New South Wales school holidays and term dates
Term dates and school holidays for New South Wales government schools, used in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast, with public holidays and long weekends. Every date comes from the NSW Department of Education or the NSW government.
NSW school terms 2026
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Mon 2 Feb9.4 weeks | Tue 27 Jan | Thu 2 Apr | 9.4 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays2 weeks and 5 days | Fri 3 Apr | Tue 21 Apr | 2 weeks and 5 days |
| Term 2Students start Wed 22 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 Oct9.6 weeks | Mon 12 Oct | Thu 17 Dec | 9.6 weeks |
| Summer school holidaysChristmas holidays6 weeks and 5 days | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 2 Feb 2027 | 6 weeks and 5 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.
NSW school terms 2027
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Wed 3 Feb10.3 weeks | Thu 28 Jan | Fri 9 Apr | 10.3 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays2 weeks and 5 days | Sat 10 Apr | Wed 28 Apr | 2 weeks and 5 days |
| Term 2Students start Thu 29 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 2 days | Sat 25 Sep | Sun 10 Oct | 2 weeks and 2 days |
| Term 4Students finish Fri 17 Dec10.1 weeks | Mon 11 Oct | Mon 20 Dec | 10.1 weeks |
| Summer school holidaysChristmas holidays. Students may finish earlier or return later6 weeks and 2 days | Sat 18 Dec | Sun 30 Jan 2028 | 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. The department has not yet published students' first and last days for 2028, so breaks next to those terms are shown from the term dates.
NSW school terms 2028
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Student days not yet published9.7 weeks | Mon 31 Jan | Fri 7 Apr | 9.7 weeks |
| Autumn school holidaysApril holidays. Students may finish earlier or return later2 weeks and 2 days | Sat 8 Apr | Sun 23 Apr | 2 weeks and 2 days |
| Term 2Student days not yet published10.7 weeks | Mon 24 Apr | Fri 7 Jul | 10.7 weeks |
| Winter school holidaysJuly holidays. Students may finish earlier or return later2 weeks and 2 days | Sat 8 Jul | Sun 23 Jul | 2 weeks and 2 days |
| Term 3Student days not yet published9.7 weeks | Mon 24 Jul | Fri 29 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Spring school holidaysOctober holidays. Students may finish earlier or return later2 weeks and 2 days | Sat 30 Sep | Sun 15 Oct | 2 weeks and 2 days |
| Term 4Student days not yet published9.6 weeks | Mon 16 Oct | Thu 21 Dec | 9.6 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. The department has not yet published students' first and last days for 2028, so breaks next to those terms are shown from the term dates.
Good to know
- Students do not attend on School Development Days, which are staff training days. In 2026 there are four at the start of Term 1, two at the start of Term 2 and one at the start of Terms 3 and 4.
- Schools in the far west of NSW (the Western division, or 'late start' schools, such as those in Broken Hill, Bourke and Cobar) start Term 1 a week later than the rest of the state. Terms 2 to 4 are the same.
- The department calls the breaks the Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer school holidays.
- Term and holiday dates are published several years ahead (out to 2030), but the exact School Development Days usually appear only when the department publishes the full calendar page for that year.
- A small number of public schools near the Victorian and Queensland borders use different dates, so check with the school.
- The department says School Development Day dates can change, so confirm them with your local school.
Term dates from NSW Department of Education; public holidays from NSW Government. All sources.