QLD School Holidays 2026: Term Dates & Public Holidays

Few things shape a Queensland family’s year quite like the school calendar — and 2026 brings a solid block of 195 teaching days across four terms. From the first day back in January to the long summer break starting in December, here’s exactly when Queensland state schools are open, plus how public holidays and Easter fit into the mix.

Term 1 start date: 27 January 2026 ·
Number of school days in 2026: 195 ·
Public holidays in Queensland 2026: 10 ·
Easter weekend 2026: 3–6 April ·
Christmas holidays begin: 12 December 2026

Among the 195 school days across four equal-length terms, one pattern stands out: every term runs exactly 10 weeks, making the Queensland calendar unusually consistent. Here is the term-by-term breakdown.

The implication: families get four distinct breaks of roughly two weeks each, with the longest — summer — stretching from early December to late January.

What are the QLD school holiday dates for 2026?

Term 1 school holidays

• Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026 (Cloud Tuition).

These two weeks and two days include the Easter public holidays, so many families will be able to extend the break with minimal leave.

Term 2 school holidays

• Winter holidays: Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July 2026 (Maroochydore State School calendar).

At exactly two weeks, this is the shortest break of the year — shorter than the equivalent holiday in New South Wales, which runs from 6 to 17 July (Tourism Australia cross-state comparison).

Term 3 school holidays

• Spring holidays: Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October 2026 (KIS Academics).

Again two weeks, but note that the spring break runs into the first Monday of October, giving an extra long weekend.

Christmas school holidays

• Summer holidays: Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027 (Cloud Tuition).

The six-and-a-half-week summer break is the longest continuous stretch, overlapping with Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day public holidays.

This consistent two-week pattern simplifies planning across the year.

How many public holidays does QLD get in 2026?

List of Queensland public holidays in 2026

Queensland observes 10 public holidays in 2026, as gazetted by the Queensland Government (public holiday gazette):

• New Year’s Day – Thursday 1 January
• Australia Day – Monday 26 January
• Good Friday – Friday 3 April
• Easter Saturday – Saturday 4 April
• Easter Monday – Monday 6 April
• ANZAC Day – Saturday 25 April
• Labour Day – Monday 4 May
• King’s Birthday – Monday (date TBC)
• Christmas Day – Friday 25 December
• Boxing Day – Saturday 26 December

The pattern worth noting: three public holidays fall during school terms (Australia Day, Labour Day, King’s Birthday), with Good Friday and Easter Monday safely inside the Term 1 break. ANZAC Day lands on a Saturday, so no extra day off for most.

What are the dates for Easter holidays in 2026?

Easter weekend dates

• Good Friday: 3 April 2026 (Newy with Kids)
• Easter Saturday: 4 April 2026 (Newy with Kids)
• Easter Monday: 6 April 2026

Impact on school holidays

The Easter long weekend falls entirely within the Term 1 break (3–19 April). This means school doors are already closed for the autumn holiday when Good Friday arrives — no need to take annual leave for Easter travel if you are a parent in Queensland. As Tourism Australia (national travel body) notes, this alignment makes Easter one of the smoothest periods for family trips in the state.

“Good Friday falls on 3 April 2026, which is part of the Queensland Term 1 school holiday period.”

— Tourism Australia (national travel authority)

For most families, this means no additional leave is required for Easter travel.

When does school start in Queensland in 2026?

Term 1 start for students

• First day of school for Prep to Year 12: Tuesday 27 January 2026 (Education Queensland (official school calendar)).

Note that Australia Day (Monday 26 January) falls immediately before the first day. Schools are closed for the public holiday, so the term effectively kicks off 27 January.

Staff professional development days

• Teachers return: Thursday 22 January 2026 (Education Queensland (official school calendar)).

State school staff have two pupil-free days before students arrive. Some private and Catholic schools schedule additional professional development days during the term, so the first day of class for their students may differ by a day or two.

Always verify with your school’s specific calendar to avoid confusion.

What are the term dates for Queensland state schools in 2026?

Full semester breakdown

Queensland operates on a two-semester system. Semester 1 runs from 27 January to 26 June; Semester 2 from 13 July to 11 December (Education Queensland (official school calendar)). Within each semester, the term breakdown is as above.

Number of school days per term

• Total teaching days: 195 (Education Queensland (official school calendar))
• Each term: approximately 50 school days (10 weeks × 5 days)

Because the calendar uses a uniform 10-week structure, every term offers the same number of instructional days — a consistency that teachers and parents both appreciate.

“Term 1 begins Tuesday 27 January 2026 and ends Thursday 2 April 2026.”

— Maroochydore State School Calendar (Queensland state school)

The uniform 10-week terms provide a predictable framework for families.

Timeline: QLD school year 2026

Key dates in the 2026 Queensland school year are summarised below.

These dates align with the official Education Queensland calendar.

What’s clear and what’s not

For Queensland families, the 2026 school calendar offers predictable breaks around Easter and a long summer holiday starting 12 December. Planning ahead means aligning your schedule with the official dates — and double-checking with private or Catholic schools if that’s your system. The choice is clear: use the state framework as your baseline, then adjust for your child’s specific institution.

Frequently asked questions