Planning your 2026 calendar in the Australian Capital Territory? Below are the official ACT school term dates, holiday periods, and public holidays for government schools, sourced from the ACT Education Directorate and ACT Government.
Note: These dates apply to ACT public schools. Independent and Catholic schools generally follow a similar schedule but may vary. Always confirm with your school directly.
ACT School Term Dates 2026
Term 1
New students start Friday 30 January, returning students start Monday 2 February, with Term 1 running through to Thursday 2 April 2026.
Term 2
Tuesday 21 April to Friday 3 July 2026
Term 3
Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September 2026
Term 4
Tuesday 13 October to Friday 18 December 2026
Staff development days: Teachers commence on Thursday 29 January (student-free day), and return one day before students at the start of Terms 2, 3, and 4.
ACT School Holidays 2026
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Holidays | Friday 3 April to Monday 20 April 2026 |
| Winter Holidays | Saturday 4 July to Monday 20 July 2026 |
| Spring Holidays | Saturday 26 September to Monday 12 October 2026 |
| Summer Holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027 |
ACT Public Holidays 2026
| Public Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January 2026 |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January 2026 |
| Canberra Day | Monday 9 March 2026 |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| Anzac Day | Saturday 25 April 2026 |
| Anzac Day (substitute) | Monday 27 April 2026 |
| Reconciliation Day | Monday 1 June 2026 |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 8 June 2026 |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | Monday 28 December 2026 |
ACT exclusive: Reconciliation Day is the ACT’s unique public holiday, falling on Monday 1 June 2026.
Make the Most of the ACT School Holidays
School holidays are the perfect time to get ahead in maths before the next term begins. At Mastering Maths Online, we offer flexible online maths tutoring for ACT students in Years 1-12, available during school holidays and year-round.
Whether your child needs help before NAPLAN, wants to build confidence heading into Year 11 and Year 12, or just needs to strengthen their foundations, our experienced tutors are ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
New students start on Friday 30 January 2026. Returning students go back on Monday 2 February 2026.
Autumn holidays run from 3 to 20 April, winter from 4 to 20 July, spring from 26 September to 12 October, and summer from 19 December 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Canberra Day is observed on Monday 9 March 2026. It is an ACT-specific public holiday and schools are closed.
Yes. Reconciliation Day is a public holiday unique to the ACT and falls on Monday 1 June 2026.
Not always. Catholic and independent schools generally align with ACT government school dates but may differ slightly. Check with your school to confirm.
