ACT school holidays 2026 and 2027
ACT government-school holidays in 2026 are autumn 3 to 20 April, winter 4 to 20 July, spring 26 September to 12 October and summer 19 December 2026 to 1 February 2027. The next Australian Capital Territory school holidays are the summer holidays: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027, according to the ACT Education Directorate.
Government schools only — Catholic and independent schools set their own dates. Official ACT term dates ↗ Dates checked against the ACT Education Directorate on Sunday 1 November 2026.
ACT school holidays 2026
| Holidays | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Friday 3 April 2026 to Monday 20 April 2026 |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 4 July 2026 to Monday 20 July 2026 |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 26 September 2026 to Monday 12 October 2026 |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027 |
ACT term dates 2026
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Monday 2 February 2026 | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 21 April 2026 | Friday 3 July 2026 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 21 July 2026 | Friday 25 September 2026 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 13 October 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 |
ACT school holidays 2027
| Holidays | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Saturday 10 April 2027 to Tuesday 27 April 2027 |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 3 July 2027 to Monday 19 July 2027 |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 25 September 2027 to Monday 11 October 2027 |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 18 December 2027 to Tuesday 8 February 2028 |
ACT term dates 2027
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday 2 February 2027 | Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Term 2 | Wednesday 28 April 2027 | Friday 2 July 2027 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 20 July 2027 | Friday 24 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 12 October 2027 | Friday 17 December 2027 |
Term 1 dates are the day continuing students return; each term starts with a student-free day for teachers.
A Year 12 holiday study plan
The holidays are when Year 12 results are won. Pick your weakest subject, sit one full past paper a week under timed conditions, mark it against the official guide, and spend the next sessions on the questions you lost marks on. Keep one day a week completely off.
Common questions
When are the next ACT school holidays?
The next Australian Capital Territory school holidays are the summer holidays: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027, according to the ACT Education Directorate.
When are the 2026 ACT school holidays?
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April 2026 to Monday 20 April 2026; Winter holidays: Saturday 4 July 2026 to Monday 20 July 2026; Spring holidays: Saturday 26 September 2026 to Monday 12 October 2026; Summer holidays: Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027. Dates are for government schools; Catholic and independent schools can differ.
When are the 2027 ACT school holidays?
Autumn holidays: Saturday 10 April 2027 to Tuesday 27 April 2027; Winter holidays: Saturday 3 July 2027 to Monday 19 July 2027; Spring holidays: Saturday 25 September 2027 to Monday 11 October 2027; Summer holidays: Saturday 18 December 2027 to Tuesday 8 February 2028. Dates are for government schools; Catholic and independent schools can differ.
How should a Year 12 student use the school holidays?
Treat each break as a short study block rather than a rest from study: two or three focused sessions a day on your weakest subject, one timed past paper a week marked against the official marking guide, and a fixed day off. The last holidays before exams are the best time to sit full papers under exam conditions.