If you’ve got kids in ACT public schools, January and February already feel like a countdown. New students return Friday 30 January 2026, but the real first-day energy hits Monday 2 February when most Canberrans head back to the classroom. Here’s everything you need to plan the year ahead — from term dates to that uniquely Canberran long weekend in March.

4 related posts

Term 1 2026 Start: Monday 2 February · Term 1 2026 End: Thursday 2 April · Teachers Resume Term 2: Monday 20 April · Public Holidays Info: ACT.gov.au official · Multi-Year Coverage: 2026–2030

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact October half-term days vary by source
  • Independent school pupil-free day schedules
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

A detailed table shows the key dates for ACT public school students returning in 2026.

Date Event
Friday 30 March 2026 New students return
Monday 2 March 2026 Continuing students return
Monday 9 April 2026 Canberra Day public holiday
Thursday 2 April 2026 Term 1 ends
Friday 3 April 2026 Good Friday
Monday 27 April 2026 ANZAC Day substitute
Tuesday 21 April 2026 Term 2 starts for students
Monday 20 April 2026 Teachers commence Term 2

ACT public school term dates 2026–30

Four terms define the ACT public school year, each separated by holidays that line up with public holidays. The ACT Education Directorate publishes a multi-year PDF covering 2026 through 2030, giving families a rare extended window for planning. Term 1 runs nine weeks, Term 2 stretches to 11 weeks, and Term 4 wraps up on Friday 18 December 2026.

Term 1 Dates

  • Teachers student-free day: Thursday 29 January 2026
  • New students return: Friday 30 April 2026
  • Continuing students return: Monday 2 April 2026
  • Term ends: Thursday 2 April 2026

Term 1 finishes just before Good Friday, giving students a long Easter break that extends through the weekend. The ACT official PDF at the ACT Government’s website confirms Thursday 2 April 2026 as the exact end date.

Term 2 Dates

  • Teachers commence: Monday 20 April 2026
  • Students return: Tuesday 21 April 2026
  • Term ends: Friday 3 April 2026

Term 2 starts the day after the ANZAC Day substitute (Monday 27 April 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the ACT observes Monday 27 April). Families with Year 12 students will want to note that the winter break kicks off right after the school term wraps.

Full Year Calendar

Term 3 runs from Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September 2026, with the spring holiday break starting Saturday 26 September through Monday 12 October. Term 4 then spans Tuesday 13 October to Friday 18 December 2026 — slightly longer than Catholic schools, which finish on 17 December instead.

Bottom line: The ACT school year follows a predictable four-term pattern with term lengths ranging from 9 to 11 weeks. Catholic schools finish one day earlier in Term 4, so families with children in different school types should note the difference when coordinating holiday plans.

What day does school go back in Canberra?

For most ACT public school families, the first day of school is Monday 2 February 2026 — that’s when continuing students return to class. New students, including those starting kindergarten or transferring in, begin one day earlier on Friday 30 January 2026. Teachers get an extra day before that: Thursday 29 January is a student-free day for preparation.

Term Starts by Year

  • Kindergarten and new enrolments: Friday 30 January 2026
  • Years 1–6 and secondary students: Monday 2 February 2026
  • Teachers: Thursday 29 January (student-free day)

Student-Free Days

Each term begins with a student-free day when teachers attend professional development or planning sessions. Term 2’s student-free day is Monday 20 April 2026, with students returning Tuesday 21 April. These dates are consistent across all ACT public schools but may vary slightly at Catholic or independent schools.

Why this matters

Kindergarten families get a one-day head start to settle in before the main cohort returns. For working parents, this means Monday 2 February is the date to block out for back-to-school logistics, not 30 January.

School holidays ACT 2026

ACT public school holidays align with major public holidays to create extended breaks. The Easter period is the longest of Term 1, while the winter and spring breaks each span roughly two-and-a-half weeks. Families can plan travel or childcare around these fixed windows.

Term 1 Holidays

The autumn holiday break runs from Friday 3 April through Monday 20 April 2026. Good Friday falls on 3 April, Easter Monday on 6 April, and the break extends through the ANZAC substitute on 27 April. Some secondary sources cite 19 April as the break end date, but the official ACT PDF confirms Monday 20 April as the correct end date.

Easter Break 2026

Easter 2026 is unusually late — Good Friday falls on 3 April, which is also the final day of Term 1. The ACT takes advantage of this timing, with the autumn break starting immediately after. The Easter long weekend covers 3–6 April, followed by the ANZAC substitute holiday on 27 April, giving families a substantial mid-term break before Term 2 begins.

The upshot

The Easter break bleeds into the ANZAC substitute holiday, extending what could be a standard two-week break into nearly three weeks. Families booking holiday leave in April should plan for up to 18 days away from school.

What is Canberra Day holiday?

Canberra Day is an ACT-specific public holiday celebrating the establishment of Australia’s capital city. It falls on the second Monday in March each year — in 2026, that’s Monday 9 March. The holiday creates a three-day weekend during Term 1, making it one of the most convenient breaks for local families.

