2026 Australia School Holidays: Complete Family Guide

Roxy | K–12 Chinese Education Professional

Last updated: 05/21/2026

2026 School Term Dates Australia by State at a Glance

State/Territory	Term 1 Start	Term 4 End	Key Planning Note
NSW Eastern	Mon 2 Feb	Thu 17 Dec	Western Division starts later
Victoria	Tue 27 Jan	Fri 18 Dec	Government students start Wed 28 Jan
Queensland	Tue 27 Jan	Fri 11 Dec	Earlier winter and spring breaks
Western Australia	Mon 2 Feb	Thu 17 Dec	Check school development days
South Australia	Tue 27 Jan	Fri 11 Dec	Longer Term 1, later autumn break
ACT	New students Fri 30 Jan; continuing Mon 2 Feb	Fri 18 Dec	Student-free day before each term
Northern Territory	Students Thu 29 Jan	Thu 10 Dec	Gunbalanya School has separate arrangements
Tasmania	Thu 5 Feb	Fri 18 Dec	Starts later than most mainland states

State and Territory Term Dates and Holiday Periods

New South Wales 2026 School Holidays

Term	Student Term Dates	Holiday / Break Window
Term 1	Eastern: Mon 2 Feb – Thu 2 Apr; Western: Mon 9 Feb – Thu 2 Apr	Official autumn holiday: Tue 7 Apr – Fri 17 Apr
Term 2	Wed 22 Apr – Fri 3 Jul	Winter: Mon 6 Jul – Fri 17 Jul
Term 3	Tue 21 Jul – Fri 25 Sep	Spring: Mon 28 Sep – Fri 9 Oct
Term 4	Tue 13 Oct – Thu 17 Dec	Summer: Eastern Fri 18 Dec – Wed 27 Jan 2027; Western Fri 18 Dec – Wed 3 Feb 2027

Planning tip: NSW has school development days around term starts, so families should check their school calendar before booking activities.

Victoria 2026 School Holidays

Term	Term Dates	Holiday / Break Window
Term 1	Tue 27 Jan – Thu 2 Apr; government students start Wed 28 Jan	Fri 3 Apr – Sun 19 Apr
Term 2	Mon 20 Apr – Fri 26 Jun	Sat 27 Jun – Sun 12 Jul
Term 3	Mon 13 Jul – Fri 18 Sep	Sat 19 Sep – Sun 4 Oct
Term 4	Mon 5 Oct – Fri 18 Dec	Summer begins Sat 19 Dec

Queensland 2026 School Holidays

Term	Term Dates	School Holidays
Term 1	Tue 27 Jan – Thu 2 Apr	Fri 3 Apr – Sun 19 Apr
Term 2	Mon 20 Apr – Fri 26 Jun	Sat 27 Jun – Sun 12 Jul
Term 3	Mon 13 Jul – Fri 18 Sep	Sat 19 Sep – Mon 5 Oct
Term 4	Tue 6 Oct – Fri 11 Dec	Sat 12 Dec – Tue 26 Jan 2027

Western Australia 2026 School Holidays

Term	Term Dates	School Break
Term 1	Mon 2 Feb – Thu 2 Apr	Fri 3 Apr – Sun 19 Apr
Term 2	Mon 20 Apr – Fri 3 Jul	Sat 4 Jul – Sun 19 Jul
Term 3	Mon 20 Jul – Fri 25 Sep	Sat 26 Sep – Sun 11 Oct
Term 4	Mon 12 Oct – Thu 17 Dec	Summer begins Fri 18 Dec

South Australia 2026 School Holidays

Term	Term Dates	School Holidays
Term 1	Tue 27 Jan – Fri 10 Apr	Sat 11 Apr – Sun 26 Apr
Term 2	Mon 27 Apr – Fri 3 Jul	Sat 4 Jul – Sun 19 Jul
Term 3	Mon 20 Jul – Fri 25 Sep	Sat 26 Sep – Sun 11 Oct
Term 4	Mon 12 Oct – Fri 11 Dec	Sat 12 Dec – Wed 27 Jan 2027

