The school holidays in South Africa for the year 2026 have been officially announced, which means that the future academic year is easy to see for everyone: parents, children, and teachers. The Department of Basic Education has provided a calendar where term dates, vacations, and the most important public holidays that will affect the school schedules are indicated clearly. This is applicable to all public schools in the country, however, the independent schools may have slightly different calendars.
Using the official school holiday dates for early planning, families will be able to organize travel, child care, and academic activities more smoothly.
Term 1 Dates and Autumn Break
The 2026 school year commences in the middle of January with students coming back to school for Term 1, which goes on until the end of March. This first term consists of a few weeks of teaching before schools get closed for the autumn holidays. The holidays give students a break after the beginning of the school year and usually coincide with the Easter holiday period depending on the calendar.
This break at the very beginning of the new school year is very beneficial for small children who really need time to get used to the new grades and also to the new routines.
Term 2 Schedule and Winter Holidays
Term 2 kicks off just after the autumn break and lasts until the mid-winter period. There are a few public holidays like Freedom Day and Workers’ Day which schools keep and thus, the students get these days off from school. When they finish Term 2, the students take their mid-year winter holidays, which is one of the longest holidays in the school calendar.
The winter holiday period is a time when families, in general, travel and rest, and senior students also prepare for their exams.
Term 3 and Spring Holiday Period
The beginning of Term 3 follows the winter recess and continues through to September. During this term, the observance of Women’s Day is observed which entails a day off for students when it is celebrated, thereby granting them a extra day off. The third term has come to an end and the students are granted a spring holiday which is time for rest and relaxation before the last and final academic period of the year.
The spring holidays are likely to be characterized by reviewing, exercising, and other school-related activities.
Term 4 and Year-End Closure
Eventually, Term 4 begins right at the start of October and is the shortest but most busy period of the school year which also incorporates end of year examinations, learning assessments, and closure activities for the whole academic year. It is projected that schools will close around the start of December which marks the beginning of the long summer holiday.
The month-long closure will last until the end of January 2027, so families can go on long holiday travels and children can have a nice sleep before the new school year starts.
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