Autumn school holidays
Between Term 1 and Term 2
3 April 2026 - 19 April 2026
17
days off
Victoria School Holidays 2026 & Term Dates
Current School Term Status
Term 3 is currently running
9
days left
Term 3 ends on Friday, 18 September 2026.
Next break: Spring school holidays starts after Friday, 18 September 2026.
Live School Term Tracker
Victoria school term countdown 2026
Live countdown, current school week and a date checker - calculated from the official dates on this page.
10 days until the Spring holidays begin
Term 3 is running now. After it, the Spring holidays run 19 Sep 2026 to 4 Oct 2026.
Week 9 of 10 - Term 3
Last day of schoolFriday, 18 September 2026Term 3 ends
Holidays beginSaturday, 19 September 2026Spring holidays
Counting down to the Spring holidays
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Pick a date to see whether schools are in term or on holidays then - and which week of term it falls in.
Pick a date above to check its school-term status.
📅 2026 Victoria School Term Dates
Use the table below as the main reference for Victoria 2026 school term dates.
| Term | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 27 January 2026 | 2 April 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | 20 April 2026 | 26 June 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | 13 July 2026 | 18 September 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | 5 October 2026 | 18 December 2026 | 11 weeks |
🏖️ School Holidays VIC 2026
These are the main school holiday breaks between terms in Victoria for 2026. Use them as a planning guide and confirm details with your school when needed.
Winter school holidays
Between Term 2 and Term 3
27 June 2026 - 12 July 2026
16
days off
Spring school holidays
Between Term 3 and Term 4
19 September 2026 - 4 October 2026
16
days off
Summer school holidays
After Term 4 2026
19 December 2026 - 25 January 2027
38
days off
Victoria 2026 school year at a glance
- Total school terms: 4
- Total instructional time: 41 weeks across the four terms
- Longest term: Term 4 (11 weeks)
- Shortest term: Term 1 (10 weeks)
- Total school holiday time: 87 days across the four holiday breaks
- Longest break: Summer school holidays, at 38 days
The 2026 school year follows the typical pattern for this five-year span: 41 weeks of instructional time and a 38-day summer break, both in line with most other years shown here. 2027 has the longest summer holidays in this span at 40 days, and 2028 has the most total instructional time at 42 weeks.
Compared to 2027: Term 1 2026 falls on the same calendar date as Term 1 2027, Term 4 2026 falls 1 day later than Term 4 2027, and total school holiday time is 2 days fewer in 2026 than in 2027 (87 vs 89) — Summer school holidays run 2 days shorter in 2026 (38 days vs 40 days in 2027); 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.
Plain-English summary for Victoria 2026
Victoria school students generally have four school terms in 2026, with autumn, winter, spring and summer holiday breaks between terms.
- School year starts: 27 January 2026.
- School year ends: 18 December 2026.
- Important note: Government, Catholic, independent and private schools may use different student dates, so families should confirm dates with their school.
The detailed term dates and school holiday tables above remain the main reference. This section is only a quick plain-English explanation.
Download and print VIC 2026 school calendar
Download the Victoria 2026 school calendar as an iCal file, import it into Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar, or print this page for offline planning.
22 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.
2026 Public Holidays in Victoria
Victoria public holidays include statewide dates, but some schools may have student-free days or local arrangements. The AFL Grand Final public holiday date should always be confirmed against the official Victorian source.
| Public holiday | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, 1 January 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Australia Day | Monday, 26 January 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Labour Day | Monday, 9 March 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Good Friday | Friday, 3 April 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday, 4 April 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, 5 April 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Easter Monday | Monday, 6 April 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| ANZAC Day | Saturday, 25 April 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| King’s Birthday | Monday, 8 June 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Friday before AFL Grand Final | Friday, 25 September 2026 | Date can depend on AFL schedule; confirm official source. |
| Melbourne Cup | Tuesday, 3 November 2026 | Victoria-wide public holiday; regional arrangements can vary. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, 25 December 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Boxing Day | Saturday, 26 December 2026 | Statewide public holiday. |
| Boxing Day Holiday | Monday, 28 December 2026 | Additional public holiday. |
Use this table as a planning guide only. Confirm public holidays, regional holidays and school-specific arrangements with the official VIC government source and your school.
See the full VIC 2026 public holiday list, with types and long weekends →
Good to know: Victoria planning notes for 2026
Victoria is the only state with a public holiday for the AFL Grand Final (the Friday before the match, usually in September or early October) and for Melbourne Cup Day (the first Tuesday in November) — two dates you won’t see on any other state’s calendar. Melbourne Cup Day usually falls inside Term 4 rather than during a school holiday break, so it’s worth checking the term dates table above if you’re planning around it. As with every state, Catholic and independent schools in Victoria often set their own pupil-free days and sometimes start or finish a day or two apart from the government-school dates shown on this page. In Victoria, pupil-free days are usually called Student Free Days or Curriculum Days. Each school council sets its own dates within Department of Education guidelines rather than following one statewide list, so always confirm them directly with your child’s school. Victoria’s term dates are also published well ahead of time by the Department of Education, which makes early travel planning easier than in states where dates are confirmed closer to the year. See our state comparison hub for how Victoria’s term lengths stack up against other states.
Frequently asked questions about 2026 school dates
When do Victoria schools go back in 2026?
The first day of Term 1 starts on 27 January 2026.
When are school holidays VIC 2026?
School holidays VIC 2026 are the breaks listed above between each school term. The final summer holiday starts after Term 4 ends on 18 December 2026.
What are the term dates Victoria 2026?
Term dates Victoria 2026 are: Term 1 runs from 27 January 2026 to 2 April 2026, Term 2 runs from 20 April 2026 to 26 June 2026, Term 3 runs from 13 July 2026 to 18 September 2026, Term 4 runs from 5 October 2026 to 18 December 2026.
Are these dates the same for every Victoria school?
No. These dates are based on Victoria government schools. Independent, private and Catholic schools may set different student dates or pupil-free days.
Does Victoria have any public holidays other states don’t?
Yes. The Friday before the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) are both Victoria-only public holidays. Melbourne Cup Day is observed across the whole state, not just metropolitan Melbourne.
When is the best time to book school holiday travel in Victoria?
Prices for flights and accommodation in and out of Victoria tend to rise in the days immediately before and after each break, and especially around the Term 4/summer changeover. Booking a week either side of the official dates shown above can help avoid the highest peak pricing.
Where can I confirm official Victorian school term dates?
The Victorian Government publishes official term dates at vic.gov.au, linked from the source note on this page. Always check that source directly for the most current confirmed dates, especially for years further in the future.