From the Government Gazette · all provinces
South African School Calendar 2026 & 2027
Term dates and school holidays for public schools, transcribed directly from the Department of Basic Education's gazetted calendar: the same calendar for all nine provinces.
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Last checked against the gazette: 17 July 2026
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The short answer
South African public schools follow one national calendar. In 2026 the school year runs from 14 January to 9 December across four terms; in 2027, from 13 January to 8 December. Term 3 2026 starts on Tuesday 21 July. All dates below come from the gazetted DBE calendar.
The gazetted calendar
2026 term dates
| Term | Learners open | Learners close | School days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 14 January 2026 | Friday 27 March 2026 | 53 |
| Term 2 | Wednesday 8 April 2026 | Friday 26 June 2026 | 54 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 21 July 2026 | Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 46 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 6 October 2026 | Wednesday 9 December 2026 | 47 |
Swipe the table sideways for the full dates.
Educators report on 12 January 2026 and close on 11 December 2026. Source: 2026 Calendar for Public Schools, Government Gazette No. 52177, 25 February 2025.
Between the terms
2026 school holidays
Autumn break
28 March to 7 April 2026
Winter break
27 June to 20 July 2026
Spring break
24 September to 5 October 2026
Summer break
10 December 2026 to 12 January 2027
Learners return on 13 January 2027
Public holidays that fall inside terms, from the gazette's holiday list: Freedom Day on Monday 27 April 2026, Workers' Day on Friday 1 May 2026, Special School Holiday on Monday 15 June 2026, Youth Day on Tuesday 16 June 2026, and a public holiday on Monday 10 August 2026 (National Women's Day falls on Sunday 9 August).
Next year
2027 term dates
| Term | Learners open | Learners close | School days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 13 January 2027 | Friday 19 March 2027 | 48 |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 6 April 2027 | Friday 25 June 2027 | 56 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 20 July 2027 | Wednesday 22 September 2027 | 46 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 5 October 2027 | Wednesday 8 December 2027 | 47 |
Swipe the table sideways for the full dates.
Educators report on 11 January 2027 and close on 10 December 2027. Source: 2027 Calendar for Public Schools, Government Gazette No. 52178, 25 February 2025.
Note: some websites, including the government's own summary page, show different Term 3 and Term 4 dates for 2027. The gazette above is the legal calendar.
What about 2028?
The 2028 calendar is still a proposed calendar, published for public comment on 4 November 2025, and has not been finalised. We'll publish the final dates here as soon as the gazette lands.
The parent's read of the year
The school year at a glance
January (Term 1)
New grade, old gaps: the year's biggest tutoring month for a reason.
After each report card
Terms end in March, June, September and December. The report is the signal; the next term is the response.
Term 3 (July to September)
Matric trials run in August and September, and Grade 8 to 11 learners sit the exams that decide promotion.
Term 4 (October to December)
NSC final exams, and everyone else's end-of-year exams.
If a report card said "needs support", a one-to-one tutor is the fastest fix.
Get a TutorQuestions parents ask about the school calendar
When does Term 3 start in 2026?
Term 3 starts on Tuesday 21 July 2026 and runs to Wednesday 23 September 2026 (46 school days).
When do schools close in 2026?
Learners close on Wednesday 9 December 2026; educators close on 11 December 2026.
When does the 2027 school year start?
Learners start on Wednesday 13 January 2027; educators report on 11 January 2027.
Do all provinces have the same school calendar?
Yes: since 2024 all nine provinces follow one national calendar. Before that, inland and coastal provinces followed different calendars.
When are the 2026 winter school holidays?
The winter holidays run from 27 June to 20 July 2026; schools reopen for Term 3 on Tuesday 21 July 2026.
Is the 2028 school calendar out yet?
Only as a proposed calendar published for public comment; the final gazette hasn't been published. We'll add the 2028 dates here as soon as it lands.
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