School holidays in Australia in 2026

School holidays are the perfect time for family fun. For parents, knowing term dates in advance makes it much easier to plan activities, vacations, and family visits. You’ll also need to know the holiday periods if you need to arrange childcare if you’ll be working.

Planning ahead for holidays also means financial preparation. Whether you’re organizing a family trip abroad, booking childcare, or enrolling your children in holiday camps, efficient management of your finances is crucial. For expat families who frequently travel overseas or maintain ties to their home country, services like Wise can help with multi-currency management and low-cost international payments at the mid-market rate.

An overview of school holidays in Australia

Australia doesn’t have a single nationwide school holiday calendar. Each state or territory has its own exact term timetable. However, the whole country follows the same broad structure. The Australian school year runs from around late January to mid-December, consisting of four terms. The main holiday periods are:

• Autumn holidays: two weeks around April
• Winter holidays: two weeks around June/July
• Spring holidays: two weeks around September/October
• Summer holidays: 6–7 weeks at the end of the school year

Additionally, schools observe national and state public holidays. International schools in Australia follow a similar schedule or, in some cases, a northern hemisphere calendar (August to June).

For exact dates, check your school’s website or the relevant state or territory Department of Education. You can also visit the School Holidays website for up-to-date information.

When are the Australian school holidays in 2026?

Here are the 2026 term dates for each state and territory:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–19 April
Winter holidays	4–19 July
Spring holidays	26 September – 11 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	19 December 2026 – 28 January 2027

New South Wales (NSW)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–21 April
Winter holidays	4–20 July
Spring holidays	26 September – 12 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	18 December 2026 – 27 January 2027 (Eastern Division) 18 December 2026 – 3 February 2027 (Western Division)

Northern Territory (NT)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–12 April
Winter holidays	20 June – 12 July
Spring holidays	19 September – 4 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	10 December 2026 – 24 January 2027

Queensland (QLD)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–19 April
Winter holidays	27 June – 12 July
Spring holidays	19 September – 5 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	12 December 2026 – 26 January 2027

South Adelaide (SA)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	11–26 April
Winter holidays	4–19 July
Spring holidays	26 September – 11 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	12 December 2026 – 26 January 2027

Tasmania (TAS)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	18 April – 3 May
Winter holidays	11–26 July
Spring holidays	3–18 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	18 December 2026 – 3 February 2027

Victoria (VIC)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–19 April
Winter holidays	27 June – 12 July
Spring holidays	19 September – 4 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	19 December 2026 – 27 January 2027

Western Australia (WA)

Holiday	Dates
Autumn/Easter holidays	3–19 April
Winter holidays	4–19 July
Spring holidays	26 September – 11 October
Summer/Christmas holidays	18 December 2026 – 31 January 2027

When are the public holidays in Australia?

Australia has seven national public holidays, and each state and territory has its own schedule of local public holidays. Schools are typically closed during these periods, although you should check with your individual school for a full timetable of closures.

Tips for expat parents in Australia

Financial planning for the school holidays

School holidays can be expensive for families, with considerations including activities, childcare, or vacation travel and accommodation. For expats travelling abroad or paying for services in different currencies, cost-effective money management is even more important.

When planning trips abroad during school breaks, you should:

• Create a holiday budget that accounts for currency fluctuations
• Consider the most cost-effective way to spend money abroad
• Plan ahead for international payments to cover activities and facilities

Childcare during the school holidays

If you need to access holiday childcare in Australia, there are several options to consider. These include:

• Holiday camps (e.g., sports, arts, or educational programs for children of various ages)
• Vacation care, or Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) (activity-based programs, typically for children aged 5–12, often run at schools or community centers)
• Family day care (care provided to small groups of children in the educator’s home)
• Employer-provided programs (e.g., workplace-supported care programs such as KidsCo, where available)
• In-home care (e.g., nannies, au pairs, babysitters)

The cost of these services varies by type and location. You can search for childcare options in your area on websites such as Care For Kids.

10 fun summer camps in Australia

There are summer holiday camps available across Australia. These provide opportunities for kids to socialize and make friends while learning new skills.

Popular holiday camps include:

• The Great Aussie Bush Camp
• Cave Hill Creek
• Portsea Camp
• Australian Sports Camps
• Camp Blue
• CRU Camps
• Camp Cooby
• Wombat Corner Camp
• Camp Australia
• AICOL Summer Camp

You can search for camps at the Australian Camps Association.