South Africa School Holidays 2026 and 2027
Discover upcoming school holiday dates for South Africa and start planning to make the most of your term break.
Skip down to:
2026 School Holidays
| School Holidays | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|
| First Day of School | 14 Jan 2026 (Wed) | |
| Term 1 Holidays | 30 Mar 2026 (Mon) | 7 Apr 2026 (Tue) |
| Term 2 Holidays | 29 Jun 2026 (Mon) | 20 Jul 2026 (Mon) |
| Term 3 Holidays | 24 Sep 2026 (Thu) | 5 Oct 2026 (Mon) |
| Term 4 Holidays | 10 Dec 2026 (Thu) | 12 Jan 2027 (Tue) |
Please visit gov.za for the original release of the 2026 approved calendar.
2027 School Holidays
| School Holidays | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|
| First Day of School | 13 Jan 2027 (Wed) | |
| Term 1 Holidays | 22 Mar 2027 (Mon) | 5 Apr 2027 (Mon) |
| Term 2 Holidays | 28 Jun 2027 (Mon) | 19 Jul 2027 (Mon) |
| Term 3 Holidays | 23 Sep 2027 (Thu) | 4 Oct 2027 (Mon) |
| Term 4 Holidays | 9 Dec 2027 (Thu) |
Please visit gov.za for the original release of the 2027 approved calendar.
The dates of government school term and school holiday in South Africa are determined by the Department of Basic Education. Under Section 3(4)(k) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996, the Minister of Basic Education co-ordinates the dates of school terms among provinces and then releases the official dates to the public.
There are 4 terms in a school year, with a holiday in between terms. Each term holiday in South Africa usually spans between 1 to 5 weeks. All the 9 provinces in South Africa – Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumlanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape – share the same school calendars.
School holidays in South Africa are a prime time for families to travel. So, make sure to book your family holiday plans in advance.
