School Holidays Calendar 2026
In 2026, the school calendar for public schools in South Africa remains unified across all provinces, with no distinctions between inland and coastal areas. The academic year includes 200 actual school days (204 including potential variations for administration), spread over four terms, totaling 43 weeks and 205 days (209 including variations). This accounts for public holidays and one special school holiday during term time. Private schools may vary slightly, but the details below are based on the official Department of Basic Education calendar. For the 2025 school holiday calendar, check our related guide.
Table of Contents
Key Features
- Total weeks: 43
- Total days (including public holidays): 205 (209 with variations)
- Actual school days: 200 (204 with variations)
- Special school holiday: One additional day off (15 June 2026), likely to extend a break around Youth Day.
- Notes: Variations in parentheses (e.g., 53 (55)) may include administration days for teachers at the start or end of terms (e.g., 12-13 January for Term 1 preparation, 10-11 December for year-end admin). The calendar ensures 200 learner school days after deducting holidays.
Term Dates and School Holidays (Vacation Periods)
The table below details term start and end dates, durations, and the vacation periods between terms. Vacations include weekends and any overlapping public holidays.
| Term | Start Date | End Date | Duration (Weeks/Days) | Vacation Period (School Holiday) | Vacation Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 14 January 2026 (Wednesday) | 27 March 2026 (Friday) | 11 weeks / 53 (55) days | 28 March 2026 – 7 April 2026 | 11 days |
| Term 2 | 8 April 2026 (Wednesday) | 26 June 2026 (Friday) | 12 weeks / 58 days | 27 June 2026 – 20 July 2026 | 24 days |
| Term 3 | 21 July 2026 (Tuesday) | 23 September 2026 (Wednesday) | 10 weeks / 47 days | 24 September 2026 – 5 October 2026 | 12 days |
| Term 4 | 6 October 2026 (Tuesday) | 9 December 2026 (Wednesday) | 10 weeks / 47 (49) days | 10 December 2026 – 12 January 2027 (summer break starts after admin days on 10-11 December 2026) | ~33 days (until next school year) |
Notes on vacations:
- Vacation periods are closures for learners; teachers may have admin duties.
- The Term 2 vacation provides a longer winter break.
- The end-of-year summer holiday extends into 2027, with schools typically reopening mid-January.
- Heritage Day (24 September 2026) falls on the first day of the Term 3 vacation, extending it.
Public Holidays in 2026
Public holidays result in school closures if they fall on weekdays during terms. If on a Sunday, they are observed the following Monday. The full list is below; those affecting terms are noted in the term table above (e.g., 3 in Term 2, plus the special day).
| Date | Holiday Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 (Thursday) | New Year’s Day | Before school starts; no term impact. |
| 21 March 2026 (Saturday) | Human Rights Day | Weekend; no additional closure. |
| 3 April 2026 (Friday) | Good Friday | During Term 1 vacation; no term impact. |
| 6 April 2026 (Monday) | Family Day (Easter Monday) | During Term 1 vacation; no term impact. |
| 27 April 2026 (Monday) | Freedom Day | During Term 2; schools closed. |
| 1 May 2026 (Friday) | Workers’ Day | During Term 2; schools closed. |
| 16 June 2026 (Tuesday) | Youth Day | During Term 2; schools closed. |
| 9 August 2026 (Sunday) | National Women’s Day | Observed on 10 August 2026 (Monday); during Term 3; schools closed. |
| 24 September 2026 (Thursday) | Heritage Day | During Term 3 vacation; extends break. |
| 16 December 2026 (Wednesday) | Day of Reconciliation | After school ends; no term impact. |
| 25 December 2026 (Friday) | Christmas Day | During summer holiday. |
| 26 December 2026 (Saturday) | Day of Goodwill | During summer holiday. |
Special School Holidays
- 15 June 2026 (Monday): Additional closure during Term 2, creating an extended break around Youth Day (16 June).
For planning, consider that public holidays on weekends may not add extra days off, effectively “losing” them. Private or independent schools (e.g., ISASA-affiliated) should be checked separately for variations.