Planning your family’s year around the school calendar? Here is everything Victorian parents need to know about the 2026 school term dates, holiday breaks, and public holidays, confirmed for Victorian government schools.
2026 Victoria School Term Dates
The 2026 Victorian school year runs across four terms:
Term 1: 27 January to 2 April
Term 2: 20 April to 26 June
Term 3: 13 July to 18 September
Term 4: 5 October to 18 December
Note: The first day of Term 1 (Tuesday 27 January) is a student-free curriculum day. Students typically return on Wednesday, 28 January.
These dates are set by the Victorian Department of Education for public schools. Independent and Catholic schools often base their calendars on the same schedule but may have slight variations, so it is always best to confirm directly with your school.
2026 Victoria School Holidays
Victorian government schools have four holiday breaks in 2026:
Autumn Holidays: 3 April to 19 April
Winter Holidays: 27 June to 12 July
Spring Holidays: 19 September to 4 October
Summer Holidays: 19 December 2026 to 28 January 2027
2026 Victoria Public Holidays
Here are the statewide public holidays that fall across the school year:
| Date | Public Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| Monday, 26 January | Australia Day |
| Monday, 9 March | Labour Day |
| Friday, 3 April | Good Friday |
| Saturday, 4 April | Easter Saturday |
| Sunday, 5 April | Easter Sunday |
| Monday, 6 April | Easter Monday |
| Saturday, 25 April | ANZAC Day |
| Monday, 8 June | King’s Birthday |
| Friday, 25 September | Friday before AFL Grand Final |
| Tuesday, 3 November | Melbourne Cup Day |
| Friday, 25 December | Christmas Day |
| Saturday, 26 December | Boxing Day |
| Monday, 28 December | Boxing Day Holiday |
ANZAC Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026. Victoria does not provide a substitute public holiday. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, so Monday 28 December is an additional public holiday.
Note: Some regional areas of Victoria hold the Melbourne Cup public holiday on a different date. Always check with your local council if you are outside metro Melbourne.
Use the School Holidays for Maths Catch-Up
The Victorian school holidays are a great opportunity to address any gaps in Maths before the next term begins. Whether your child is working through the Victorian Curriculum in primary school or building towards their VCE results, a few focused sessions during the break can make a significant difference to confidence and outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Victorian government school students return for Term 1 on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The first day of Term 1 (Tuesday 27 January) is a student-free day for teachers.
Term 4 ends on Friday, 18 December 2026 for most students. VCE students in Years 11 and 12 typically finish earlier due to external examinations.
Autumn and Winter holidays are each approximately two weeks. Spring holidays are also around two weeks. The Summer holidays run from 19 December 2026 through to 28 January 2027, roughly six weeks.
Not always. Independent and Catholic schools use the government dates as a guide but may vary slightly, particularly for student-free days and start or finish dates.
Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November) is a public holiday across Victoria, though some regional councils may observe an alternative local holiday instead.
