If you’re a Victorian parent mapping out 2026, chances are you’re already wondering how the school holidays land against the public holiday calendar. The good news: Victoria publishes its term and holiday dates years in advance, so you can plan family trips, childcare, and activities well before the year kicks off. Good Friday on 3 April 2026 marks the first long weekend break, and it lines up with the start of the two-week Autumn holiday window.

4 related posts

Term 1: 27 Jan – 2 Apr 2026 ·
Autumn Holidays: 3 Apr – 19 Apr 2026 ·
Term 2: 20 Apr – 26 Jun 2026 ·
Winter Holidays: 27 Jun – 12 Jul 2026 ·
Spring Holidays: 19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Term 1 runs 27 Jan–2 Apr (students start 28 Jan) (Vic.gov.au)
  • Autumn break: 3–19 Apr, includes Easter weekend (Officeworks)
  • Term 4 ends Friday 18 December (Vic.gov.au)
2What’s unclear
  • Non-government school dates may vary slightly from government school dates
  • AFL Grand Final Friday date remains TBC per AFL schedule
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Book holiday care early—Autumn break overlaps with Easter peak travel
  • Download the official PDF calendar from the Department of Education for precise planning
Item Date / Period Source
Government Schools Term 1 Start 28 January 2026 Vic.gov.au
Autumn Holidays 3 April – 19 April 2026 Officeworks
Good Friday 2026 3 April 2026 Fair Work Ombudsman
King’s Birthday 2026 8 June 2026 Fair Work Ombudsman
Term 4 End 18 December 2026 Vic.gov.au
Summer Holidays Begin 19 December 2026 Budget Direct

What are the term dates for Vic schools in 2026?

The Victorian Department of Education sets the academic calendar for all government schools, with primary and secondary schools following the same structure. Terms 1 through 4 each run approximately 10 weeks, with the school year concluding in mid-December.

Term 1 dates

Term 1 2026 begins on Tuesday 27 January for teaching staff, with students returning on Wednesday 28 April 2026 in government schools. The term runs through to Thursday 2 April 2026, giving students roughly 10 weeks of learning before the first major break.

Term 2 dates

Term 2 begins on Monday 20 April 2026 and concludes on Friday 26 June 2026. The King’s Birthday public holiday on Monday 8 June falls within this term, giving many families a long weekend during mid-term.

Term 3 dates

Term 3 starts on Monday 13 July and runs through Friday 18 September 2026. This is the longest term of the year and spans across the coldest winter months in Victoria.

Term 4 dates

The final term begins on Monday 5 October and ends on Friday 18 December 2026. Schools wrap up before the summer holiday season officially begins on Saturday 19 December.

Bottom line: Victorian government schools follow a consistent four-term structure, with students starting 28 January and finishing 18 December 2026.

What are the dates for Victorian school holidays in 2026?

Victoria has four main school holiday periods plus the extended summer break. Each break falls at a different time of year, giving families distinct seasonal windows for travel, rest, and activities.

Autumn holidays

  • Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026
  • The first two weeks align with the Easter long weekend

Winter holidays

  • Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July 2026
  • Approximately two and a half weeks during the coldest period

Spring holidays

  • Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026
  • About two weeks in late September

Summer holidays

  • Saturday 19 December 2026 to approximately Tuesday 26 January 2027
  • Government schools resume Wednesday 27 January 2027
  • Approximately six weeks and four days long
Bottom line: Four structured breaks plus the summer holiday give Victorian families predictable time off throughout the year, with the longest break occurring over the end-of-year period.

What are the dates for Easter holidays in 2026?

Easter 2026 falls entirely within the Autumn school holiday break, creating an extended long weekend for families who want to travel or gather.

Easter Sunday 2026

Easter Sunday falls on Sunday 5 April 2026. This date sits squarely in the middle of the two-week Autumn holiday period, giving students and families a full break that includes the long weekend.

School impact

  • Term 1 ends Thursday 2 April 2026
  • Autumn holidays begin Friday 3 April (Good Friday)
  • Term 2 resumes Monday 20 April 2026
  • No disruption to school attendance—the Easter break is fully absorbed within the pre-scheduled holiday
Key overlap

Good Friday (3 April), Easter Saturday (4 April), Easter Sunday (5 April), and Easter Monday (6 April) all fall within the Autumn holiday window. Families planning trips during this period should book accommodation and transport early—this is one of the busiest travel periods in Victoria.

What date will schools start in 2026?

For government schools in Victoria, the 2026 school year opens with a staggered start: teaching staff report on Tuesday 27 January, while students return the following day.

Government schools

  • Staff professional development day: Tuesday 27 January 2026
  • Students return: Wednesday 28 January 2026
  • Applies to both primary and secondary government schools

Private schools

Non-government schools may set their own term dates, which sometimes differ slightly from the government school calendar. Parents with children in independent or Catholic schools should check directly with their school for exact dates.

Why this matters

Parents relying on a single school calendar for childcare or work scheduling should verify with their specific school. The one-day difference between staff return and student days can affect babysitting arrangements and holiday leave planning.

How many holidays are there in Victoria in 2026?