ACT 2026 School Holidays

Term	Student Term Dates	Break Window
Term 1	New students Fri 30 Jan; continuing Mon 2 Feb – Thu 2 Apr	Fri 3 Apr – Mon 20 Apr
Term 2	Tue 21 Apr – Fri 3 Jul	Sat 4 Jul – Mon 20 Jul
Term 3	Tue 21 Jul – Fri 25 Sep	Sat 26 Sep – Mon 12 Oct
Term 4	Tue 13 Oct – Fri 18 Dec	Summer begins Sat 19 Dec

Northern Territory 2026 School Holidays

Term	Student Term Dates	Break Window
Term 1	Thu 29 Jan – Thu 2 Apr	Fri 3 Apr – Mon 13 Apr
Term 2	Tue 14 Apr – Fri 19 Jun	Sat 20 Jun – Mon 13 Jul
Term 3	Tue 14 Jul – Fri 18 Sep	Sat 19 Sep – Mon 5 Oct
Term 4	Tue 6 Oct – Thu 10 Dec	Summer begins Fri 11 Dec

Tasmania 2026 School Holidays

Term	Term Dates	School Holidays
Term 1	Thu 5 Feb – Fri 17 Apr	Sat 18 Apr – Sun 3 May
Term 2	Mon 4 May – Fri 10 Jul	Sat 11 Jul – Sun 26 Jul
Term 3	Mon 27 Jul – Fri 2 Oct	Sat 3 Oct – Sun 18 Oct
Term 4	Mon 19 Oct – Fri 18 Dec	Summer begins Sat 19 Dec

Term-by-Term Family Planning Tips

Autumn Holidays 2026

The autumn break is shaped by Easter. Good Friday is 3 April 2026 and Easter Monday is 6 April 2026, creating a long weekend just as Term 1 ends in many states.

Most states begin their first school break around early April, but South Australia and Tasmania break later. This matters for interstate travel: a family in Sydney may be on break while relatives in Hobart are still in school.

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Use autumn for:

light revision after Term 1
English reading fluency and writing practice
short family trips before winter prices rise
preparing for Term 2 assessments without overload

Winter Holidays 2026

Winter holidays fall mostly from late June to July. Queensland and the Northern Territory begin earlier, while Tasmania runs later.

This is a strong period for academic consolidation. A two-week online learning plan can help students review maths foundations, improve English vocabulary, or prepare for selective school, scholarship, or international curriculum transitions.

Spring Holidays 2026

Spring holidays are ideal for outdoor travel, camps, and structured enrichment. Queensland and NT begin around 19 September, while Tasmania starts in October.

For Chinese and international families, spring can be a useful time to rebuild confidence before the final term. Keep the plan simple: one learning goal, one creative project, and plenty of rest.

Summer Holidays 2026–2027

Summer is the longest school holiday in Australia. It begins earliest in NT, Queensland, and South Australia, and later in NSW, Victoria, WA, ACT, and Tasmania.

This is the best window for:

visiting family overseas
joining a holiday learning program
improving English speaking confidence
previewing the next year’s maths topics
building a reading habit before the new school year

Public Holiday Overlaps to Watch

Public holidays vary by state and territory, so always check your local calendar. Key 2026 planning dates include:

Date	Holiday	Planning Impact
Mon 26 Jan	Australia Day	Just before Term 1 starts in several states
Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr	Easter long weekend	Overlaps with or starts autumn school holidays in many states
Sat 25 Apr	Anzac Day	Some jurisdictions add Mon 27 Apr; rules vary
Mon 8 Jun	King’s Birthday in many states	Falls during Term 2 for most families
Mon 5 Oct	Labour Day in NSW/ACT/SA; King’s Birthday in QLD	Affects spring break or Term 4 start in several states
Fri 25 Dec – Mon 28 Dec	Christmas/Boxing Day period	Falls during summer school holidays

Private vs. Government Schools Holiday

This Australian school holiday calendar 2026 is based on government school dates. Catholic, independent and international schools often follow similar patterns, but they can set different start dates, finish dates, camp weeks, exam blocks and staff professional learning days.

