School holidays 2026
Public schools have four breaks in 2026: 28 March to 7 April 2026 (11 days), 27 June to 20 July 2026 (24 days), 24 September to 5 October 2026 (12 days), 10 December 2026 to 12 January 2027 (34 days).
The four breaks
| Holidays | Last school day | Days without school | School days start again | Length | Public holidays in the break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March–April holidays | Sat 28 Mar to Tue 7 Apr | Term 2 | 11 days (7 weekdays) | Good Friday (Fri 3 Apr), Family Day (Mon 6 Apr) | |
| June–July holidays | Sat 27 Jun to Mon 20 Jul | Term 3 | 24 days (16 weekdays) | none | |
| September–October holidays | Thu 24 Sep to Mon 5 Oct | Term 4 | 12 days (8 weekdays) | Heritage Day (Thu 24 Sep) | |
| December–January holidays | Thu 10 Dec to Tue 12 JanDays for administration: Thu 10 to Fri 11 Dec and Mon 11 to Tue 12 Jan | Term 1 2027 | 34 days (24 weekdays) | Day of Reconciliation (Wed 16 Dec), Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Day of Goodwill (Sat 26 Dec), New Year’s Day (Fri 1 Jan) |
Taken from Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar; Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar. Saved copies last read on .
The days for administration in the table are explained with the term dates on the school calendar 2026 page.
Add the 2026 school calendar to your calendar The calendar file uses the .ics format. Import it into a phone or computer calendar to add the dates.
What sets 2026 apart
- The longest break with a published end is the December–January holidays (34 days); the shortest is the March–April holidays (11 days).
- Easter falls in the March–April holidays in 2026: Good Friday is Friday 3 April 2026 and Family Day Monday 6 April 2026, so neither costs a school day.
- The special school holiday of 2026 is Monday 15 June 2026, together with Youth Day (Tuesday): learners at public schools have four days in a row without school, from Saturday 13 June 2026 to Tuesday 16 June 2026.
Taken from Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar; Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar; gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa; Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday; gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic. Saved copies last read on .
School days off inside the terms
Six weekdays inside the 2026 terms are days off for public schools, so the year has 199 school days rather than 205. The Gazette counts 200: it was published before Wednesday 4 November 2026 was declared a public holiday.
| Date | Why | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Day | Term 2 | |
| Workers’ Day | Term 2 | |
| Special school holiday | Term 2 | |
| Youth Day | Term 2 | |
| Public holiday for National Women’s Day | Term 3 | |
| Public holiday for the local government elections | Term 4 |
Taken from Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa; Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday; gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic. Saved copies last read on .
Questions people ask
- When do schools close for the year-end holidays in 2026?
- The last school day of 2026 is Wednesday 9 December 2026. School days of Term 1 2027 start on Wednesday 13 January 2027.
- Which weekdays inside the 2026 terms have no school?
- Six weekdays: Freedom Day (Monday 27 April 2026, Term 2); Workers’ Day (Friday 1 May 2026, Term 2); the special school holiday (Monday 15 June 2026, Term 2); Youth Day (Tuesday 16 June 2026, Term 2); Public holiday for National Women’s Day (Monday 10 August 2026, Term 3); Public holiday for the local government elections (Wednesday 4 November 2026, Term 4).
- Is 15 June 2026 a public holiday?
- No. The Gazette names Monday 15 June 2026 a special school holiday: public schools are closed, but it is not a public holiday for employers.
The Gazette notices and pages behind this page
- Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar (copy saved )
- gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 55352 (Regulation Gazette 12046), Proclamation Notice 346 of 8 September 2026: Declaration of 4 November 2026 as a public holiday (copy saved )
- gov.za: Public Holidays Act: Declaration of the Fourth Day of November 2026 as Public Holiday throughout the Republic (copy saved )
Each figure above was tested against saved copies of these papers, last read on . Should this page and the Government Gazette ever part ways, go by the Gazette. How each date is tested.