Looking for the NSW school holiday dates for 2027 or planning even further ahead for 2028? You are in the right place.
As a former teacher and a parent, school term dates are practically programmed into my DNA. I use them for everything from booking family trips to planning our school holiday activities before the best options fill up.
Below you will find the official NSW public school holiday dates, term dates and school development days for 2027 and 2028.
Last checked against the NSW Department of Education: 26 September 2026
- NSW school holidays 2027
- NSW school term dates 2027
- NSW school development days 2027
- NSW school holidays 2028
- NSW school term dates 2028
- NSW school development days 2028
- What are the NSW Eastern and Western divisions?
- Do private and Catholic schools have the same holiday dates?
- Plan your NSW school holidays
- NSW school holiday FAQs
NSW school holidays 2027
| Holiday period | Division | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | All NSW public schools | Monday 12 April to Friday 23 April 2027 |
| Winter holidays | All NSW public schools | Monday 5 July to Friday 16 July 2027 |
| Spring holidays | All NSW public schools | Monday 27 September to Friday 8 October 2027 |
| Summer holidays | Eastern division | Tuesday 21 December 2027 to Friday 28 January 2028 |
| Summer holidays | Western division | Tuesday 21 December 2027 to Friday 4 February 2028 |
Planning activities for the break? Explore our guide to school holiday activities in New South Wales, including ideas for Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW South Coast and regional NSW.
NSW school term dates 2027
| Term | Division | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Eastern division | Thursday 28 January to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Term 1 | Western division | Thursday 4 February to Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Term 2 | All NSW public schools | Tuesday 27 April to Friday 2 July 2027 |
| Term 3 | All NSW public schools | Monday 19 July to Friday 24 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | All NSW public schools | Monday 11 October to Monday 20 December 2027 |
Important: The NSW Department of Education includes school development days within these published term dates. Students do not attend school on development days, so the first day of each term for students may be later than the dates shown in this table.
NSW school development days 2027
School development days are pupil-free days for students. These can be easy to miss when you are looking only at the standard term dates.
| Term | Division | School development days |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Eastern division | Thursday 28 January to Tuesday 2 February 2027 |
| Term 1 | Western division | Thursday 4 February to Tuesday 9 February 2027 |
| Term 2 | All NSW public schools | Tuesday 27 April and Wednesday 28 April 2027 |
| Term 3 | All NSW public schools | Monday 19 July 2027 |
| Term 4 | All NSW public schools | Monday 11 October 2027 |
This means students are expected to begin Term 1 on Wednesday 3 February 2027 in the Eastern division and Wednesday 10 February 2027 in the Western division.
The NSW Department of Education advises families to check with their individual school because some school development dates may vary.
Planning around student-free days too? Our guide to pupil-free days lists the dates for every Australian state and territory.
NSW school holidays 2028
| Holiday period | Division | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | All NSW public schools | Monday 10 April to Friday 21 April 2028 |
| Winter holidays | All NSW public schools | Monday 10 July to Friday 21 July 2028 |
| Spring holidays | All NSW public schools | Tuesday 3 October to Friday 13 October 2028 |
| Summer holidays | Eastern division | Friday 22 December 2028 to Thursday 25 January 2029 |
| Summer holidays | Western division | Friday 22 December 2028 to Friday 2 February 2029 |
NSW school term dates 2028
| Term | Division | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Eastern division | Monday 31 January to Friday 7 April 2028 |
| Term 1 | Western division | Monday 7 February to Friday 7 April 2028 |
| Term 2 | All NSW public schools | Monday 24 April to Friday 7 July 2028 |
| Term 3 | All NSW public schools | Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September 2028 |
| Term 4 | All NSW public schools | Monday 16 October to Thursday 21 December 2028 |
Important: These published term ranges may include school development days when students do not attend.
NSW school development days 2028
The NSW Department of Education has published the 2028 term and school holiday dates, but the separate schedule of 2028 school development days was not available when this page was last checked.
We will add the confirmed development dates once they are released. Until then, families should check with their individual school before treating the first date of each term as the first attendance day for students.
What are the NSW Eastern and Western divisions?
Most NSW public schools follow the Eastern division calendar.
Western division schools are located in the far west of NSW and begin Term 1 later, giving students additional summer vacation days at the beginning of the year.
The different calendars generally affect the start of Term 1 and the end of the summer holidays. The autumn, winter and spring holiday dates are the same across both divisions.
If you are unsure which division applies to your child’s school, check the school’s website or contact the school directly.
A small number of schools close to the Queensland and Victorian borders may also use dates that differ from the standard NSW calendar.
Do private and Catholic schools have the same holiday dates?
These dates apply to NSW public schools.
Catholic and independent schools generally plan their calendars around the public school dates, but their starting dates, finishing dates, holidays and pupil-free days can differ.
Always check your individual school’s calendar before booking travel, accommodation or non-refundable activities.
Plan your NSW school holidays
Planning activities for the break? Explore our guides to:
- Byron Bay school holiday activities
- Coffs Harbour School holiday activities
- Port Macquarie school holiday activities
- Newcastle & Central Coast School holiday activities
- Sydney school holiday activities
- Wollongong school holiday activities
- School holiday activities on the South Coast of NSW
NSW school holiday FAQs
Eastern division students begin Term 1 on Wednesday 3 February 2027.
Western division students begin Term 1 on Wednesday 10 February 2027.
The earlier dates shown in the official term calendar are school development days, when students do not attend.
The published Term 1 period begins on Monday 31 January 2028 for the Eastern division and Monday 7 February 2028 for the Western division.
However, the separate 2028 school development-day schedule had not been published when this page was last checked. Confirm the first student attendance day with your individual school once those dates are released.
The NSW autumn school holidays run from Monday 12 April to Friday 23 April 2027.
The NSW autumn school holidays run from Monday 10 April to Friday 21 April 2028.
Schools in the Western division are located in the far west of NSW and begin Term 1 later. This gives students additional summer vacation days at the beginning of the year.
Yes. The NSW Department of Education includes school development days in its published term ranges. Students do not attend school on these days.
The autumn, winter and spring holiday dates are the same. The Eastern and Western divisions have different summer holiday finishing dates because Western division schools begin Term 1 later.
Not necessarily. Catholic and independent schools may use different starting, finishing, holiday and pupil-free dates, so parents should confirm dates with their individual school.
Need full-day care during the holidays? See our guide to school holiday programs in Sydney.
Find school holiday dates for every Australian state and territory.