Planning ahead for the South Australia school holidays? South Australian government-school students start Term 1 on Wednesday 27 January 2027 and Monday 31 January 2028.
As a former teacher and a parent, school dates are practically programmed into my DNA. I add them to the calendar early so I can plan family time, activities and childcare before popular options start booking out.
The dates below apply to South Australian government schools. Catholic and independent schools may use different dates, so check directly with your child’s school before making non-refundable plans.
Last checked against the South Australian Department for Education: 26 September 2026
- South Australia school holidays 2027
- South Australia school term dates 2027
- South Australia school holidays 2028
- South Australia school term dates 2028
- South Australia pupil-free days
- Do Catholic and independent schools use the same dates?
- Planning the South Australia school holidays
- Frequently asked questions
South Australia school holidays 2027
These are the confirmed South Australian government-school holiday dates for 2027.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Saturday 10 April to Sunday 25 April 2027 | 16 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July 2027 | 16 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October 2027 | 16 days |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 11 December 2027 to Sunday 30 January 2028 | 51 days |
Planning activities for the break? Explore our guide to school holiday activities in South Australia, including ideas for Adelaide and Port Augusta.
South Australia school term dates 2027
| Term | Start date | Finish date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 27 January 2027 | Friday 9 April 2027 | 11 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 26 April 2027 | Friday 2 July 2027 | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 19 July 2027 | Friday 24 September 2027 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 11 October 2027 | Friday 10 December 2027 | 9 weeks |
South Australia school holidays 2028
These are the confirmed South Australian government-school holiday dates for 2028.
| Holiday period | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Friday 14 April to Sunday 30 April 2028 | 17 days |
| Winter holidays | Saturday 8 July to Sunday 23 July 2028 | 16 days |
| Spring holidays | Saturday 30 September to Sunday 15 October 2028 | 16 days |
| Summer holidays | Saturday 16 December 2028 to Sunday 28 January 2029 | 44 days |
South Australia school term dates 2028
| Term | Start date | Finish date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Monday 31 January 2028 | Thursday 13 April 2028 | 11 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 1 May 2028 | Friday 7 July 2028 | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 24 July 2028 | Friday 29 September 2028 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 16 October 2028 | Friday 15 December 2028 | 9 weeks |
South Australia pupil-free days
South Australian public schools organise their own pupil-free days for staff training and professional development. There is no single statewide list of dates that applies to every school.
Schools may also close on days of local significance. These dates can vary between schools and locations, so check your school’s website, newsletter or calendar before arranging work or childcare.
Out of school hours care may be available on pupil-free days and scheduled school closure days.
You can also visit our Australian pupil-free day guide for information about pupil-free days around Australia.
Do Catholic and independent schools use the same dates?
Catholic and independent schools often plan their calendars around the South Australian government-school dates, but they do not always follow them exactly.
Start dates, finishing dates and pupil-free days can vary. Always check your child’s individual school calendar before booking travel, accommodation or holiday programs.
Planning the South Australia school holidays
Once the school dates are safely in the calendar, the next job is working out what everyone is going to do.
For ideas, see our guides to:
- School holiday activities across South Australia
- School holiday activities in Adelaide
- School holiday programs in Adelaide
- School holiday activities in Port Augusta
My teacher-and-parent advice is to check popular holiday programs early. The activity everyone wants is usually the one that fills while we are all still thinking we have plenty of time.
Frequently asked questions
South Australian government-school students start Term 1 on Wednesday 27 January 2027.
Term 4 finishes on Friday 10 December 2027 for South Australian government-school students.
The autumn school holidays run from Saturday 10 April to Sunday 25 April 2027. Term 2 begins on Monday 26 April.
The winter school holidays run from Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July 2027. Term 3 begins on Monday 19 July.
The spring school holidays run from Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October 2027. Term 4 begins on Monday 11 October.
South Australian government-school students start Term 1 on Monday 31 January 2028.
Term 4 finishes on Friday 15 December 2028.
No. Individual public schools organise their own pupil-free days and may also close on days of local significance. Check directly with your school for confirmed dates.
Not always. Catholic and independent schools may have different term dates, holiday dates and pupil-free days. Check your school’s own calendar before making plans.
These dates have been checked against official South Australian Government information so families can plan with confidence.
Find school holiday dates for every Australian state and territory.