School Holidays South Africa 2026

Last updated: [2025-11-02]

The Department of Basic Education published the 2026 school calendar (summary and Government Gazette) during 2025. Below are the official national term windows and key public holidays for 2026. Provincial calendars may have small local adjustments — always verify with your province or school.

Table of Contents

National 2026 Term Dates (Public Schools)
Public & Special School Holidays (Selected 2026 highlights)
Provincial Notes (Gauteng → Western Cape → KZN)
- Gauteng
- Western Cape
- KZN
Tips & Planning (2026)
FAQ — School Holidays 2026

National 2026 Term Dates (Public Schools)

Term	Starts	Ends
Term 1	14 January 2026	27 March 2026
Term 2	08 April 2026	26 June 2026
Term 3	21 July 2026	23 September 2026
Term 4	06 October 2026	11 December 2026

These dates are taken from the published 2026 school calendar and Government Gazette summary. For the official PDF and the complete public holiday list consult the Department of Basic Education publications.

Public & Special School Holidays (Selected 2026 highlights)

1 Jan — New Year’s Day
21 Mar — Human Rights Day
3 Apr — Good Friday; 6 Apr — Family Day
27 Apr — Freedom Day; 1 May — Workers’ Day
15 Jun — Special school holiday; 16 Jun — Youth Day
9 Aug — National Women’s Day (observed 10 Aug in some cases)
24 Sep — Heritage Day; mid-December term end

Full holiday lists and any special school holiday declarations are shown in the Government Gazette summary for 2026.

Provincial Notes (Gauteng → Western Cape → KZN)

Gauteng

Gauteng schools follow the national dates but post circulars for admin days, exams and teacher training. If your child’s school lists additional “staff development” days, these are provincial or school-level decisions.

Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department publishes a planning calendar that mirrors national dates but may include specific school holidays in late April / early May or other administrative closures. See the WCED planning calendar for details.

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal provides a provincial calendar and circulars for schools. KZN sometimes schedules extra admin days or exam windows within national term dates — check the KZN education website.

Tips & Planning (2026)

Publish travel and activity plans only after the school confirms term dates and special leave days.
Teachers’ workdays and exam weeks vary — check school newsletters for exact exam timetables.
Download the official Government Gazette / DBE PDF for the authoritative, printable calendar.

FAQ — School Holidays 2026

Are the 2026 school holiday dates final?

The Department of Basic Education published the 2026 calendar (Government Gazette). While national term windows are finalized, provinces and schools may publish school-level dates. Always confirm with the school.

Where can I get the official 2026 South African shool holiday calendar in PDF?

The Department of Basic Education and the Government Gazette host the official PDF for the 2026 calendar. Use those PDFs for printing or sharing with parents and caregivers.

Note: This page summarises the official 2026 school calendar published by the DBE. For final, school-level dates and exam timetables check your provincial education department and your child’s school.

1 month ago

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