Victoria School Term Dates and Holidays 2026 to 2030

Date coverage note: Term dates below were checked against the Victorian Government page that publishes dates approved by the Minister for Education. Public holidays were checked against Business Victoria. Public holiday dates are currently published through 2028, while school term dates are published through 2030. Dates can change, and some public holidays are local or not yet fixed.

Victoria school term dates and holidays, 2026 to 2030

Planning family holidays, care arrangements or a school move is easier when the important dates are in one place. This guide lists every Victorian government school term date currently published from 2026 onward, covering the full approved 2026 to 2030 block.

The dates apply to Victorian government schools and kindergartens. Catholic and independent schools may use different calendars, so families should always confirm dates directly with their school before booking travel or care.

For a calendar-style overview, visit the BestSchools school holiday calendars.

2026 Victorian government school term dates

2027 Victorian government school term dates

2028 Victorian government school term dates

2029 Victorian government school term dates

2030 Victorian government school term dates

How to interpret Victorian school holiday periods

The main school holiday periods sit between the published term finish and next term start dates:

• the autumn break follows Term 1 and ends before Term 2 begins
• the winter break follows Term 2 and ends before Term 3 begins
• the spring break follows Term 3 and ends before Term 4 begins
• the summer break follows Term 4 and continues until students return for Term 1 of the next school year

The Victorian Government term-date page does not provide a separate, complete holiday table for every future year. For that reason, this article does not invent inclusive holiday dates from the gaps between terms. Use the official term finish and start dates above as planning boundaries, then confirm the first and last non-attendance days with your school.

Remember that the official Term 1 start date and the first day for students differ in every year listed. The first published day is a staff date, while government school students begin one day later.

Victorian public holidays published for 2026 to 2028

Business Victoria currently provides dated statewide public holiday lists through 2028. The dates below reproduce those official lists. Public holiday dates for 2029 and 2030 were not yet published on the same official future-year list when this guide was researched, so they have not been calculated or inferred.

2026 Victorian public holidays

2027 Victorian public holidays

2028 Victorian public holidays

Local holiday caveat: Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday across Victoria unless a non-metropolitan council has arranged an alternate local holiday. Check the relevant council and your school if you live outside metropolitan Melbourne. Business Victoria also warns that public holiday dates may be subject to change.

For updates, check the official Business Victoria public holidays section.

Pupil-free days and school-specific dates

The statewide table gives the official term framework, not every non-attendance day at every school. Government schools may schedule pupil-free days for staff professional learning, planning or other approved purposes. Schools can also have local events, camps, exam arrangements and altered finishing times.

Do not assume that every weekday inside a term is a normal classroom day. Before arranging care or travel, check your school's calendar, newsletter or parent portal. This is particularly important at the start of Term 1, because the published first day of the term is not the government student start date.

Government, Catholic and independent school calendars

These dates are specifically for Victorian government schools and kindergartens. Catholic and independent schools often align broadly with the state calendar, but they are not required to use every government date. Their term starts, finishes, staff days and student-free days may differ.

If you are comparing schools or changing sectors, confirm dates directly with each school. Families moving into Victoria may also find the Victoria school year levels guide and the broader Australian school year levels state guide helpful.

Planning tips for Victorian families

1. Use the student start date, not only the term start date. This matters most in Term 1.
2. Confirm pupil-free days locally. Add school-specific dates to your calendar as soon as the school publishes them.
3. Treat unfixed holidays cautiously. Do not book around the 2027 or 2028 AFL Grand Final public holiday until the official date is published.
4. Check local public holiday arrangements. Non-metropolitan councils may substitute another local holiday for Melbourne Cup Day.
5. Allow time for enrolment. Start with the Australian school enrolment step-by-step guide and the school enrolment timeline in Australia.
6. Research your address early. The school zones and catchments guide explains why a move can affect government school eligibility.
7. Plan interstate moves around confirmed dates. Read moving schools between states before comparing calendars.

Related BestSchools guides

• School holiday calendars
• Victoria school year levels guide
• Australian school year levels by state
• Australian school enrolment step-by-step guide
• School enrolment timeline Australia
• Moving schools between states
• School zones and catchments

Sources

Official government sources accessed for this guide:

• Victorian Government, school term dates and holidays in Victoria, including the approved 2026 to 2030 block: https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria
• Business Victoria, Victorian public holidays 2026: https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays/victorian-public-holidays-2026
• Business Victoria, Victorian public holidays 2027: https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays/victorian-public-holidays-2027
• Business Victoria, Victorian public holidays 2028: https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays/victorian-public-holidays-2028
• Business Victoria, public holidays hub: https://business.vic.gov.au/business-information/public-holidays

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Victorian government schools start in 2026?

How far ahead are Victorian school term dates published?

Are these dates the same for every Victorian school?

Are pupil-free days included in the term tables?

Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday everywhere in Victoria?

Is there a replacement public holiday when ANZAC Day falls on a weekend in Victoria?

Have public holidays been officially published through 2030?