Public holidays 2026 and school holidays 2026 … the dates every Aussie parent needs to know. From long weekends to school term breaks, we’ve pulled it all together in one easy guide. Because honestly, 2025 has been a blur – one minute you’re packing lunch boxes, the next the kids are yelling “no school for summer!” as they run out the gates.
The summer holidays are about to roll into Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s celebrations (and plenty of chaos in between). And just when you catch your breath, the back-to-school rush hits with uniforms, book lists and new shoes.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the key dates for 2026 in one spot. Grab a coffee, mark the calendar, and get ready for a year of juggling family time, work, holidays and everything else life throws at you.
Australian Public Holidays 2026
Here are the big national holidays to pencil into your calendar:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday 26 January
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
- Boxing Day: Monday 28 December
QUEENSLAND
QLD School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April
- Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June
- Term 3:Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September
QLD School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April
- Winter: Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July
- Spring: Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October
- Summer: Saturday 12 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027
QLD Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day: Thursday 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday 26 January
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April
- Labour Day: Monday, 5 May
- Royal Queensland Show: (Brisbane area only): Wednesday, 12 August
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 5 October
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, 24 December (from 6 pm to midnight)
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Friday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1 (Eastern Division): Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April
- Term 1 (Western Division): Tuesday 3 February to Thursday 2 April
- Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July
- Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September
- Term 4: Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December
NSW School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April
- Winter: Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July
- Spring: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October
- Summer: Eastern – Friday 18 December to Wednesday 27 January 2027; Western – Friday 18 December to Wednesday 3 February 2027
NSW Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Labour Day: Monday, 10 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
VICTORIA
VIC School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April
- Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June
- Term 3: Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September
- Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December
VIC School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April
- Winter: Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July
- Spring: Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October
- Summer: Saturday 19 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027
VIC Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Labour Day: Monday, 9 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- AFL Grand Final Friday: Subject to AFL schedule
- Melbourne Cup Day: Tuesday, 3 November
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SA School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Friday 10 April
- Term 2: Monday 27 April to Friday 3 July
- Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September
- Term 4: Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December
SA School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Saturday 11 April to Sunday 26 April
- Winter: Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July
- Spring: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October
- Summer: Saturday 12 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027
SA Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Adelaide Cup Day: Monday, 9 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- Labour Day: Monday, 5 October
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, 24 December (from 7 pm to midnight)
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Proclamation Day/Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
- Additional Proclamation Day/Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
- New Year’s Eve: Thursday, 31 December (from 7 pm to midnight)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WA School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1: Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April
- Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July
- Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September
- Term 4: Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December
WA School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April
- Winter: Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July
- Spring: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October
- Summer: Friday 18 December to Sunday 31 January 2027
WA Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Labour Day: Monday, 2 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday, 25 April
- Additional Anzac Day: Monday, 27 April
- Western Australia Day: Monday, 1 June
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 28 September
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Friday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ACT School Term Dates 2026
- Teachers start: Thu 29 January (student-free)
- New students: Fri 30 January
- Continuing students: Mon 2 February
- Term 1 ends: Thu 2 April
- Term 2: Teachers Mon 20 April (student-free), students Tue 21 April – Fri 3 July
- Term 3: Tue 21 July – Fri 25 September
- Term 4: Tue 13 October – Thu 17 Dececember
ACT School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April
- Winter: Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July
- Spring: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October (expected)
- Summer: Saturday 19 December to Monday 1 February 2027 (continuing students)
ACT Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Canberra Day: Monday, 9 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday, 25 April
- Reconciliation Day: Monday, 1 June
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- Labour Day: Monday, 5 October
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
NORTHERN TERRITORY
NT School Term Dates
- Term 1: Wednesday 28 January to Thursday 2 April
- Term 2: Monday 13 April to Friday 19 June
- Term 3: Tuesday 14 July to Friday 18 September
- Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 11 December
NT School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April
- Winter: Saturday 20 June to Monday 13 July
- Spring: Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October
- Summer: Saturday 12 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027
NT Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Australia Day: Monday, 26 January
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Anzac Day: Saturday, 25 April
- May Day: Monday, 4 May
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- Alice Springs Show Day: Friday, 3 July
- Tennant Creek Show Day: Friday, 10 July
- Katherine Show Day: Friday, 17 July
- Darwin Show Day: Friday, 24 July
- Picnic Day: Monday, 3 August
- Borroloola Show Day: Friday, 14 August
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, 24 December (from 7 pm to midnight)
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
- Additional Boxing Day: Monday, 28 December
- New Year’s Eve: Thursday, 31 December (from 7 pm to midnight)
TASMANIA
TAS School Term Dates 2026
- Term 1: Thursday 5 February to Friday 17 April
- Term 2: Monday 4 May to Friday 10 July
- Term 3: Monday 27 July to Friday 2 October
- Term 4: Monday 19 October to Friday 18 December
TAS School Holidays 2026
- Autumn: Saturday 18 April to Sunday 3 May
- Winter: Saturday 11 July to Sunday 26 July
- Spring: Saturday 3 October to Sunday 18 October
- Summer: Friday 18 December 2026 to late January 2027 (exact end date to be confirmed)
TAS Public Holidays 2026
- New Year’s Day – Thursday, 1 January
- Devonport Cup – Wednesday, 7 January (regional)
- Australia Day – Monday, 26 January
- Royal Hobart Regatta – Monday, 9 February (regional)
- Launceston Cup – Wednesday, 25 February (regional)
- King Island Show – Tuesday, 3 March (regional)
- Eight Hours Day – Monday, 9 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Saturday: Saturday, 4 April
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, 5 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Easter Tuesday: Tuesday, 22 April (observed by some public service employees)
- Anzac Day: Saturday, 25 April
- AGFEST: Friday, 8 May (regional)
- King’s Birthday: Monday, 8 June
- Burnie Show: Friday, 2 October (regional)
- Royal Launceston Show: Thursday, 8 October (regional)
- Flinders Island Show: Friday, 16 October (regional)
- Royal Hobart Show: Thursday, 22 October (regional)
- Recreation Day: Monday, 2 November (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
- Devonport Show: Friday, 27 November (regional)
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December
Please note: Private and independent schools finish earlier or start on different days. Always check with your child’s school to be sure.
Now that you know the 2026 term dates and holidays across Australia, you can plan school pick-up routines, book family time, school holiday activities and make the most of 2026. Just remember to confirm exact dates with your kids’ schools closer to the time.
Make sure to browse our Back to School section for all the advice for not only kids starting school, but mums too. You’ll find all the information you need to get the new school year off to a great start, including these time and sanity-saving clever school lunch box ideas and hacks!
Finally, now that you have your calendar sorted, don’t forget to join us over on our Facebook page or in our Facebook Groups to keep up to date with what’s happening in our Mum Central community too.