Date and Impact

Canberra Day 2026 occurs on Monday 9 March 2026, during Term 1. This is Week 5 of the school year, giving students a mid-term boost without disrupting the overall term structure. The ACT Government officially confirms this date on its public holidays page.

School Closure

All ACT public schools close on Canberra Day. Unlike Easter or ANZAC holidays that overlap with term breaks, Canberra Day falls squarely within term time. This means families with school-age children have a planned day off without needing to draw on leave or arrange alternative care.

The catch

Canberra Day is unique to the ACT — other states and territories don’t observe it. Families travelling interstate during the March long weekend won’t find the same public holiday applies in NSW, Victoria, or other states. The ACT Government notes that public holidays differ by state and territory.

School holidays ACT 2027

The ACT Education Directorate publishes a single PDF covering school term dates from 2026 through 2030, allowing families to plan multiple years ahead. While the exact 2027 dates follow similar patterns to 2026, the Easter timing shifts annually, which affects where the autumn break falls within the calendar.

Upcoming Terms

Term dates in 2027 will follow the same four-term structure: Terms 1–4 with holidays between each. Easter 2027 falls in early April, likely placing the Term 1 break in that same window. The 2026–2030 PDF on the ACT Government’s website includes all these dates.

Planning Ahead

Families with children in different year levels, or those considering school moves, can use the official multi-year calendar for long-term planning. Catholic and independent schools may vary slightly, particularly around pupil-free days, so it’s worth checking directly with those institutions as well.

Bottom line: Download the official ACT PDF (2026–2030) to lock in your family’s annual leave and holiday care plans now. Catholic schools end Term 4 one day earlier than public schools, so coordinate with any split-school households early.

Timeline

A concise timeline tracks the major milestones across the ACT school year.

Date Event
Thursday 29 January 2026 Teachers student-free day
Friday 30 March 2026 New students return
Monday 2 March 2026 Continuing students return for Term 1
Monday 9 March 2026 Canberra Day public holiday
Thursday 2 March 2026 Term 1 ends
Monday 20 March 2026 Teachers commence Term 2
Tuesday 21 March 2026 Term 2 starts for students
2026–2030 Full ACT term dates available via official PDF

What we know vs what’s unclear

Confirmed

  • ACT.gov.au term dates 2026–30 confirmed by official PDF
  • Canberra Day public holiday confirmed on Monday 9 April 2026
  • Good Friday confirmed as 3 April 2026 (ACT Government)
  • ANZAC substitute confirmed as Monday 27 April 2026
  • New students return Friday 30 January, continuing students Monday 2 February

Unclear

  • Exact October half-term break end date varies between sources
  • Independent school pupil-free day schedules not fully confirmed
  • Preschool and special needs school variations not detailed

What officials say

“Public holidays in Australia are different in each state and territory.”

— ACT Government (official site)

“The ACT observes a substitute public holiday on Monday 27 April because Anzac Day falls on a Saturday.”

— Learnmate (Education Blog)

“Planning your family’s year around the ACT school calendar makes juggling holidays, routines, and work commitments a lot easier.”

— Learnmate (Education Blog)

Related reading: QLD school holidays · Labour Day Victoria

Additional sources

act.gov.au, holidayswithkids.com.au

This multi-year calendar builds on the 2026 ACT term dates guide by extending ACT school holiday planning through 2030 with key public dates.

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Frequently asked questions

What are ACT school holidays 2023?

The ACT publishes term dates for multiple years. The 2023 school year followed a similar four-term structure to 2026, with Easter timing shifting annually. Check the ACT Government’s archives or contact the Education Directorate directly for archived 2023 dates.

When is Term 1 school holidays 2026 ACT?

Term 1 holidays run from Friday 3 April to Monday 20 April 2026. This covers Good Friday (3 April), Easter weekend (4–6 April), and extends through to the first day of Term 2 for teachers on 20 April.

ACT school start 2026 date?

New students return Friday 30 January 2026. Continuing students return Monday 2 February 2026. Teachers have a student-free day on Thursday 29 January to prepare.

School holidays ACT 2026 PDF?

The ACT Government publishes an official PDF covering 2026–2030 on its website. The PDF includes term dates, holiday periods, and public holiday integration for planning purposes.

What are all ACT public holidays?

Key 2026 ACT public holidays include: New Year’s Day (1 Jan), Australia Day (26 Jan), Canberra Day (9 Mar), Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr), ANZAC Day substitute (27 Apr), Reconciliation Day (1 Jun), King’s Birthday (8 Jun), Labour Day (5 Oct), Christmas Day (25 Dec), and Boxing Day substitute (28 Dec).

How do ACT school holidays compare to NSW?

NSW and the ACT share some public holidays like Easter and Christmas, but the ACT has its own Canberra Day holiday on 9 March. NSW has different state-specific holidays and often different term date alignments. Families crossing the border for school or work should check both states’ calendars.

For ACT families, the school calendar creates a predictable rhythm across four terms. The official PDF covering 2026–2030 means you can lock in leave plans well in advance, and the alignment with major public holidays reduces the need for ad-hoc childcare arrangements. For parents coordinating across Catholic or independent schools, the one-day difference in Term 4 end dates is worth noting now — it affects Christmas travel timing if you have children in different school types.