2026 South African School Calendar

Hello learners, parents, and teachers.

On this page, you will find the 2026 South African school calendar, which includes all school terms, holidays, and important public holidays.

To make planning even easier, we have also designed a printable 2026 South African School Calendar as an image. Feel free to download and print it for quick reference.

Here are 15 notable facts from the 2026 South African school calendar:

First Day of School – Schools officially open on 14 January 2026, marking the start of Term 1.
Longest Term – Term 2 is the longest, running for 12 weeks from 8 April – 26 June.
Shortest Term – Term 3 is the shortest, lasting 10 weeks from 21 July – 23 September.
Total School Days – The full 2026 academic year consists of 205 (209) scheduled school days.
Actual School Days – Due to public holidays and special holidays, the actual number of teaching days is 200 (202).
Public Holidays in School Time – There are five official public holidays that fall within school terms, plus one special school holiday.
Easter Break – Good Friday (3 April) and Family Day (6 April) fall within Term 2.
Youth Day Impact – 16 June (Youth Day) is observed within Term 2, contributing to fewer teaching days.
Freedom & Workers’ Day – 27 April (Freedom Day) and 1 May (Workers’ Day) also fall during Term 2.
Special School Holiday – 15 June is a designated school holiday, creating an extra-long Youth Day break.
Women’s Day Observed Later – National Women’s Day (9 August) falls on a Sunday, so it is observed on Monday, 10 August.
Public Holiday-Free Terms – Term 1 and Term 4 have zero public holidays affecting school days.
Final School Day – The school year officially ends on 11 December 2026, though some schools may close on 9 December.
Two Winter Breaks – The longest school holidays are in June-July (winter) and December-January (summer).
Balanced Terms – The school terms are relatively even, with each term lasting between 10 to 12 weeks.

School Breaks in the 2026 South African School Calendar

Here’s a breakdown of the school break holidays for each term in 2026:

1️⃣ December 2025 – January 2026 (Summer Holiday)

Start: Schools closed from December 2025
End: Schools reopen on 14 January 2026
Duration: ±4 weeks
Notes: This is the longest school holiday, marking the transition into the new academic year.

2️⃣ March – April 2026 (Autumn Break)

Start: Schools close on 27 March 2026 (end of Term 1)
End: Schools reopen on 8 April 2026
Duration: 11 days
Notes: This break overlaps with Easter Weekend (3 April – Good Friday, 6 April – Family Day).

3️⃣ June – July 2026 (Winter Break)

Start: Schools close on 26 June 2026 (end of Term 2)
End: Schools reopen on 21 July 2026
Duration: 3.5 weeks
Notes: This is the second-longest school holiday, falling in the middle of the academic year.

4️⃣ September – October 2026 (Spring Break)

Start: Schools close on 23 September 2026 (end of Term 3)
End: Schools reopen on 6 October 2026
Duration: 12 days
Notes: A short spring holiday before the final term begins.

5️⃣ December 2026 – January 2027 (Summer Holiday)

Start: Schools close on 11 December 2026 (some on 9 December)
End: Schools likely reopen in mid-January 2027
Duration: ±4 weeks
Notes: This is the end-of-year holiday, leading into 2027.

Q&As

Below are some useful Questions and Answers regarding 2026 School Calendar:

When are schools opening in January 2026?

Schools will open on 14 January 2026, marking the start of Term 1.

When are schools closing in March 2026?

Schools will close on 27 March 2026, signalling the end of Term 1.

When are schools opening in April 2026?

Schools will reopen on 8 April 2026 for Term 2 after the autumn break.

How many public holidays are in Term 2?

There are five public holidays in Term 2:

3 April – Good Friday
6 April – Family Day
27 April – Freedom Day
1 May – Workers’ Day
16 June – Youth Day (Plus a special school holiday on 15 June!)

When are schools closing in June 2026?

Schools will close on 26 June 2026, marking the end of Term 2.

When are schools opening in July 2026?

Schools will reopen on 21 July 2026 for Term 3 after the winter break.

Which term is the shortest in 2026?

Term 3 (21 July – 23 September) is the shortest, lasting only 10 weeks.

When are schools closing in September 2026?

Schools will close on 23 September 2026, marking the end of Term 3.

When are schools opening in October 2026?

Schools will reopen on 6 October 2026 for Term 4 after the spring break.

Are there any public holidays in Term 4?

No, Term 4 has no public holidays.

When does the 2026 school year end?

The last school day for 2026 is 11 December, though some schools may close on 9 December.

How many school days are there in 2026?

There are 200 (202) actual school days in 2026, excluding public holidays.

Thank you, we hope the above information will make your 2026 planning much better.