Victoria School Term Dates 2026

The Victorian Department of Education has released the official term and holiday dates for government schools throughout 2026. Families planning travel, childcare arrangements, or work schedules can now access the complete calendar for the upcoming school year. The four-term structure remains consistent with previous years, though students in government schools will return one day later than the official term start in January.

Victoria operates a four-term academic year, with breaks between each period and an extended summer holiday spanning the end of one calendar year into the beginning of the next. The official dates apply directly to all government schools across the state, while Catholic and independent institutions typically align closely but retain flexibility for their own scheduling needs.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all term dates, holiday periods, and key public holidays that intersect with the school calendar. Parents and guardians are encouraged to bookmark official sources for the most current information as the school year approaches.

What Are the School Term Dates for Victoria 2026?

The Victorian school year divides into four terms, each spanning approximately ten weeks. The following grid summarizes the core dates for government schools across Victoria in 2026.

Key Facts About the 2026 School Year

• Term 1 2026 begins on Tuesday, 27 January for teaching staff, with students returning the following day on Wednesday, 28 January.
• The longest single term is Term 4, running from early October through mid-December at approximately eleven weeks.
• The summer holiday period extends from Saturday, 19 December 2026 through to Monday, 26 January 2027, providing roughly five weeks of break.
• All four terms maintain a consistent structure of approximately ten weeks of instruction plus vacation breaks.
• The Easter weekend in early April coincides directly with the end of Term 1, creating a natural transition into the autumn break.
• Government schools strictly adhere to these dates as set by the Department of Education.
• For families seeking regional activities during breaks, Lakes Entrance Accommodation offers year-round options along the Gippsland coastline.

Snapshot of Key 2026 Dates

Victoria School Holidays 2026: Key Break Dates

The holiday periods between terms provide essential rest periods for students and educators alike. Each break spans approximately two to three weeks, with the summer holiday extending longest due to its position bridging the calendar year. Understanding these windows helps families coordinate leave from work, travel plans, and childcare arrangements well in advance.

Autumn Holidays

The autumn break commences immediately following the conclusion of Term 1. Students finish on Thursday, 2 April, with Good Friday falling the following day. This holiday period runs from Friday, 3 April through Sunday, 19 April, with students returning to school on Monday, 20 April for the start of Term 2. The Easter Monday public holiday on 13 April falls within this break, potentially extending long-weekend plans for many families.

Winter Holidays

The winter break follows Term 2 and spans from Saturday, 27 June through Sunday, 12 July. This period coincides with the coldest months in Victoria and often becomes a popular time for families to travel interstate or overseas during the school-free weeks. Term 3 begins on Monday, 13 July when students and staff return to classrooms.

Spring Holidays

The spring break follows Term 3, beginning on Saturday, 19 September and continuing through Sunday, 4 October. This two-week period precedes the final and longest term of the school year. Term 4 commences on Monday, 5 October, marking the run toward end-of-year assessments and the summer break that follows.

Summer Holidays

The summer break represents the most extended holiday period in the Victorian school calendar. Starting on Saturday, 19 December 2026, this break extends until Monday, 26 January 2027. The break encompasses the Christmas and New Year period, providing families with opportunities for extended travel or celebrations. Teaching staff typically return on 27 January 2027, one day before students.

Student-Free Days and Public Holidays in Victoria School Terms 2026

Public holidays throughout the year can create student-free days or align with existing term breaks. Victoria’s school calendar integrates these state-wide holidays, though their impact varies depending on where they fall within each term. The Department of Education designates certain days as non-student days, allowing teaching staff to undertake professional development and planning activities.

Public Holidays Affecting the School Year

Several public holidays fall within or near the school terms and may affect attendance requirements. Schools typically communicate any changes to the regular schedule through their own channels, particularly regarding whether a public holiday creates an additional day off for students.

Student-free days typically occur at the beginning of Term 1 when teaching staff return before students. In 2026, staff return on Tuesday, 27 January while students do not begin until Wednesday, 28 January. These professional development days allow teachers to prepare for the year ahead without student attendance requirements.

Government vs Private School Term Dates in Victoria 2026

The official term dates published by the Victorian Department of Education apply mandatorily to all government schools across the state. These dates appear on the Department’s official website and associated publications, serving as the authoritative reference for public schools in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria alike.

