School Terms and Holidays 2026
Public school term dates and holidays for 2026, from the official DBE calendar.
School calendar
2026 term dates and school holidays
- Term1Wed, 14 January to Fri, 27 March
- Holiday: 28 March to 7 April
- Term2Wed, 8 April to Fri, 26 June
- Holiday: 27 June to 20 July
- Term3Tue, 21 July to Wed, 23 September
- Holiday: 24 September to 5 October
- Term4Tue, 6 October to Wed, 9 DecemberGazette also lists 11 December in brackets
200 school days · Source: DBE: Published 2026 School Calendar (Government Gazette, 25 Feb 2025)
Add 2026 school terms to your calendar
Opening and closing days, plus holidays. Works with Google, Apple and Outlook calendars.
Days off during term
- Freedom DayMon, 27 April
- Workers’ DayFri, 1 May
- Special school holidayMon, 15 June
- Youth DayTue, 16 June
- National Women’s Day (observed)Mon, 10 August
How it works
These are the dates for public schools, published each year by the Department of Basic Education in the Government Gazette. The countdown above updates every time you open the page.
The calendar is the same in all nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape. Independent schools set their own dates (use the private school term dates tool for those), and individual schools may add a few days for staff development, so it’s worth checking your school’s own calendar too.
Other years: 2027 school terms.
Figures last checked against official sources on .
Questions
When does school open in 2026?
Public schools open for learners on Wed, 14 January 2026.
When does school close in 2026?
The last day of Term 4 for learners is Wed, 9 December 2026. The gazette also lists 11 December in brackets, so check with your school.
How many school days are there in 2026?
200 school days, after public holidays and the special school holiday are taken off.
Do private schools follow these dates?
Not always. This is the public school calendar. Independent schools set their own terms; enter your school’s dates in the private school term dates tool to get the same countdown and calendar.