NSW school holidays 2026 and 2027
NSW government-school holidays in 2026 are autumn 7 to 17 April, winter 6 to 17 July, spring 28 September to 9 October and summer 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027. The next New South Wales school holidays are the summer holidays: Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 (Eastern division; Western division schools to Wednesday 3 February 2027), according to the NSW Department of Education.
Government schools only — Catholic and independent schools set their own dates. Official NSW term dates ↗ Dates checked against the NSW Department of Education on Sunday 1 November 2026.
NSW school holidays 2026
| Holidays | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Tuesday 7 April 2026 to Friday 17 April 2026 |
| Winter holidays | Monday 6 July 2026 to Friday 17 July 2026 |
| Spring holidays | Monday 28 September 2026 to Friday 9 October 2026 |
| Summer holidays | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027Eastern division; Western division schools to Wednesday 3 February 2027 |
NSW school holidays 2027
| Holidays | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 23 April 2027 |
| Winter holidays | Monday 5 July 2027 to Friday 16 July 2027 |
| Spring holidays | Monday 27 September 2027 to Friday 8 October 2027 |
| Summer holidays | Tuesday 21 December 2027 to Friday 28 January 2028Eastern division; Western division schools to Friday 4 February 2028 |
NSW publishes holiday dates directly (weekdays only). Western division schools start Term 1 a week later.
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.
Year 12? See the HSC exam timetable and when HSC results come out.
Common questions
When are the next NSW school holidays?
The next New South Wales school holidays are the summer holidays: Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 (Eastern division; Western division schools to Wednesday 3 February 2027), according to the NSW Department of Education.
When are the 2026 NSW school holidays?
Autumn holidays: Tuesday 7 April 2026 to Friday 17 April 2026; Winter holidays: Monday 6 July 2026 to Friday 17 July 2026; Spring holidays: Monday 28 September 2026 to Friday 9 October 2026; Summer holidays: Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Dates are for government schools; Catholic and independent schools can differ.
When are the 2027 NSW school holidays?
Autumn holidays: Monday 12 April 2027 to Friday 23 April 2027; Winter holidays: Monday 5 July 2027 to Friday 16 July 2027; Spring holidays: Monday 27 September 2027 to Friday 8 October 2027; Summer holidays: Tuesday 21 December 2027 to Friday 28 January 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.