Looking for the ACT school holiday dates for 2027 or planning ahead for 2028? You are in the right place.
As a former teacher and a parent, I know how useful it is to have the school dates mapped out early. Whether you are booking a family trip, organising care or simply working out how many days you need to keep the kids entertained, having the dates in one place makes life much easier.
Below you will find the official ACT public school holiday dates, student term dates and student-free days for 2027 and 2028.
Last checked against the ACT Government: 26 September 2026.
- ACT school holidays 2027
- ACT school term dates 2027
- ACT student-free days 2027
- ACT school holidays 2028
- ACT school term dates 2028
- ACT student-free days 2028
- Who counts as a new student in the ACT?
- Do private and Catholic schools have the same holiday dates?
- Plan your ACT school holidays
- ACT school holiday FAQs
ACT school holidays 2027
Here are the ACT school holiday dates for 2027.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Summer holidays | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027* | 45 days |
| Autumn holidays | Saturday 10 April to Tuesday 27 April 2027 | 18 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 3 July to Monday 19 July 2027 | 17 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 25 September to Monday 11 October 2027 | 17 days |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 18 December 2027 to Tuesday 8 February 2028* | 53 days |
*These summer holiday dates are based on continuing students. New students start one day earlier.
Planning activities for the break? Take a look at our Canberra school holiday activities for plenty of ideas for things to do with kids.
ACT school term dates 2027
These are the official term start and finish dates for students attending ACT public schools.
| Term | Students start | Term ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | New students: Monday 1 February; Continuing students: Tuesday 2 February | Friday 9 April |
| Term 2 | Wednesday 28 April | Friday 2 July |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 20 July | Friday 24 September |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 12 October | Friday 17 December |
One important difference in the ACT is that new and continuing students have different Term 1 start dates.
In 2027, new students start on Monday 1 February, while continuing students return on Tuesday 2 February.
ACT student-free days 2027
The ACT Government schedules a student-free day for teachers at the beginning of each term.
| Term | Student-free day | Students return |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Friday 29 January 2027 | New students: Monday 1 February; Continuing students: Tuesday 2 February |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 27 April 2027 | Wednesday 28 April |
| Term 3 | Monday 19 July 2027 | Tuesday 20 July |
| Term 4 | Monday 11 October 2027 | Tuesday 12 October |
These student-free days effectively extend the break for students, so they are worth remembering when you are organising childcare or calculating how long the school holidays actually last.
Looking for dates across Australia? Our guide to pupil-free days and student-free days covers each state and territory.
ACT school holidays 2028
Here are the ACT school holiday dates for 2028.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Summer holidays | Saturday 18 December 2027 to Tuesday 8 February 2028* | 53 days |
| Autumn holidays | Saturday 8 April to Tuesday 25 April 2028 | 18 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 8 July to Monday 24 July 2028 | 17 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 30 September to Monday 16 October 2028 | 17 days |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 23 December 2028 to Tuesday 6 February 2029* | 46 days |
*These summer holiday dates are based on continuing students. New students start one day earlier.
The 2028 autumn school holidays include the Easter long weekend, with Good Friday falling on 14 April and Easter Monday on 17 April. The break is then extended by the Term 2 student-free day on Monday 24 April and ANZAC Day on Tuesday 25 April, with students returning on Wednesday 26 April.
ACT school term dates 2028
| Term | Students start | Term ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | New students: Tuesday 8 February; Continuing students: Wednesday 9 February | Friday 7 April |
| Term 2 | Wednesday 26 April | Friday 7 July |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 25 July | Friday 29 September |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 17 October | Friday 22 December |
The 2028 school year starts later than 2027, with new students beginning on Tuesday 8 February and continuing students returning on Wednesday 9 February.
ACT student-free days 2028
| Term | Student-free day | Students return |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Monday 7 February 2028 | New students: Tuesday 8 February; Continuing students: Wednesday 9 February |
| Term 2 | Monday 24 April 2028 | Wednesday 26 April |
| Term 3 | Monday 24 July 2028 | Tuesday 25 July |
| Term 4 | Monday 16 October 2028 | Tuesday 17 October |
For Term 2, Tuesday 25 April is ANZAC Day, so students return on Wednesday 26 April rather than immediately after the Monday student-free day.
Who counts as a new student in the ACT?
The different Term 1 dates can be confusing if you haven’t come across them before.
For ACT public schools, new students include children starting at a school for the first time or moving to the next type of school.
This includes:
- all Kindergarten students, even if they attended the attached preschool
- all Year 7 students, even if they attended the same school for primary school
- all Year 11 students, even if they attended the same school for high school
- students in any other year level who are starting at that particular school for the first time.
If you are unsure which start date applies to your child, check directly with your school.
Do private and Catholic schools have the same holiday dates?
Not necessarily.
The dates on this page are for ACT public schools. Catholic, independent and other private schools may have different term dates, student-free days or start and finish dates.
Always check your individual school’s calendar before booking flights, accommodation or other non-refundable activities.
Plan your ACT school holidays
Once you have the dates sorted, the next question is what to do with the kids!
Our Canberra school holiday activities guide has plenty of ideas for local families and visitors, including indoor and outdoor activities and things to do with kids of different ages.
And if you are heading interstate during the break, check the school holiday dates for every Australian state and territory before booking. The dates don’t always line up, which can make a big difference to accommodation prices, flights and how busy popular attractions are.
ACT school holiday FAQs
New students at ACT public schools start on Monday 1 February 2027. Continuing students return on Tuesday 2 February 2027.
Teachers commence on Friday 29 January, which is a student-free day.
New students start on Tuesday 8 February 2028, while continuing students return on Wednesday 9 February 2028. Teachers commence on Monday 7 February, which is a student-free day.
ACT public school students finish Term 1 on Friday 9 April and return for Term 2 on Wednesday 28 April. This gives students a break from Saturday 10 April to Tuesday 27 April 2027, a total of 18 days.
The 2027 winter break runs from Saturday 3 July to Monday 19 July, with students returning for Term 3 on Tuesday 20 July.
The 2028 autumn break runs from Saturday 8 April to Tuesday 25 April. Students return on Wednesday 26 April. The break includes the Term 2 student-free day on Monday 24 April and ANZAC Day on Tuesday 25 April.
The winter break runs from Saturday 8 July to Monday 24 July 2028, with students returning on Tuesday 25 July.
The scheduled ACT public school student-free days are Friday 29 January, Tuesday 27 April, Monday 19 July and Monday 11 October 2027.
The scheduled student-free days are Monday 7 February, Monday 24 April, Monday 24 July and Monday 16 October 2028.
Yes. At the beginning of Term 1, new students start one day before continuing students. This includes all Kindergarten, Year 7 and Year 11 students, as well as students starting at a particular school for the first time.
No. These dates apply to ACT public schools. Catholic, independent and other private schools may use different dates, so check directly with your child’s school before making firm plans.
Find school holiday dates for each Australian state and territory here.