If you are booking flights, childcare or paid holiday programs, check your child’s school calendar directly before paying a deposit. For separated families or children in different systems, keep a shared calendar so everyone is working from the same dates.

Year 12 and Key Exam Dates

Senior students often have different finish dates from younger students. Queensland lists a separate Year 12 finishing date, and other states may have assessment, study leave and exam timetables that do not match the standard Term 4 finish.

For HSC, VCE, QCE, SACE, WACE, TASC, NTCET and ACT senior secondary students, check the relevant assessment authority as soon as exam timetables are published. Families should protect rest time, but holiday periods before major exams are also valuable for revision, writing practice and targeted tutoring.

How to Keep Kids Learning During School Holidays

The purpose of a school break is not to recreate school at home. Children need rest, play and family time. But research on summer learning loss shows that long breaks can lead to skill fade, especially when children stop reading or practising maths for several weeks. A well-designed holiday rhythm can protect confidence without making the break feel heavy.

Research reviews, including Cooper et al.’s summer learning meta-analysis have found that students can lose academic ground over long vacations, with maths skills often more vulnerable than reading. The RAND Corporation’s summer learning guidance also highlights the value of engaging, consistent and well-planned programs.

Practical holiday learning ideas:

Build a reading plan with 20 minutes a day and a mix of fiction, nonfiction and audiobooks.
Keep maths warm through short practice sessions, real-world budgeting, cooking measurements and games.
Use museums, science centres, nature walks and cultural events as learning prompts.
For bilingual families, protect the home Chinese language environment through conversation, story time, calligraphy, songs or family video calls.
Use online learning platforms to maintain continuity when travel, childcare and work schedules are unpredictable.

Wukong Education’s online Chinese classes for kids are designed for flexible scheduling around holiday dates. Families can choose short holiday intensives, regular weekly lessons or 1-on-1 tutoring depending on a child’s goals and energy level.

For Chinese-Australian families, school holidays can also be a useful time to reconnect with language and culture. In 2026, Lunar New Year falls during Term 1, so families who celebrate may want to plan language activities, stories and family traditions around the school-week routine rather than waiting for a term break.

FAQ: 2026 Australia School Holidays

Are school holidays the same across Australia in 2026?

No. Each state and territory sets its own school calendar. The biggest differences are usually in Term 1 start dates, autumn holidays, and summer holiday length.

Do private schools follow the same 2026 term dates?

Not always. Catholic and independent schools often use similar dates, but they may start or finish earlier, add student-free days, or set different exam periods. Always confirm with your school.

Which states start school earliest in 2026?

Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia begin Term 1 on Tuesday 27 January 2026. Victorian government students start on Wednesday 28 January.

Which state starts latest in 2026?

Tasmania starts Term 1 on Thursday 5 February 2026. NSW Western Division also starts later than NSW Eastern Division.

When are the main winter school holidays in Australia 2026?

Most winter school holidays fall between late June and late July. Queensland and NT start earlier, while Tasmania’s winter break runs 11 July – 26 July.

How can families use school holidays without overloading children?

Choose one academic priority, keep lessons short, and protect free time. A balanced plan might include reading, one online class, outdoor activity, and family rest days.

Official Sources Checked

Source type: official government education and public holiday information.

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Roxy | K–12 Chinese Education Professional

I have been deeply involved in the K12 education field for many years, acquiring rich professional knowledge and experience. My extensive understanding of Chinese culture and education enhances my ability to integrate diverse educational methodologies. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Melbourne, which bolsters my expertise and pedagogical skills. Passionate about fostering educational environments that inspire and empower, I am committed to creating inclusive learning experiences. My aim is to positively impact students’ lives and equip them with tools for success in a globalized world.