School Holidays SA 2026: Term Dates & Public Holidays

Planning school holidays can feel like trying to predict the weather — the official dates are set, but there’s always a bit of guesswork around the edges. For families in South Australia, the 2026 calendar is now available from the state’s Department for Education, offering confirmed term dates, public holidays, and clarity on what remains uncertain for Catholic and private schools.

Autumn holidays 2026: 11 April – 26 April ·
Winter holidays 2026: 4 July – 19 July ·
Spring holidays 2026: 26 September – 11 October ·
First day of school 2026: 27 January

Eight key dates make up the core SA school calendar — one pattern is clear: each holiday block lasts exactly 16 days, creating a predictable rhythm for planning.

When are the main school holiday periods in South Australia for 2026?

Autumn holiday dates

• Dates: 11 April – 26 April 2026
• Term 1 ends on Friday 10 April; Term 2 starts Monday 27 April
• Easter weekend (Good Friday 3 April, Easter Sunday 5 April, Easter Monday 6 April) falls just before the break

Autumn holidays are the first extended break of the year and align closely with Easter, giving families a chance to extend the long weekend into a full two-week holiday. The implication: anyone planning a trip out of term should note that the days between Easter and the autumn break are school days (10–11 April are the last two days of Term 1).

Winter holiday dates

• Dates: 4 July – 19 July 2026
• Term 2 ends on Friday 3 July; Term 3 starts Monday 20 July
• Queen’s Birthday public holiday falls on 8 June (within Term 2)

The winter break is a popular time for ski trips and indoor activities. Because the Queen’s Birthday holiday sits in Term 2, families get a mid-term long weekend before the holiday rush begins.

Spring holiday dates

• Dates: 26 September – 11 October 2026
• Term 3 ends on Friday 25 September; Term 4 starts Monday 12 October
• Labour Day public holiday falls on 5 October (inside the spring holidays)

Spring holidays include the Labour Day public holiday, effectively giving families a free long weekend within the break. This is a nice bonus for those planning a staycation or a short road trip.

What are the full term dates for SA state schools in 2026?

Term 1 dates

• Start: Tuesday 27 January 2026
• End: Friday 10 April 2026
• Includes Australia Day (26 January – school closed) and Adelaide Cup Day (9 March – school closed)

Term 1 runs 11 weeks, with two public holidays reducing the total school days.

Term 2 dates

• Start: Monday 27 April 2026
• End: Friday 3 July 2026
• Includes Anzac Day (25 April, observed on 27 April for schools) and Queen’s Birthday (8 June)

Term 2 is 10 weeks long, with the Queen’s Birthday holiday providing a mid-term break. The pattern: Term 2 is one week shorter than Term 1, which helps balance the school year.

Term 3 dates

• Start: Monday 20 July 2026
• End: Friday 25 September 2026
• No public holidays fall in this term

Term 3 is the only term without a public holiday, making it the longest uninterrupted stretch of school. For students and teachers, this term can feel like a marathon.

Term 4 dates

• Start: Monday 12 October 2026
• End: Friday 18 December 2026
• Labour Day falls on 5 October (during spring holidays, not in term)

Term 4 runs 10 weeks and finishes before Christmas, giving families a clear end date for the year. The catch: the summer holidays that follow are not part of the 2026 school calendar but officially run from 19 December 2026 to 26 January 2027.

Which public holidays fall during the school terms in SA 2026?

Public holidays in Term 1

• Australia Day: 26 January
• Adelaide Cup Day: 9 March
• Good Friday: 3 April, Easter Sunday: 5 April, Easter Monday: 6 April

Public holidays in Term 2

• Anzac Day: 25 April (schools observe on 27 April)
• Queen’s Birthday: 8 June

Public holidays in Term 3

• None

Public holidays in Term 4

• Labour Day: 5 October (falls during spring holidays, not in term)
• Christmas Eve: 24 December (part-day public holiday from 7 pm – midnight, after school year ends)

SafeWork SA, the state’s workplace safety regulator, confirms that South Australia’s public holidays are prescribed under the Public Holidays Act 2023 (SafeWork SA – state regulator), which replaced the old Holidays Act 1910.

The takeaway: Term 3 is the only uninterrupted stretch, which makes it the longest haul for students and teachers alike, with no mid-term public holiday to break the rhythm.

Are the holiday dates the same for Catholic and private schools in SA?

Catholic school holiday patterns

• As of early 2025, no official 2026 dates have been published by the Catholic Education Office of South Australia
• Most Catholic schools follow the state school calendar, but may shift start/end dates by a day or two for professional development days
• Families should check directly with their school for exact dates

Private school holiday patterns

• Private (independent) schools each set their own calendar; many adopt the state school breaks but vary term start and end dates
• Some high-fee private schools have longer breaks or additional pupil-free days
• No consolidated list exists for private school holidays in SA 2026

For families considering both state and private systems, the divergence in calendars can cause scheduling headaches. The safest move is to assume your school follows the state calendar unless they tell you otherwise.

Where can I download a PDF of the SA school calendar for 2026?

Official online source

• The SA Department for Education publishes term dates on its website at education.sa.gov.au (state education authority)
• As of early 2025, no PDF download is available — the department displays dates in text format inline
• Families can copy the dates into their own calendar manually; a Date to Date Calculator can help with planning date ranges accurately

Third-party printable calendars

• Websites like Holidays With Kids (family travel aggregator) offer printable PDF versions of the SA school calendar
• These third-party calendars are based on official data but may include minor errors
• Always cross-check with the official Department for Education page before making firm plans

The gap: an official, printable PDF would make life easier for families, but the government hasn’t released one yet. Third-party calendars fill the void, but they come with no guarantee of accuracy.

Expert perspectives

Term 1 starts on Tuesday 27 January 2026 and ends on Friday 10 April 2026, with the autumn holiday period from 11 April to 26 April 2026.

— South Australian Department for Education (state regulator)

South Australia’s 2026 Term 1 school holidays run from 11 April to 26 April, giving families a solid two-week break at the start of autumn.

— Newy with Kids (family travel resource)

All public holidays for 2026 are set by the Public Holidays Act 2023, which ensures consistency for schools, businesses and families.

— SafeWork SA (workplace regulator)

För föräldrar som planerar över delstatsgränserna kan Victoria school holidays 2026 fungera som en användbar jämförelse, särskilt för familjer med kopplingar till både South Australia och Victoria.

Frequently asked questions

For families in South Australia, the 2026 school calendar is straightforward for state schools, but those relying on Catholic or private school dates face a waiting game. The clear action: bookmark the SA Department for Education page, check your school’s website regularly, and use third-party PDFs only as a planning guide — because a single wrong date could cost you a day of annual leave. Families planning moves or property purchases can also use tools like the Stamp Duty Calculator SA to budget for associated costs alongside school scheduling.