Australian school holidays and term dates
School holidays, term dates, public holidays and long weekends for every state and territory, copied from the official education department calendars and kept current.
Every state and territory
The 2026 school year at a glance
Back to school in 2027
Students' first day of Term 1 ranges from Wednesday 27 January in QLD, SA and NT to Thursday 4 February in TAS. Teachers often start a day or more earlier.
| State | Students return | Summer break |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Wed 3 Feb 2027staff from Thu 28 Jan | Fri 18 Dec to Tue 2 Feb6 weeks and 5 days |
| VIC | Thu 28 Jan 2027staff from Wed 27 Jan | Sat 19 Dec to Wed 27 Jan5 weeks and 5 days |
| QLD | Wed 27 Jan 2027 | Sat 12 Dec to Tue 26 Jan6 weeks and 4 days |
| WA | Mon 1 Feb 2027 | Fri 18 Dec to Sun 31 Jan6 weeks and 3 days |
| SA | Wed 27 Jan 2027 | Sat 12 Dec to Tue 26 Jan6 weeks and 4 days |
| TAS | Thu 4 Feb 2027 | Sat 19 Dec to Wed 3 Feb6 weeks and 5 days |
| ACT | Mon 1 Feb 2027staff from Fri 29 Jan | Sat 19 Dec to Sun 31 Jan6 weeks and 2 days |
| NT | Wed 27 Jan 2027staff from Mon 25 Jan | Fri 11 Dec to Tue 26 Jan6 weeks and 5 days |
How the school year works
Every state and territory splits the school year into four terms, set by its own education department. In 2026 terms run 9 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 11-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2. The summer holidays over Christmas and New Year last from 5 weeks and 5 days (VIC) to 6 weeks and 5 days (NSW, TAS and NT).
Because each state sets its own dates, the breaks rarely line up. For the 2026–27 summer, NT breaks up first, from Friday 11 December, and NSW, TAS and NT have the longest break at 6 weeks and 5 days. Easter (Sunday 5 April) falls in the school holidays in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, ACT and NT; elsewhere it's a long weekend during term.
The dates on this site are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools mostly follow them but can set their own terms, and every school adds a few pupil-free days when teachers work and students stay home. Where a department publishes those days, they're on the state's page.
Public holidays across Australia
New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day fall on the same day in every state and territory in 2026. Others move around: Labour Day is in March in VIC, WA and TAS, May in QLD and NT and October in NSW, SA and ACT, and the King's Birthday in June in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT and NT, September in WA and October in QLD.
Some holidays belong to one place only: Friday before the AFL Grand Final (VIC), Melbourne Cup (VIC), Western Australia Day (WA), Adelaide Cup Day (SA), Canberra Day (ACT), Reconciliation Day (ACT) and Picnic Day (NT). When a holiday falls on a weekend, most states add a weekday off, though not for every holiday; each state's page lists the actual days.
The 2027 school year at a glance
Back to school in 2028
Students' first day of Term 1 ranges from Monday 24 January in QLD to Tuesday 8 February in ACT. Teachers often start a day or more earlier.
| State | Students return | Summer break |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Not published yetterm starts Mon 31 Jan 2028 | – |
| VIC | Fri 28 Jan 2028staff from Thu 27 Jan | Sat 18 Dec to Thu 27 Jan5 weeks and 6 days |
| QLD | Mon 24 Jan 2028 | Sat 11 Dec to Sun 23 Jan6 weeks and 2 days |
| WA | Wed 2 Feb 2028 | Fri 17 Dec to Tue 1 Feb6 weeks and 5 days |
| SA | Mon 31 Jan 2028 | Sat 11 Dec to Sun 30 Jan7 weeks and 2 days |
| TAS | Not published yet | – |
| ACT | Tue 8 Feb 2028staff from Mon 7 Feb | Sat 18 Dec to Mon 7 Feb7 weeks and 3 days |
| NT | Tue 25 Jan 2028staff from Mon 24 Jan | Fri 10 Dec to Mon 24 Jan6 weeks and 4 days |
How the school year works
Every state and territory splits the school year into four terms, set by its own education department. In 2027 terms run 8 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 10-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2. The summer holidays over Christmas and New Year last from 5 weeks and 6 days (VIC) to 7 weeks and 3 days (ACT).
