New Zealand School Holidays 2026–2028
Official term dates and school holidays for state and state-integrated schools in Aotearoa, plus the public holidays that fall in each break. Use them to plan family trips, book holiday programmes and avoid the busiest travel weeks.
2026 Summer holidays
Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – Wed, 27 Jan 2027
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School Holidays 2026
2026 term dates
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Between Mon, 26 Jan 2026 and Mon, 9 Feb 2026Each school chooses its start date | Thu, 2 Apr 2026 |
| Term 2 | Mon, 20 Apr 2026 | Fri, 3 Jul 2026 |
| Term 3 | Mon, 20 Jul 2026 | Fri, 25 Sept 2026 |
| Term 4 | Mon, 12 Oct 2026 | No later than Fri, 18 Dec 2026 |
2026 school holidays
| Break | Dates | Public holidays during the break |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 holidaysAutumn (April) | Fri, 3 Apr 2026 – Sun, 19 Apr 2026 |
|
| Term 2 holidaysWinter (July) | Sat, 4 Jul 2026 – Sun, 19 Jul 2026 |
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| Term 3 holidaysSpring (September–October) | Sat, 26 Sept 2026 – Sun, 11 Oct 2026 | None |
| Summer holidaysSummer (December–January) | Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – Wed, 27 Jan 2027Up to Tue, 2 Feb 2027, depending on when your school starts |
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School Holidays 2027
2027 term dates
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Between Thu, 28 Jan 2027 and Wed, 3 Feb 2027Each school chooses its start date | Fri, 9 Apr 2027 |
| Term 2 | Tue, 27 Apr 2027 | Fri, 2 Jul 2027 |
| Term 3 | Mon, 19 Jul 2027 | Fri, 24 Sept 2027 |
| Term 4 | Mon, 11 Oct 2027 | No later than Fri, 17 Dec 2027 |
2027 school holidays
| Break | Dates | Public holidays during the break |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 holidaysAutumn (April) | Sat, 10 Apr 2027 – Mon, 26 Apr 2027 |
|
| Term 2 holidaysWinter (July) | Sat, 3 Jul 2027 – Sun, 18 Jul 2027 | None |
| Term 3 holidaysSpring (September–October) | Sat, 25 Sept 2027 – Sun, 10 Oct 2027 | None |
| Summer holidaysSummer (December–January) | Sat, 18 Dec 2027 – Sun, 30 Jan 2028Up to Mon, 7 Feb 2028, depending on when your school starts |
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School Holidays 2028
2028 term dates
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Between Mon, 31 Jan 2028 and Tue, 8 Feb 2028Each school chooses its start date | Thu, 13 Apr 2028 |
| Term 2 | Mon, 1 May 2028 | Fri, 7 Jul 2028 |
| Term 3 | Mon, 24 Jul 2028 | Fri, 29 Sept 2028 |
| Term 4 | Mon, 16 Oct 2028 | No later than Fri, 15 Dec 2028 |
2028 school holidays
| Break | Dates | Public holidays during the break |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 holidaysAutumn (April) | Fri, 14 Apr 2028 – Sun, 30 Apr 2028 |
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| Term 2 holidaysWinter (July) | Sat, 8 Jul 2028 – Sun, 23 Jul 2028 |
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| Term 3 holidaysSpring (September–October) | Sat, 30 Sept 2028 – Sun, 15 Oct 2028 | None |
| Summer holidaysSummer (December–January) | Sat, 16 Dec 2028 – early 2029 (dates not yet published) |
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These are the official dates for state and state-integrated schools, set by the Ministry of Education and published in the New Zealand Gazette. Each school picks its own term 1 start date within the window and may finish term 4 earlier, and private schools set their own terms, so always check your school's calendar. Source: Ministry of Education.
School Holiday Ideas
Browse all our city travel guides for more family-friendly ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the next school holidays in NZ?+
The next school holidays are the 2026 summer holidays, from Sat, 19 Dec 2026 – Wed, 27 Jan 2027.
How many school terms are there in New Zealand?+
There are four terms a year. There are two-week breaks after terms 1, 2 and 3, and a summer holiday of about six weeks over December and January.
Are school holidays the same for every school?+
Terms 2 and 3 and the term 1 end date are the same for all state and state-integrated schools. Each school picks its own term 1 start date within a set window and can finish term 4 earlier than the latest date. Private schools set their own terms.
Do public holidays fall in the school holidays?+
Often. Easter usually falls in or next to the April break, and the summer holidays include Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year. Holidays during term time, like Matariki and Labour Day, mean a long weekend for students too.