Australia School Holidays 2026: NSW, VIC, QLD & WA Term Dates
In 2026, Australian state schools follow a standard four-term academic structure spanning late January through mid-December. Term 1 commences on 27–28 January in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, and 28 January in NSW (Eastern Division), concluding on Thursday 2 April prior to Easter (Good Friday on 3 April). The four major holiday periods — Autumn break (April), Winter break (July), Spring break (September–October) and the long summer break (December–January) — align closely across the four major states, with minor differences in term commencement dates and staff professional development days.
In Australia, school education is administered at the state and territory level by respective Departments of Education (NSW DoE, VIC DEECD, QLD DoE, and WA DoE). Each term typically begins with one or two pupil-free Staff Development Days (SDDs); independent and Catholic schools may deviate by several days. Families should always confirm pupil start dates with their local school.
Australia School Holidays 2026: NSW, VIC, QLD & WA Term Dates
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – 26Thursday – Monday | Summer Holidays (2025–26 break tail)Conclusion of summer vacation. Australia Day public holiday observed Monday 26 January. | Summer break |
| Jan 27 – Apr 2Tuesday – Thursday | Term 1Starts 27–28 Jan (teachers return 27 Jan; NSW students return 28 Jan). Concludes Thursday 2 April ahead of Good Friday. | Term |
| Apr 3 – 19Friday – Sunday | Autumn School Holidays (Easter Break)Two-week break across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA, encompassing Good Friday (3 Apr) and Easter Monday (6 Apr). | Mid-term break |
| Apr 20 – Jul 3Monday – Friday | Term 2Includes Anzac Day (Saturday 25 April) and King’s Birthday holiday (Monday 8 June in NSW, VIC; WA observes in Sep). | Term |
| Jul 4 – 19Saturday – Sunday | Winter School HolidaysStandard two-week winter holiday across all four states between Term 2 and Term 3. | Mid-year break |
| Jul 20 – Sep 25Monday – Friday | Term 310-week winter-to-spring term concluding on Friday 25 September across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA. | Term |
| Sep 26 – Oct 11Saturday – Sunday | Spring School HolidaysTwo-week break. Includes Labour Day in NSW and King’s Birthday in WA/QLD on Monday 5 October. | Mid-term break |
| Oct 12 – Dec 18Monday – Friday | Term 4Final term of the school year. Finishes 11 Dec in QLD, 17 Dec in WA, and 18 Dec in NSW and VIC. | Term |
| Dec 19 – 31Saturday – Thursday | Summer Holidays (Christmas & New Year)Major 6-week summer vacation commencing across Australia. Christmas Day (25 Dec) and Boxing Day substitute (28 Dec) fall inside this window. | Summer break |
Last updated: 2026-09-28 · Dates officially confirmed
How Australian School Terms Align with Public Holidays in 2026
Unlike public holidays which are legislated by each state parliament, school term dates are set by state education departments. However, terms are deliberately planned around major national public holidays: Easter 2026 (3–6 April) sits immediately inside the Autumn school holidays, meaning parents do not lose school days around the Good Friday long weekend.
King’s Birthday creates a long weekend during Term 2 in NSW and VIC (Monday 8 June 2026), whereas Queensland observes it in Term 4 (Monday 5 October 2026) and Western Australia observes Western Australia Day (Monday 1 June) in Term 2 and King’s Birthday in Term 4 (Monday 28 September).
Official sources & data
- NSW Department of Education — School term datesVisit sourceNSW Government Department of Education
- Victoria Department of Education — Term datesVisit sourceVictorian Government
- Queensland Department of Education — School holidaysVisit sourceQueensland Government Department of Education
- Western Australia Department of Education — Term datesVisit sourceGovernment of Western Australia Department of Education
Frequently asked questions
When do schools go back in Australia in 2026?
State school pupils return on Wednesday 28 January 2026 in NSW (Eastern Division), Tuesday 28 January in Victoria, and Wednesday 28 January in QLD and WA, following Australia Day.
When are the 2026 Easter school holidays in Australia?
The Autumn / Easter break runs from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026 across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
What are Staff Development Days (SDDs) in Australian schools?
Staff Development Days (pupil-free days) are scheduled at the start of terms for teacher planning and curriculum development. Pupils do not attend school on these days.
Do Australian private and Catholic schools have the same holidays as public schools?
Not necessarily. Independent and Catholic systemic schools frequently start their holidays up to a week earlier or extend breaks, especially in June and December.
When do 2026 summer Christmas holidays start in Australia?
Queensland public schools finish on Friday 11 December 2026, WA on Thursday 17 December, and NSW and Victoria on Friday 18 December 2026.
