South Africa school holidays 2026
First day off
Schools close in 15 days — Wed 23 Sep 2026
Next holiday: Term 3 holiday, Thu 24 Sep 2026 – Mon 5 Oct 2026
Keep these dates
Verified against www.gov.za on Tue 8 Sep 2026. Checked by a second, independent extraction Where these dates come from
Independent schools may use different dates; check the school's own calendar.
2026
Terms 2026
| Term | Starts | Ends | School days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed 14 Jan 2026 | Fri 27 Mar 2026 | 53 |
| Term 2 | Wed 8 Apr 2026 | Fri 26 Jun 2026 | 54 |
| Term 3 | Tue 21 Jul 2026 | Wed 23 Sep 2026 | 46 |
| Term 4 | Tue 6 Oct 2026 | Wed 9 Dec 2026 | 47 |
Holidays 2026
| Holiday | First day off | Last day off |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Mon 30 Mar 2026 | Tue 7 Apr 2026 |
| Term 2 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Mon 29 Jun 2026 | Mon 20 Jul 2026 |
| Term 3 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Thu 24 Sep 2026 | Mon 5 Oct 2026 |
| Summer holiday computed | Thu 10 Dec 2026 | Tue 12 Jan 2027 |
INSET and closure days 2026
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Day | Mon 27 Apr 2026 | Mon 27 Apr 2026 |
| Workers’ Day | Fri 1 May 2026 | Fri 1 May 2026 |
| Special School Holiday | Mon 15 Jun 2026 | Mon 15 Jun 2026 |
| Youth Day | Tue 16 Jun 2026 | Tue 16 Jun 2026 |
| Public Holiday | Mon 10 Aug 2026 | Mon 10 Aug 2026 |
2027 — next year, already published
Terms 2027
| Term | Starts | Ends | School days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed 13 Jan 2027 | Fri 19 Mar 2027 | 48 |
| Term 2 | Tue 6 Apr 2027 | Fri 25 Jun 2027 | 56 |
| Term 3 | Tue 20 Jul 2027 | Wed 22 Sep 2027 | 46 |
| Term 4 | Tue 5 Oct 2027 | Wed 8 Dec 2027 | 47 |
Holidays 2027
| Holiday | First day off | Last day off |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Mon 5 Apr 2027 |
| Term 2 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Mon 28 Jun 2027 | Mon 19 Jul 2027 |
| Term 3 holiday computed computed from published terms |
Thu 23 Sep 2027 | Mon 4 Oct 2027 |
| Summer holiday computed tbc return date not yet published (usually published in September) |
Thu 9 Dec 2027 | — |
INSET and closure days 2027
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Special School Holiday | Mon 26 Apr 2027 | Mon 26 Apr 2027 |
| Freedom Day | Tue 27 Apr 2027 | Tue 27 Apr 2027 |
| Youth Day | Wed 16 Jun 2027 | Wed 16 Jun 2027 |
| National Women’s Day | Mon 9 Aug 2027 | Mon 9 Aug 2027 |
What's different about South Africa
- The term 1 in South Africa is 53 school days (Wed 14 Jan 2026 – Fri 27 Mar 2026).
- South Africa schools break up for summer on Wed 9 Dec 2026.
- The source lists 5 pupil-free days (Freedom Day, Public Holiday, Special School Holiday, Workers’ Day, Youth Day): Mon 27 Apr 2026, Fri 1 May 2026, Mon 15 Jun 2026, Tue 16 Jun 2026, Mon 10 Aug 2026.
- TermMinder first recorded the 2026 dates in September 2026.
Who these dates apply to
These dates apply to public schools throughout South Africa.
Where these dates come from
Source: Department of Basic Education, 2026 calendar for public schools, Government Gazette No. 52177. www.gov.za
Verified against www.gov.za on Tue 8 Sep 2026. Checked by a second, independent extraction
Source text
SUMMARY OF 2026 CALENDAR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS No. of No. of No. of public Actual no. of Term Duration weeks days holidays school days 1 (12) 14 January – 27 March 11 53 (55) 0 53 (55) 2 08 April – 26 June 12 58 3+1 54 3 21 July – 23 September 10 47 1 46 4 06 October – 09 (11) December 10 47 (49) 0 47(49) Total 43 205 (209) 4+1 200 (204) This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za
Keep these dates
Open your saved calendars or find another school or authority.
Use a calendar subscription to check these dates alongside your own plans. Your calendar provider controls update timing.
Frequently asked questions
- When does the term 3 end in South Africa in 2026?
- Pupils break up on Wednesday 23 September 2026.
- When is the term 3 holiday 2026 in South Africa?
- The term 3 holiday in South Africa runs from Thursday 24 September 2026 to Monday 5 October 2026 inclusive.
- When do South Africa schools go back for the term 4 in October 2026?
- The term 4 in South Africa starts on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
- When does the term 4 end in South Africa in 2026?
- Pupils break up on Wednesday 9 December 2026.
- When is the summer holiday 2026 in South Africa?
- The summer holiday in South Africa runs from Thursday 10 December 2026 to Tuesday 12 January 2027 inclusive.