When does the 2026 school year start in South Africa?

Public schools open for Term 1 on 14 Jan 2026.

When do schools close for 2026?

The 2026 school year ends when Term 4 closes on 11 Dec 2026.

When are the 2026 school holidays?

The 2026 public-school holidays are: Autumn holidays (28 Mar 2026 – 7 Apr 2026); Winter holidays (27 Jun 2026 – 20 Jul 2026); Spring holidays (24 Sep 2026 – 5 Oct 2026); Summer holidays (12 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027).

Are school term dates the same across all provinces?

Yes. Since 2024 South Africa uses a single, unified national school calendar, so all nine provinces (including Gauteng and the Western Cape) share the same public-school term dates.

School calendar

2026 South African School Calendar

Term dates and school holidays for South African public schools in 2026. Since 2024 all nine provinces share one unified national calendar, so these dates apply countrywide.

2026 2027

18 days until Term 3 2026

Term 3 starts on 21 Jul 2026. Restock stationery and essentials before the holidays end.

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School terms 2026

Term 1

Finished

14 Jan 2026 → 27 Mar 2026

11 weeks

🛒 Get their back-to-school stationery before Term 1 starts on 14 Jan 2026.

Term 2

Finished

8 Apr 2026 → 26 Jun 2026

12 weeks

🛒 Restock for Term 2 before it starts on 8 Apr 2026.

Term 3

Upcoming

21 Jul 2026 → 23 Sep 2026

10 weeks

🛒 Restock for Term 3 before it starts on 21 Jul 2026.

Term 4

Upcoming

6 Oct 2026 → 11 Dec 2026

10 weeks

🛒 Restock for Term 4 before it starts on 6 Oct 2026.

School holidays 2026

Autumn holidays
28 Mar 2026 – 7 Apr 2026
11 days
Winter holidays
27 Jun 2026 – 20 Jul 2026
24 days
Spring holidays
24 Sep 2026 – 5 Oct 2026
12 days
Summer holidays
12 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027
32 days

Holiday periods are the breaks between terms and may differ slightly from a school's own closure days. Always confirm with your school.

When to shop for school

The busiest rush is right before Term 1. Get ahead of it — order stationery, textbooks covers and back-to-school essentials in the summer holidays so everything arrives before the first day back.

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Frequently asked questions

When does the 2026 school year start in South Africa?: Public schools open for Term 1 on 14 Jan 2026.
When do schools close for 2026?: The 2026 school year ends when Term 4 closes on 11 Dec 2026.
When are the 2026 school holidays?: The 2026 public-school holidays are: Autumn holidays (28 Mar 2026 – 7 Apr 2026); Winter holidays (27 Jun 2026 – 20 Jul 2026); Spring holidays (24 Sep 2026 – 5 Oct 2026); Summer holidays (12 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027).
Are school term dates the same across all provinces?: Yes. Since 2024 South Africa uses a single, unified national school calendar, so all nine provinces (including Gauteng and the Western Cape) share the same public-school term dates.