Northern Territory school holidays and term dates
Term dates and school holidays for Northern Territory government schools, used in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine, with public holidays and long weekends. Every date comes from the NT Department of Education or the NT government.
NT school terms 2026
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Thu 29 Jan9.4 weeks | Tue 27 Jan | Thu 2 Apr | 9.4 weeks |
| Mid-semester 1 breakApril holidays1 week and 4 days | Fri 3 Apr | Mon 13 Apr | 1 week and 4 days |
| Term 2Students start Tue 14 Apr9.7 weeks | Mon 13 Apr | Fri 19 Jun | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-year breakJune–July holidays3 weeks and 3 days | Sat 20 Jun | Mon 13 Jul | 3 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 14 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 13 Jul | Fri 18 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-semester 2 breakSeptember–October holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 19 Sep | Mon 5 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 6 Oct. Students finish Thu 10 Dec9.7 weeks | Mon 5 Oct | Fri 11 Dec | 9.7 weeks |
| Summer holidaysChristmas holidays6 weeks and 5 days | Fri 11 Dec | Tue 26 Jan 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.
NT school terms 2027
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Wed 27 Jan9.7 weeks | Mon 25 Jan | Fri 2 Apr | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-semester 1 breakApril holidays1 week and 3 days | Sat 3 Apr | Mon 12 Apr | 1 week and 3 days |
| Term 2Students start Tue 13 Apr9.7 weeks | Mon 12 Apr | Fri 18 Jun | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-year breakJune–July holidays3 weeks and 3 days | Sat 19 Jun | Mon 12 Jul | 3 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 13 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 12 Jul | Fri 17 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-semester 2 breakSeptember–October holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 18 Sep | Mon 4 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 5 Oct. Students finish Thu 9 Dec9.7 weeks | Mon 4 Oct | Fri 10 Dec | 9.7 weeks |
| Summer holidaysChristmas holidays6 weeks and 4 days | Fri 10 Dec | Mon 24 Jan 2028 | 6 weeks and 4 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.
NT school terms 2028
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1Students start Tue 25 Jan10.7 weeks | Mon 24 Jan | Fri 7 Apr | 10.7 weeks |
| Mid-semester 1 breakApril holidays1 week and 4 days | Sat 8 Apr | Tue 18 Apr | 1 week and 4 days |
| Term 2Students start Wed 19 Apr9.6 weeks | Tue 18 Apr | Fri 23 Jun | 9.6 weeks |
| Mid-year breakJune–July holidays3 weeks and 3 days | Sat 24 Jun | Mon 17 Jul | 3 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 3Students start Tue 18 Jul9.7 weeks | Mon 17 Jul | Fri 22 Sep | 9.7 weeks |
| Mid-semester 2 breakSeptember–October holidays2 weeks and 3 days | Sat 23 Sep | Mon 9 Oct | 2 weeks and 3 days |
| Term 4Students start Tue 10 Oct. Students finish Thu 14 Dec9.7 weeks | Mon 9 Oct | Fri 15 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
- Teachers start each term a day or two before students. Government school students usually return on the Tuesday, and in 2026 they start Term 1 on Thursday 29 January.
- Students finish the year a day before teachers: in 2026 the last day for students is Thursday 10 December.
- The NT has 2 short breaks and 2 longer ones: about 1 week in April, 3 weeks mid-year, 2 weeks in September and about 6 weeks over summer.
- Term dates are the same across the Territory, but the regional show days in July and August are public holidays only in their own regions.
- The department lists term dates about 6 years ahead (currently to 2032) and publishes a printable calendar for each year. Future dates have changed before, so check closer to the time.
Term dates from Northern Territory Government, Department of Education and Training; public holidays from Northern Territory Government (Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet). All sources.