Australia School Holidays 2027: NSW, VIC, QLD & WA Term Dates
In 2027, Australian state schools follow a standard four-term structure spanning late January through mid-December. Easter falls exceptionally early in 2027 (Good Friday 26 March, Easter Monday 29 March), leading state education departments to conclude Term 1 on Thursday 25 March across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA. The Autumn break (26 March – 11 April), Winter break (late June / early July), Spring break (late September / early October) and Summer break (mid-December to late January 2028) provide structured vacation periods across all four states.
Term dates are published by the Departments of Education for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. While core student term and holiday dates match within days, exact pupil start dates vary due to pupil-free staff development days. Catholic and independent schools may schedule different term endings.
Australia School Holidays 2027: NSW, VIC, QLD & WA Term Dates
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – 26Friday – Tuesday | Summer Holidays (2026–27 break tail)Conclusion of summer vacation. Australia Day public holiday observed Tuesday 26 January. | Summer break |
| Jan 27 – Mar 25Wednesday – Thursday | Term 1Commences 27–28 January across VIC, NSW, QLD and WA. Finishes early on Thursday 25 March ahead of Good Friday (26 March). | Term |
| Mar 26 – Apr 11Friday – Sunday | Autumn School Holidays (Easter Break)Two-week break across all states, covering Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March). | Mid-term break |
| Apr 12 – Jun 25Monday – Friday | Term 2Commences Monday 12 April across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA. Finishes 25 June in QLD and VIC, and 2 July in NSW and WA. | Term |
| Jun 26 – Jul 11Saturday – Sunday | Winter School HolidaysMid-year holiday period. VIC and QLD run 26 June – 11 July; NSW and WA run 3 July – 18 July. | Mid-year break |
| Jul 12 – Sep 24Monday – Friday | Term 3Resumes Monday 12 July (VIC/QLD) and Monday 19 July (NSW/WA). Concludes 17 September (VIC/QLD) and 24 September (NSW/WA). | Term |
| Sep 25 – Oct 10Saturday – Sunday | Spring School HolidaysTwo-week break. Includes Labour Day in NSW and King’s Birthday in WA/QLD on Monday 4 October. | Mid-term break |
| Oct 11 – Dec 17Monday – Friday | Term 4Final term of 2027. QLD finishes 10 Dec, WA on 16 Dec, and NSW and Victoria on Friday 17 December. | Term |
| Dec 18 – 31Saturday – Friday | Summer Holidays (Christmas & New Year)Annual summer vacation commences nationwide. Christmas Day falls on Saturday 25 Dec and Boxing Day on Sunday 26 Dec, with substitutes on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 Dec. | Summer break |
Last updated: 2026-09-28 · Dates officially confirmed
How Australian School Terms Align with Public Holidays in 2027
The defining feature of the 2027 school calendar is an unusually early Easter: Good Friday falls on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March. Consequently, Term 1 concludes on Thursday 25 March across all four states, seamlessly joining the Easter long weekend to the two-week Autumn break without parents needing to take leave during term time.
At the end of the year, Christmas Day (25 Dec) falls on Saturday and Boxing Day (26 Dec) on Sunday. Under national statutory rules, public holidays are transferred to Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December, providing a four-day Christmas closure during the summer holidays.
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 does Term 1 start in Australia in 2027?
Following Australia Day on Tuesday 26 January 2027, students return to school on Wednesday 27 January in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA.
Why do Australian schools break up early for Easter in 2027?
Because Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027. Departments of Education align the end of Term 1 with Good Friday (26 March), setting Autumn holidays from 26 March to 11 April.
How many weeks of summer holidays do Australian pupils receive in 2027?
Australian students receive approximately 5.5 to 6 weeks of summer vacation, running from mid-December 2027 until late January 2028.
Are school term dates the same in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth?
They follow the same 4-term model, but term start and finish dates can vary by 1 to 2 weeks, particularly for Winter (Term 2 break) and Term 4 completion.
When do 2027 year-end holidays start for Queensland and NSW schools?
Queensland schools break up on Friday 10 December 2027, while NSW public schools finish on Friday 17 December 2027.
