Planning ahead for the Victorian school holidays? Here you will find the official Victorian government school term dates and school holiday dates for 2027 and 2028.
As a former teacher and a parent, knowing the school holiday dates is practically programmed into my DNA. I like to have them mapped out well in advance so I can plan family holidays, book activities before they fill up and avoid that sudden realisation that the kids finish school next Friday.
The dates below apply to Victorian government schools. Catholic and independent schools may follow slightly different calendars, particularly at the beginning and end of the school year, so always check directly with your child’s school before booking anything that cannot be changed.
Last checked against the Victorian Government website: 26 September 2026
Victoria school holidays 2027
These are the Victorian government school holiday dates for 2027.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April 2027 | 17 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July 2027 | 16 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2027 | 16 days |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 18 December 2027 to Thursday 27 January 2028 | 41 days |
Government-school students begin Term 1 on Thursday 28 January 2027. Wednesday 27 January is the official beginning of the school term, but it is a student-free day.
Victoria school term dates 2027
| Term | Start date | Finish date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 27 January 2027 | Thursday 25 March 2027 | 9 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 12 April 2027 | Friday 25 June 2027 | 11 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 12 July 2027 | Friday 17 September 2027 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 4 October 2027 | Friday 17 December 2027 | 11 weeks |
Important: Government-school students start Term 1 on Thursday 28 January 2027. Wednesday 27 January is a student-free day for school staff to prepare for the year.
Victoria school holidays 2028
These are the Victorian government school holiday dates for 2028.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Saturday 1 April to Monday 17 April 2028 | 17 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 1 July to Sunday 16 July 2028 | 16 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 23 September to Sunday 8 October 2028 | 16 days |
| Summer holidays | Friday 22 December 2028 to Monday 29 January 2029 | 39 days |
Government-school students begin Term 1 on Friday 28 January 2028. Thursday 27 January is the official beginning of the school term, but it is a student-free day.
Victoria school term dates 2028
| Term | Start date | Finish date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Thursday 27 January 2028 | Friday 31 March 2028 | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 18 April 2028 | Friday 30 June 2028 | 11 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 17 July 2028 | Friday 22 September 2028 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 9 October 2028 | Thursday 21 December 2028 | 11 weeks |
Important: Government-school students start Term 1 on Friday 28 January 2028. Thursday 27 January is a student-free day for school staff.
Victorian student-free days
Victorian government schools can schedule student-free days for professional development, planning, assessment and reporting.
The first day of Term 1 is a student-free day across Victorian government schools. This means:
- In 2027, students begin school on Thursday 28 January.
- In 2028, students begin school on Friday 28 January.
The remaining student-free days are scheduled by individual schools and may not be the same across Victoria. Check your school’s newsletter, website or calendar before organising work, childcare or holiday arrangements.
You can also see our Australian pupil-free day guide for more information about how student-free days work in each state.
Do Catholic and independent schools use the same dates?
Catholic and independent schools often base their calendars on the Victorian government school dates, but they do not always follow them exactly.
Some schools finish earlier in December, begin later in January or schedule additional student-free days during the year. These differences can be especially important when you are booking flights, accommodation or school holiday programs.
Always confirm the dates with your child’s school before making a non-refundable booking.
Planning the Victorian school holidays
Once the dates are in the calendar, the next challenge is working out how to keep everyone entertained.
We have activity guides covering different parts of Victoria, including:
- Melbourne school holiday activities
- Melbourne school holiday programs
- Geelong school holiday activities
- Ballarat school holiday activities
- Warrnambool and Port Fairy school holiday activities
I recommend checking holiday programs and popular attractions early. As both a teacher and a parent, I have learned that the activities families most want are usually the ones that book out while everyone else is still saying, “We’ll organise something closer to the holidays.”
Frequently asked questions
The Victorian autumn school holidays run from Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April 2027. Term 2 begins on Monday 12 April.
The Victorian winter school holidays run from Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July 2027. Term 3 begins on Monday 12 July.
The Victorian spring school holidays run from Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October 2027. Term 4 begins on Monday 4 October.
Government-school students start school on Thursday 28 January 2027. The official term begins on Wednesday 27 January, but that first day is student-free.
Government-school students start school on Friday 28 January 2028. Thursday 27 January is the official term start date and a student-free day.
Victorian government schools can schedule up to five student-free days, subject to Department of Education requirements. The first day of Term 1 is student-free across government schools. Other dates are determined by individual schools.
They can be. Catholic and independent schools generally use the government calendar as a guide, but their start dates, finish dates and student-free days may differ. Check directly with your school.
These dates are checked against official government information so parents and carers can plan with confidence.
Need full-day care during the holidays? See our guide to school holiday programs in Melbourne.