Victorian families can expect eleven public holidays throughout 2026, with several falling during school terms and affecting daily routines.

Public holidays

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday 1 January 2026 (before Term 1)
  • Australia Day: Monday 26 January 2026 (within Term 1)
  • Labour Day: Monday 9 March 2026 (within Term 1)
  • Good Friday: Friday 3 April 2026 (Autumn holiday)
  • Easter Saturday: Saturday 4 April 2026 (Autumn holiday)
  • Easter Sunday: Sunday 5 April 2026 (Autumn holiday)
  • Easter Monday: Monday 6 April 2026 (Autumn holiday)
  • Anzac Day: Saturday 25 April 2026 (within Term 2)
  • King’s Birthday: Monday 8 June 2026 (within Term 2)
  • Friday before AFL Grand Final: TBC (typically last Friday in September, within Term 3)
  • Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 3 November 2026 (within Term 4) — Melbourne Cup Horses 2026
  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026 (summer holiday)
  • Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December 2026, observed Monday 28 December 2026
Regional variation

Some regional areas of Victoria may observe the Melbourne Cup public holiday on a different date than the metropolitan Tuesday 3 November. Families in Geelong, Ballarat, and other regional centres should check with their local council.

Timeline

A year-in-view of key dates for Victorian school families: For a detailed look at the 2026 school year, including public holidays and term dates, see 2026 F1 car sets retirements.

  • Monday 26 January 2026: Australia Day public holiday — within Term 1 (Fair Work Ombudsman)
  • Wednesday 28 January 2026: Students return to government schools — Term 1 begins (Vic.gov.au)
  • Monday 9 March 2026: Labour Day public holiday — within Term 1 (Fair Work Ombudsman)
  • Friday 3 April 2026: Good Friday and Autumn holidays start — Term 1 ends (Fair Work Ombudsman)
  • Monday 20 April 2026: Term 2 commences (Vic.gov.au)
  • Monday 8 June 2026: King’s Birthday public holiday — within Term 2 (Fair Work Ombudsman)
  • Friday 18 December 2026: Term 4 ends — summer holidays begin (Vic.gov.au)

What we know vs what’s still uncertain

Confirmed

  • Official Victorian government school term dates are published on vic.gov.au through to 2030
  • Government schools follow a consistent four-term structure across all primary and secondary levels
  • Students start Wednesday 28 January 2026 in government schools
  • Easter 2026 (3–6 April) falls entirely within the Autumn school holiday break
  • The Autumn break runs 3–19 April 2026

Unclear

  • Non-government schools may set slightly different dates—parents should verify with their school
  • AFL Grand Final Friday date is confirmed annually closer to the season and has not been published for 2026 as of the latest available data
  • Regional Melbourne Cup variations may affect families in some shires

What the authorities say

“The Victorian Department of Education publishes the official academic calendar each year for government schools.”

— Officeworks (school calendar publisher)

“Melbourne Cup (some regional areas in Victoria hold the Melbourne Cup public holiday on a different date).”

— Fair Work Ombudsman (federal employment authority)

For Victorian parents navigating the 2026 school year, the takeaway is straightforward: the official dates give you a reliable skeleton for the entire year, but the Easter-over-Autumn-break overlap is where planning pressure tends to build first. Book early for that first break, confirm your school’s exact start date if you have a child in a non-government school, and keep an eye on AFL scheduling announcements for the Grand Final Friday date. Everything else falls into a predictable rhythm that the Victorian Department of Education has already locked in through 2030.

Related reading: Melbourne Cup Horses 2026

Additional sources

newywithkids.com.au, retail.org.au, guides.slv.vic.gov.au, business.vic.gov.au, victoriaschoolholidays.com.au, timeout.com, studiosity.com, calendarlabs.com

Victorian families planning trips often align them with the official Victoria school terms 2026 alongside these holiday periods for seamless scheduling.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the main school holiday periods in Victoria 2026?

Victoria has four main school holiday periods: Autumn (3–19 April), Winter (27 June–12 July), Spring (19 September–4 October), and Summer (from 19 December 2026). Each break gives families seasonal opportunities for travel and rest.

When is the summer break for VIC schools 2026?

Summer holidays begin on Saturday 19 December 2026 and run until approximately Tuesday 26 January 2027. Government school students return on Wednesday 27 January 2027.

Do all Victorian schools follow the same term dates?

Government schools follow the Victorian Department of Education calendar published on vic.gov.au. Non-government schools may set slightly different dates, so parents should check directly with their child’s school.

What public holidays fall during school terms 2026?

Australia Day (26 January), Labour Day (9 March), Anzac Day (25 April), King’s Birthday (8 June), the AFL Grand Final Friday (TBC), and Melbourne Cup (3 November) all fall within school terms and are public holidays affecting many families.

How do school bonuses work from 2026?

From Term 1 2026, the Victorian Government provides $400 per student for eligible families. This payment supports families with school-related costs and is administered through Centrelink or directly by schools.

Where can I download a 2026 VIC school calendar PDF?

The Victorian Department of Education publishes an official term dates PDF covering 2026–2030 on the education.vic.gov.au website. This is the authoritative source for government school dates.