Australian Capital Territory school holidays and term dates
Term dates and school holidays for Australian Capital Territory government schools, used in Canberra, with public holidays and long weekends. Every date comes from the ACT Education Directorate or the ACT government.
ACT school terms 2026
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Fri 30 Jan9.1 weeks | Thu 29 Jan | Thu 2 Apr | 9.1 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays2 weeks and 4 days | Fri 3 Apr | Mon 20 Apr | 2 weeks and 4 days |
| Term 2Students start Tue 21 Apr10.7 weeks | Mon 20 Apr | Fri 3 Jul | 10.7 weeks |
| Winter school holidaysJuly holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 4 Jul | Mon 20 Jul | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 21 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 20 Jul | Fri 25 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Spring school holidaysSeptember–October holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 26 Sep | Mon 12 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 13 Oct9.7 weeks | Mon 12 Oct | Fri 18 Dec | 9.7 weeks |
| Summer school holidaysChristmas holidays6 weeks and 2 days | Sat 19 Dec | Sun 31 Jan 2027 | 6 weeks and 2 days |
Holidays run from the day after students finish to the day before they return, weekends included. Terms show the department's dates, which can include staff-only days.
ACT school terms 2027
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Mon 1 Feb10.1 weeks | Fri 29 Jan | Fri 9 Apr | 10.1 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays2 weeks and 4 days | Sat 10 Apr | Tue 27 Apr | 2 weeks and 4 days |
| Term 2Students start Wed 28 Apr9.6 weeks | Tue 27 Apr | Fri 2 Jul | 9.6 weeks |
| Winter school holidaysJuly holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 3 Jul | Mon 19 Jul | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 20 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 19 Jul | Fri 24 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Spring school holidaysSeptember–October holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 25 Sep | Mon 11 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 12 Oct9.7 weeks | Mon 11 Oct | Fri 17 Dec | 9.7 weeks |
| Summer school holidaysChristmas holidays7 weeks and 3 days | Sat 18 Dec | Mon 7 Feb 2028 | 7 weeks and 3 days |
Holidays run from the day after students finish to the day before they return, weekends included. Terms show the department's dates, which can include staff-only days.
ACT school terms 2028
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Tue 8 Feb8.7 weeks | Mon 7 Feb | Fri 7 Apr | 8.7 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays2 weeks and 4 days | Sat 8 Apr | Tue 25 Apr | 2 weeks and 4 days |
| Term 2Students start Wed 26 Apr10.7 weeks | Mon 24 Apr | Fri 7 Jul | 10.7 weeks |
| Winter school holidaysJuly holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 8 Jul | Mon 24 Jul | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 25 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 24 Jul | Fri 29 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Spring school holidaysOctober holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 30 Sep | Mon 16 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 17 Oct9.7 weeks | Mon 16 Oct | Fri 22 Dec | 9.7 weeks |
Holidays run from the day after students finish to the day before they return, weekends included. Terms show the department's dates, which can include staff-only days.
Good to know
- Each term starts with a student-free day when teachers return; students start the next school day.
- At the start of the year, new students start one day before everyone else. New students are all Kindergarten, Year 7 and Year 11 students and anyone new to the school.
- The ACT Government does not give the school holidays official names.
- Term dates are published several years ahead: the ACT Government's term dates document covers 2026 to 2030.
- Preschool start dates are staggered by group, and college (Years 11 and 12) exam periods are set by each college, so check with your school.
Term dates from ACT Government; public holidays from ACT Government (Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate). All sources.