Victoria School Holidays 2026 & 2027
Official Victorian government-school term and holiday dates — plus the part a plain calendar leaves out: what each break actually means if you're sitting VCE.
Last updated 13 July 2026
Note: Dates apply to Victorian government schools. Catholic Diocese and independent schools may vary by a day or two — confirm with your school.
When are the school holidays in Victoria in 2026?
In 2026, Victorian government schools have four holiday breaks: the autumn/Easter break (3–19 April), the winter break (27 June – 12 July), the spring break (19 September – 4 October), and the summer break (19 December 2026 into late January 2027). The four terms run 27 January to 2 April, 20 April to 26 June, 13 July to 18 September, and 5 October to 18 December. Catholic and independent schools mostly follow the same calendar but can vary by a day or two, so always check with your own school.
Victoria school term dates 2026
Official dates for Victorian government schools, published by the Department of Education (vic.gov.au).
| Term | Starts | Ends | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tue 27 January (students Wed 28 Jan) | Thu 2 April | ~10 |
| Term 2 | Mon 20 April | Fri 26 June | 10 |
| Term 3 | Mon 13 July | Fri 18 September | 10 |
| Term 4 | Mon 5 October | Fri 18 December | 11 |
Students start Term 1 on Wednesday 28 January (Tuesday 27 January is a staff preparation day). Your school may run additional pupil-free days it publishes separately.
Victoria school holiday dates 2026
| Break | From | To | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn / Easter holidays | Fri 3 April | Sun 19 April | About 2.5 weeks |
| Winter holidays | Sat 27 June | Sun 12 July | 2 weeks |
| Spring holidays | Sat 19 September | Sun 4 October | 2 weeks |
| Summer holidays | Sat 19 December | late January 2027 | About 6 weeks |
Searching “September school holidays Victoria”? That's the spring break: 19 September to 4 October 2026.
What each break means if you're doing VCE
Here's the overlay a plain calendar can't give you. From running a VCE tutoring company and working with Year 11 and 12 students every year, the same pattern shows up: students treat all four breaks the same, and they shouldn't. Two are for resting. Two decide your year.
Summer break (Dec–Jan): set the tone, don't torch it
Six weeks is the longest stretch you get. Moving into Year 12, this is where you read ahead on early Term 1 content and lock in habits. Rest for the first couple of weeks — but coming back having read ahead, rather than cold, is the difference between spending February catching up and spending it consolidating.
Autumn / Easter break (April): consolidate Term 1
By Easter, Year 12s are into Unit 3 and the SACs that count toward your study score. This break is for tidying up Term 1 — fixing the gaps your first assessments exposed and getting ahead on Term 2 SAC content. A working break, but not a brutal one.
Winter break (June–July): the make-or-break one
If we had to pick the single break that matters most for VCE, it's winter, and it's not close. Term 3 is the heaviest term of Year 12 — most of your remaining SACs, running straight into the October–November exams. The winter break is the last clean two-week window where nothing is due the next day. The trap is the two extremes: doing nothing, or grinding eight hours a day until you're flatter on the last day than the first. The sweet spot is about five focused study days, four hours max, on your two weakest subjects.
Spring break (Sept–Oct): pure exam prep, not a rest
By September, teaching is basically done and written exams are weeks away. For a Year 12, this is your first uninterrupted block of exam preparation — where past-exam practice becomes the whole game. Work from real VCAA past exams under timed conditions, not from re-reading notes. When exams land, the VCE exam timetable is the thing to have open.
The honest caveat: even this close, protect one lighter day a week. Burning out in early October costs more than the extra hours buy — the exams are still three or four weeks away, and you want to arrive at them sharp, not already flat.
If you're in Year 11, the stakes are lower — run a lighter version. The point at that stage is proving the method works before the marks count.
Frequently asked questions
Talk to us about your child’s subjects and goals — we’ll happily answer any other questions before you commit. Contact us
When are the Victoria school holidays in 2026?
Victoria 2026 government-school holidays: Autumn/Easter 3–19 April, Winter 27 June – 12 July, Spring 19 September – 4 October, and Summer from 19 December 2026 to late January 2027. Catholic and independent schools mostly follow these dates but can vary by a day or two.
When does Term 3 start in Victoria in 2026?
Term 3 for Victorian government schools starts on Monday 13 July 2026 and runs to Friday 18 September 2026.
When are the September school holidays in Victoria?
The September (spring) break runs Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, after Term 3 ends on Friday 18 September. Term 4 starts Monday 5 October.
How many weeks are in Term 4 2026 in Victoria?
Term 4 2026 is 11 weeks — the longest term of the year (Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December). For Year 12s it is shorter in practice, because written exams begin in late October.
When does school go back in 2027 in Victoria?
Victorian government-school students return for Term 1 2027 on Thursday 28 January 2027 (Wednesday 27 January is a staff day), after the summer break that begins 19 December 2026.
Do Catholic and independent schools in Victoria have the same holidays?
Mostly, but not exactly. Catholic and independent schools generally track the government four-term calendar and land within a day or two of these dates, but they set their own pupil-free days and can start or finish a term slightly differently. Always confirm with your own school.
When does school go back in 2027?
Victorian government-school students return for Term 1 2027 on Thursday 28 January 2027 (Wednesday 27 January is a staff day), after the summer break that begins 19 December 2026. Planning a Year 12 head start over that summer? That late-January return is your real deadline for getting ahead on Term 1 content.
Make the most of school holidays
School holidays are the best time to close the gaps you're behind on or get ahead before term exams. Our Melbourne VCE tutors run intensive and regular sessions across every holiday period.
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