Looking for school holidays in VIC for 2026? This guide outlines the confirmed 2026 Victorian government school term and holiday dates, public holidays, and key planning dates for families and educators. Whether you’re organising family travel, arranging childcare, planning study schedules, or managing work around school breaks, having these dates mapped out early makes the year easier to navigate.
2026 Victorian School Term Dates (Government Schools)
| Term | Start Date | End Date | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday 27 January 2026 (students start Wed 28 Jan) | Thursday 2 April 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April 2026 | Friday 26 June 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 13 July 2026 | Friday 18 September 2026 | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 5 October 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 | 11 weeks |
Note: The first day of Term 1 (Tuesday 27 Jan) is a student-free curriculum day. Students typically return Wednesday 28 January. Some schools may have staggered start/end days, professional learning days, or student-free days — always check directly with your child’s school.
2026 Victorian School Holiday Dates (Government Schools)
| Holiday Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Holidays (Start of Year) | Saturday 20 Dec 2025 – Tuesday 27 Jan 2026 |
| Autumn (Easter) Holidays | Friday 3 Apr – Sunday 19 Apr 2026 |
| Winter Holidays | Saturday 27 Jun – Sunday 12 Jul 2026 |
| Spring Holidays | Saturday 19 Sep – Sunday 4 Oct 2026 |
| Summer Holidays (End of Year | Saturday 19 Dec 2026 – Wed 28 Jan 2027 |
2026 Public Holidays in Victoria
| Public Holiday | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January |
| Labour Day | Monday 9 March |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April |
| ANZAC Day | Saturday 25 April |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 8 June |
| Friday before AFL Grand Final | Friday 25 September (Subject to AFL schedule)* |
| Melbourne Cup Day | Tuesday 3 November |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December |
| Boxing Day (Additional Holiday) | Monday 28 December |
Sample Private School Dates
Independent and Catholic schools often set their own calendars, meaning term dates can differ by school. Below are examples — contact your school for exact dates.
| Term | Haileybury | Wesley College | Caulfield Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed 28 Jan - Thu 2 Apr | Mon 2 Feb - Thu 2 Apr | Wed 28 Jan - Thu 2 Apr |
| Term 2 | Tue 21 Apr - 26 Fri Jun | Mon 20 Apr - Fri 26 Jun | Tue 21 Apr - Fri 26 Jun |
| Term 3 | Tue 21 Jul - Fri 18 Sep | Tue 21 Jul - Fri 18 Sep | Tue 21 Jul - Fri 18 Sep |
| Term 4 | Mon 5 Oct - Thu 10 Dec* | Mon 5 Oct - Wed 9 Dec* | Tue 6 Oct - Tue 8 Dec* |
*Year 12 students will finish earlier for exams. Disclaimer: Always check your specific school's website for the final confirmed dates.
Planning Tips for Victorian Families
1. The Easter/Autumn break is 17 days — plan study time for Year 12 students. The autumn holidays (3–19 April) fall between Terms 1 and 2. For VCE students, this is the ideal window to consolidate Term 1 SAC performance and begin targeted revision for Unit 3/4 content. Consider engaging a VCE tutor for a focused block of sessions during this break.
2. Melbourne Cup Day falls in Term 4 — plan around it. Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November) is a statewide public holiday, not just a Melbourne one. It creates a mid-week break in Term 4. Some families extend it into a long weekend, which means students miss Monday or Wednesday. If your child is in Year 12, this is deep into revision season — plan study time accordingly.
3. The AFL Grand Final Friday is late in Term 3. The Friday before the AFL Grand Final (expected Friday 25 September, subject to AFL scheduling) falls in the final week of Term 3. If your family travels for the Grand Final weekend, the Spring holidays begin the following day — so the disruption is minimal. But for VCE students, this is close to the GAT and Trial Exam period, so balance celebrations with study commitments.
4. Use the Winter break for catch-up. The July holidays (27 June – 12 July) are 16 days. The weather is typically cold and wet — making it the perfect window to consolidate Semester 1 learning before the push toward final exams. This is when many families engage a tutor for targeted revision on weak areas identified during mid-year reports.
5. ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday — no extra day off. In 2026, ANZAC Day (25 April) falls on a Saturday. Victoria does not observe a substitute Monday public holiday for ANZAC Day, so there is no long weekend. Plan your Term 2 long weekends around the King’s Birthday (Monday 8 June) instead.
Key Dates for VCE Students in 2026
If your child is in Year 12, these dates shape the second half of the year:
- General Achievement Test (GAT): To be held Tuesday, 16 June 2026.
- VCE written exams: VCE exams commence Monday, 26 October and run through Wednesday, 18 November. Year 12 students effectively finish classes in early-to-mid October, with the remainder of Term 4 dedicated to exams and study.
- ATAR release: Final results will be available to students on Thursday, 10 December 2026.
For a detailed explanation of how VCE results and the ATAR work, see our What is the ATAR? guide. For data on how VCE subjects are scaled, see our 2025 VCE Scaling Report.
Don’t Let 2026 Slip By
The jump between year levels can be significant. Whether your child is starting high school, entering VCE, or preparing for their final exams, the right support structure makes a real difference. Learnmate connects Victorian families with experienced tutors who understand the VCE curriculum — from Year 7 catch-up to Year 12 exam mastery.
Browse tutors in Melbourne | Browse VCE tutors | Post a tutoring job
FAQs
Victorian government schools have four holiday breaks in 2026: autumn (3–19 April), winter (27 June – 12 July), spring (19 September – 4 October) and summer (19 December 2026 – 28 January 2027). The exact dates for private and Catholic schools may vary — check directly with your school.
Most government school students return on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. Teachers typically return one day earlier on the 27th for a curriculum day.
Yes, ANZAC Day is on Saturday, 25 April 2026. However, because it falls on a weekend, there is no replacement public holiday on the following Monday in Victoria.
The Autumn (Easter) school holidays run from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026. This break includes the Easter public holidays.
Yes. Private (Independent and Catholic) schools often have slightly different dates. They typically start a few days later in Term 1 and finish the academic year 1–2 weeks earlier in Term 4 than government schools.
The autumn break is 17 days (3–19 April), the winter break is 16 days (27 June – 12 July), the spring break is 16 days (19 September – 4 October), and the summer break at the end of the year is approximately 6 weeks (19 December 2026 – 28 January 2027). Exact lengths may vary slightly depending on your school’s student-free days.
Yes. Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November 2026) is a gazetted public holiday across all of Victoria, not just Melbourne. All government schools are closed statewide. Some regional areas may observe a substitute local holiday on a different date — check with your local council.
VCE written exams typically begin in late October and run through late November. The exact 2026 exam timetable will be published by VCAA mid-year. Year 12 students effectively finish classes in early-to-mid October, with the remainder of Term 4 dedicated to exams, study leave and ATAR results (typically released mid-December).