How Catholic and Independent Schools Handle Term Dates

Catholic schools and independent private schools in Victoria generally align their calendars with the government school schedule. Most institutions adopt the same term start and finish dates, largely because doing so simplifies coordination with interschool sports, examinations, and shared events. However, these schools retain autonomy to adjust their calendars by a day or two if required for internal purposes.

Common reasons for private school variations include scheduling around their own staff training days, religious observance periods, or college-specific events. No specific divergences from the government calendar were noted in official sources for 2026, but individual schools may announce adjustments through their own communication channels.

For those comparing schooling options across different systems, resources such as the Sydney Catholic Schools Guide illustrate how Catholic education operates in other states, though specific dates differ between Victoria and New South Wales.

Complete Timeline: Victoria School Year 2026

The following timeline organizes key dates throughout the 2026 school year, providing a sequential overview of term starts, breaks, and significant dates. This chronological view helps families visualize the full arc of the school year at a glance. For those comparing schooling options across different systems, resources such as the Sydney Catholic Schools Guide illustrate how Catholic education operates in other states, though specific dates differ between Victoria and New South Wales, and you can find the official Victorian school term dates for 2026 here: 200 Euro to Australian Dollar.

1. January 2026: Teaching staff return on Tuesday, 27 January. Students begin Term 1 on Wednesday, 28 January.
2. April 2026: Term 1 concludes Thursday, 2 April. Autumn holidays begin Friday, 3 April. Easter Monday falls on 13 April.
3. April–May 2026: Autumn holidays continue through Sunday, 19 April. Term 2 commences Monday, 20 April.
4. June 2026: Term 2 runs through Friday, 26 June. Winter holidays begin Saturday, 27 June.
5. July 2026: Winter holidays continue through Sunday, 12 July. Term 3 commences Monday, 13 July.
6. September 2026: Term 3 concludes Friday, 18 September. Spring holidays begin Saturday, 19 September.
7. October 2026: Spring holidays continue through Sunday, 4 October. Term 4 commences Monday, 5 October.
8. December 2026: Term 4 runs through Friday, 18 December. Summer holidays begin Saturday, 19 December.
9. January 2027: Summer holidays extend through Monday, 26 January 2027. The new school year begins shortly thereafter.

Confirmed Information vs Areas Requiring Verification

The following summary distinguishes between established facts and areas where families should seek confirmation directly from their school.

Why These Dates Matter for Victorian Families

The school calendar affects numerous aspects of family life beyond simple attendance requirements. Childcare arrangements often depend on precise knowledge of term dates and holiday breaks, particularly for families with children across multiple year levels who may have different schedules. Early childhood services and vacation care programs typically operate around these same windows, though they may offer programs during some holiday periods.

Employers in Victoria also recognize the school calendar when planning leave availability, project timelines, and staffing levels. The January start date and December conclusion of the school year create predictable patterns for workforce planning across many industries. Retail and hospitality sectors particularly notice changes in demand around school holiday periods.

For regional communities, the school calendar influences local event scheduling, sports competitions, and community facility usage. The consistent structure across government schools allows regional sports leagues, music programs, and other extracurricular activities to coordinate their own calendars with reasonable certainty.

Sources and Official References

The following sources provide authoritative information on Victorian school term dates. Families are encouraged to consult these primary sources for the most current and official guidance.

The Department of Education Victoria publishes the official term dates for all government schools, available through schools.vic.gov.au and the official PDF calendar.

— Victorian Department of Education

• schools.vic.gov.au — Official government school term dates publication
• vic.gov.au — Victorian Government school calendar
• Department of Education term dates PDF — Downloadable official document
• State Library Victoria Education Guide — Reference resource for term dates
• Officeworks School Holidays Victoria — Commercial resource with verified dates
• Newly with Kids Victoria — Family-focused calendar information

Summary: Planning Your 2026 School Year in Victoria

The 2026 school year in Victoria follows a familiar four-term structure, with Term 1 commencing on Wednesday, 28 January for students and concluding on Thursday, 2 April. The school year wraps up on Friday, 18 December, followed by the extended summer holiday through late January 2027. Holiday breaks of approximately two to three weeks occur between each term, with Easter creating a natural four-day weekend at the start of the autumn break.

Government schools strictly adhere to these published dates, while private and Catholic schools generally align but may vary slightly. Parents should confirm specific arrangements with their individual school, particularly regarding student-free days and any sector-specific variations. The official Department of Education website remains the primary source for verified information.

Frequently Asked Questions