Because each state sets its own dates, the breaks rarely line up. For the 2027–28 summer, NT breaks up first, from Friday 10 December, and ACT has the longest break at 7 weeks and 3 days. Easter (Sunday 28 March) falls in the school holidays in VIC and QLD; elsewhere it's a long weekend during term.
The dates on this site are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools mostly follow them but can set their own terms, and every school adds a few pupil-free days when teachers work and students stay home. Where a department publishes those days, they're on the state's page.
Public holidays across Australia
New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Christmas Day fall on the same day in every state and territory in 2027. Others move around: Labour Day is in March in VIC, WA and TAS, May in QLD and NT and October in NSW, SA and ACT, and the King's Birthday in June in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT and NT, September in WA and October in QLD.
Some holidays belong to one place only: Melbourne Cup (VIC), Western Australia Day (WA), Adelaide Cup Day (SA), Canberra Day (ACT), Reconciliation Day (ACT) and Picnic Day (NT). When a holiday falls on a weekend, most states add a weekday off, though not for every holiday; each state's page lists the actual days.
The 2028 school year at a glance
How the school year works
Every state and territory splits the school year into four terms, set by its own education department. In 2028 terms run 9 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 11-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2.
The dates on this site are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools mostly follow them but can set their own terms, and every school adds a few pupil-free days when teachers work and students stay home. Where a department publishes those days, they're on the state's page.
Public holidays across Australia
Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on the same day in every state with a published list in 2028. Others move around: Labour Day is in March in VIC and TAS, May in QLD and NT and October in SA and ACT, and the King's Birthday in June in VIC, SA, TAS, ACT and NT and October in QLD.
Some holidays belong to one place only: Melbourne Cup (VIC), Adelaide Cup Day (SA), Canberra Day (ACT), Reconciliation Day (ACT) and Picnic Day (NT). When a holiday falls on a weekend, most states add a weekday off, though not for every holiday; each state's page lists the actual days.
Plan around the holidays
Questions
Do all Australian states have the same school holidays?
No. Each state and territory's education department sets its own term dates, so breaks start on different days and last different lengths. For the 2026–27 summer, the first schools break up on Friday 11 December and the last on Saturday 19 December. Choose a state above for its exact dates.
How many school terms are there in Australia?
Four, in every state and territory. In 2026 terms run 9 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 11-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2. The long summer holidays come at the end of the year.
How long are the summer school holidays in 2026–27?
It depends on the state: from 5 weeks and 5 days (VIC) to 6 weeks and 5 days (NSW, TAS and NT), weekends and public holidays included. Each state's page has the exact dates.
When does school go back in 2027?
Students in QLD, SA and NT go back first, on Wednesday 27 January 2027, and TAS last, on Thursday 4 February 2027.
Do Catholic and private schools have the same holidays?
Usually very close, but not always. The dates here are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools can set their own term dates, and every school adds pupil-free days, so check your school's calendar for those.
Questions
Do all Australian states have the same school holidays?
No. Each state and territory's education department sets its own term dates, so breaks start on different days and last different lengths. For the 2027–28 summer, the first schools break up on Friday 10 December and the last on Saturday 18 December. Choose a state above for its exact dates.
How many school terms are there in Australia?
Four, in every state and territory. In 2027 terms run 8 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 10-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2. The long summer holidays come at the end of the year.
How long are the summer school holidays in 2027–28?
It depends on the state: from 5 weeks and 6 days (VIC) to 7 weeks and 3 days (ACT), weekends and public holidays included. Each state's page has the exact dates.
When does school go back in 2028?
Students in QLD go back first, on Monday 24 January 2028, and ACT last, on Tuesday 8 February 2028. NSW and TAS haven't published students' first day yet.
Do Catholic and private schools have the same holidays?
Usually very close, but not always. The dates here are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools can set their own term dates, and every school adds pupil-free days, so check your school's calendar for those.
Questions
Do all Australian states have the same school holidays?
No. Each state and territory's education department sets its own term dates, so breaks start on different days and last different lengths. Choose a state above for its exact dates.
How many school terms are there in Australia?
Four, in every state and territory. In 2028 terms run 9 to 11 weeks. Most breaks between terms last about two weeks, weekends included; the shortest is NT's 11-day break after Term 1 and the longest NT's 24-day break after Term 2. The long summer holidays come at the end of the year.
Do Catholic and private schools have the same holidays?
Usually very close, but not always. The dates here are for government schools. Catholic and independent schools can set their own term dates, and every school adds pupil-free days, so check your school's calendar for those.