer school holidays in Australia?
Queensland has the shortest school year, with Term 4 ending on 11 December. This gives Queensland students the longest summer break. Tasmania and WA end slightly later, in mid to late December.
Are private school holidays the same as public school holidays?
Not always. Private and independent schools broadly follow their state government calendar but may have additional student-free days, earlier Term 4 end dates, or mid-term breaks. Always confirm dates directly with your school.
Do school holidays affect bank processing times for international money transfers?
School holidays themselves do not affect bank processing. However, public holidays that often fall within school holiday periods — particularly Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas — can cause delays. Allow extra processing time around these dates.
When do Australian schools go back in 2027?
Most Australian states return to school in late January 2027 — typically between 26 and 29 January, depending on the state. Exact dates for 2027 will be released by each state’s education department.
School term dates are sourced from official state and territory education departments. Dates are confirmed for government/public schools in each jurisdiction. Private and independent schools may vary. Always check your specific school’s published calendar. Last updated June 2026.
Sources: NSW Department of Education | VIC Department of Education | QLD Department of Education | WA Department of Education | SA Department for Education | TAS Department for Education, Children and Young People | ACT Education Directorate | NT Department of Education | Fair Work Ombudsman — Public Holidays 2026
