The 2028 school year has not started yet
Term 1 starts on Tuesday, 8 February 2028.
Students return after the current school holiday break.
Australian Capital Territory school term countdown 2028
Live countdown, current school week and a date checker - calculated from the official dates on this page.
517 days until the 2028 school year starts
The 2028 school year begins with Term 1.
Counting down to the first day of school
Check any date
Pick a date to see whether schools are in term or on holidays then - and which week of term it falls in.
Australian Capital Territory school term dates 2028
Term dates for ACT government schools. Independent, Catholic and private schools may vary.
| Term | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 8 February 2028 | 7 April 2028 | 8w 3d |
| Term 2 | 26 April 2028 | 7 July 2028 | 10w 2d |
| Term 3 | 25 July 2028 | 29 September 2028 | 9w 3d |
| Term 4 | 17 October 2028 | 22 December 2028 | 9w 3d |
Australian Capital Territory school holidays 2028
School holiday breaks between each school term.
| Holiday break | Starts | Ends | Length / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn school holidays | 8 April 2028 | 25 April 2028 | 18 days |
| Winter school holidays | 8 July 2028 | 24 July 2028 | 17 days |
| Spring school holidays | 30 September 2028 | 16 October 2028 | 17 days |
| Summer school holidays | 23 December 2028 | 5 February 2029 | 45 days |
Australian Capital Territory 2028 school year at a glance
- Total school terms: 4
- Total instructional time: 40 weeks across the four terms
- Longest term: Term 2 (11 weeks)
- Shortest term: Term 1 (9 weeks)
- Total school holiday time: 97 days across the four holiday breaks
- Longest break: Summer school holidays, at 45 days
Total instructional time is the same every year in the 5 years shown on this site: 40 weeks across the four terms. Its 45-day summer holidays are the shortest of the years with confirmed dates on this site.
Compared to 2029: Term 1 2028 falls 2 days later than Term 1 2029, Term 4 2028 falls 1 day later than Term 4 2029, and total school holiday time is 1 day more in 2028 than in 2029 (97 vs 96) — Autumn school holidays run 1 day longer in 2028 (18 days vs 17 days in 2029); all other breaks are the same length in both years.
These figures are calculated directly from the term and school holiday dates listed on this page.
Australian Capital Territory school holidays by year
Move between available ACT year pages.
Good to know: Australian Capital Territory planning notes for 2028
The ACT has two public holidays not observed in most other states: Canberra Day (second Monday in March) and Reconciliation Day (around 27 May, or the nearest Monday). Although the ACT sits inside NSW geographically, it sets its own school term dates independently, so ACT and NSW calendars can differ even though the regions are close together — don’t assume they line up. Government school dates are the main reference on this page; Catholic and independent schools in the ACT may vary by a few days. ACT pupil-free days are called Student Free Days, and each school sets its own within ACT Education Directorate guidelines rather than following one territory-wide list, so dates can differ between schools even within Canberra. Because the ACT sets its school calendar independently of New South Wales despite sitting inside it geographically, families crossing the border for school or work should check both calendars separately rather than assume they line up.
Public Holidays
Public holiday dates for 2028 are gazetted by the ACT government closer to the year itself, so a full list isn’t published on this page yet. Fixed national dates — New Year’s Day, Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day — can be expected as usual. For ACT-specific public holidays and how they tend to fall relative to school terms, see the fully confirmed ACT 2026 page as a guide, and check the official source link above for this year once it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Do ACT school terms follow the same dates as NSW?
Not necessarily. Even though the ACT is surrounded by New South Wales, it sets its own school term dates independently, so the two calendars can differ. Always check the ACT-specific dates on this page rather than assuming they match NSW.
What are Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day?
Canberra Day (second Monday in March) marks the founding of Canberra, and Reconciliation Day (around 27 May) is a dedicated public holiday recognising reconciliation. Both are unique to the ACT and aren’t observed in the surrounding NSW region.
Are Catholic and independent school dates different in the ACT?
They can be. Catholic Education ACT and independent ACT schools set their own calendars and pupil-free days, which may differ slightly from the government school dates shown on this page. Confirm with your school directly.
Where can I confirm official ACT school term dates?
The ACT Education Directorate publishes official term dates at act.gov.au, linked from the source note on this page. Check there directly for the latest confirmed dates.
Download and print ACT 2028 school calendar
Download the Australian Capital Territory 2028 school calendar as an iCal file, import it into Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar, or print this page for offline planning.
8 calendar items included. The file includes available term dates, school holiday breaks and public holidays that appear on this page. Always confirm dates with the official source and your school.
Source and disclaimer
Source: ACT official school dates/source page. Please refer to the official source and your school for final confirmation. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions.