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The winter school holidays in Sydney are here, and before the "I'm bored" chorus kicks in (you know it's coming), we've done the hard work for you.
Sydney truly shines in winter when it comes to school holiday programs. From creative workshops where little imaginations run wild to science labs that actually make kids put down their phones, sports clinics for the ones who need to burn off approximately 1,000 calories a day, and cultural experiences at some of Sydney's most iconic venues. There's genuinely something for every kid, including budding artists, mini scientists, sports fanatics, and explorers who haven't met a museum they didn't like.
The 2026 NSW winter school holidays run from Monday, 6 July to Friday, 17 July 2026. That's two weeks that are yours to fill with memories they'll actually remember (and ones you'll survive). From the CBD to the suburbs, Sydney's best venues and educators have pulled out all the stops with programs designed to engage young minds, burn off energy, and keep boredom firmly at bay.
Table of Contents
Jump to
Speaking Schools Australasia
Museums of History NSW
Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Marian Street Theatre for Young People
The Y NSW School Holiday Programs & Vacation Care
City Of Sydney: Fast-track School Holiday Intensive Swimming
School Holiday Programs at Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney FC School Holiday Clinics
Monster Skatepark Winter Camps
School Holiday Programs at the Wildflower Garden
Creative & Performing Arts
Speaking Schools Australasia
Most students fear public speaking - Speaking Schools Australasia turns it into the highlight of the school holidays. For 11 years, this multi-award-winning team has helped 30,000+ students find their voice through fun, age-targeted holiday workshops in debating and public speaking, with a 4.9 Google rating from parents.
Small classes (max 9 students per coach) suited for kids from Kindy to Year 10, with genuine personal feedback, and backed by a money-back guarantee.
For more information, visit Speaking Schools Australasia or contact Ash on 0480 028 640 or [email protected].
Where: North Sydney, Wahroonga, Burwood, Ryde, Bella Vista, Castle Hill, North Parramatta and Online
When: Monday 6 - Friday 17 July 2026
Cost: From $260 for online, and $290 for in-person. Creative Kids Vouchers accepted.
Museums of History NSW
Families looking for engaging school holiday programs will find plenty to love at Museums of History NSW. The schedule includes a special illustration workshop for kids and families, a hands-on ceramics workshop exploring the cultural significance of scar trees and an immersive Aboriginal weaving workshop, all in celebration of NAIDOC week.
There are free drop-in activities and captivating kids' trails at some of their heritage locations throughout Sydney. With mock trials, garden games and LEGO building among the fun on offer, Museums of History NSW offer a unique learning experience where kids can step back in time in creative ways.
Where: Museums of History NSW sites and museums
When: Monday 6 - Sunday 19 July 2026
Cost: Ticketed workshops from $20. General admission and activities are FREE.
Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music will be running a series of Open Academy School Holiday Workshops in its historic Macquarie Street buildings during the school holidays.
Based on the Orff-Schulwerk approach, and the Dalcroze and Kodaly methods, children will be immersed in a broad range of musical activities, including singing, imitation, movement, playing percussion instruments, improvisation, storytelling, and guided listening. The Kids at the Con program is designed for little music lovers ages 3 to 10 to explore creative music-making through small-group activities, helping them engage with the exciting world of music and encouraging artistic expression.
Where: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, Macquarie Street, Sydney
When: Tuesday 7 - Thursday 9 July 2026
Cost: $45 - $110 per child
Marian Street Theatre for Young People
Dive into a world of drama queens and kings with the Marian Street Theatre for Young People Holiday Workshops. Students will be immersed in an engaging theatrical experience while learning valuable performance skills and building their confidence on stage. The workshops cover acting masterclasses, comedy and improv, Make a Play five-day intensives and bootcamps, catering to kids and teens from Kindergarten through to Year 9.
Marian Street Theatre courses offer a comprehensive theatre education for budding performers, creating performances that explore comedy, improv, acting, and storytelling. Each workshop challenges and inspires students to express themselves and shine, while making like-minded friends, and having fun in a supportive and creative environment. Enrol now!
Where: Hornsby, Killara, North Ryde & West Ryde
When: 6 - 18 July 2026
Cost: $320 per child per multi-day workshop
Ryde classes are FREE for those living and going to school in the City of Ryde. Sponsored by City of Ryde.
Sports Programs
The Y NSW School Holiday Programs & Vacation Care
The Y NSW School Holiday Programs offer Sydney families a reliable and engaging way to keep kids active, social and entertained over the school holidays. With two program streams, Vacation Care and Recreation School Holiday Programs, there's something to suit every child and family schedule.
Vacation Care runs across 30+ OSHC services and provides full-day care packed with excursions, workshops and day camps, while Recreation programs are delivered at Y centres across NSW and focus on movement-based fun, including gymnastics, swimming intensives and multi-sport activities such as soccer and netball. Led by qualified instructors in safe, welcoming environments, these flexible programs help children build confidence, develop skills, and make new friends, making them a popular choice for parents looking for structured, screen-free school holiday programs.
Where: The Y OSHC and Recreation services throughout NSW
When: 6 - 20 July 2026
Cost: See The Y's Recreational Programs or Vacation Care for fee details
City Of Sydney: Fast-track School Holiday Intensive Swimming
Dive into excitement these school holidays with the City of Sydney's Fast Track School Holiday Intensive Swimming Program, available at three City of Sydney heated pools! It's the perfect way to fast-track your swimming progress while keeping them active, engaged, and confident in the water.
The program offers daily 30-minute lessons from Monday to Friday, and the chance to learn skills like starts, diving, specific strokes and turns.
Learning to swim is essential at all levels and ages. Book now!
Where: Cook and Phillip Park Pool
Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre
When: Monday 6 July - Friday 17 July 2026
Cost: Contact your nearest centre for pricing details
School Holiday Programs at Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is going big for the winter school holidays with a packed line-up of sporty, splashy and confidence-building programs for kids who like to move.
Across the precinct, children can shoot hoops at the Basketball Clinic (6-7 July), try a bit of everything at the All-Day Multi-Sports Camp (8-9 July), sharpen their reflexes with Table Tennis Hot Shots (10 July), or head to the Aquatic Centre for Swimming Intensives (6-17 July), Diving Clinics (6-17 July), and Full-Day Recreational Fun (6-17 July). Budding archers can take aim with Young Archers and Sharp Shooters sessions (6-17 July), while kids who love to tumble, jump and perform can sign up for Cheerleading (15 July) or Gymnastics (13-17 July) at the Quaycentre.
With programs covering a wide range of ages and interests, Sydney Olympic Park is a brilliant one-stop pick for school holidays, especially for families with kids who would rather climb, kick, dive, balance, splash or sprint than sit still.
Where: Sydney Olympic Park
When: 6-17 July 2026
Cost: From $43
Sydney FC School Holiday Clinics
Looking for a school holiday program that's all about energy, excitement and football fun? Sydney FC's Holiday Clinics are back, and they're already kicking goals, with three locations sold out!
Designed for kids aged 5 to 13, these action-packed clinics run across Sydney and Wollongong, offering expert coaching, confidence-building drills, and loads of team spirit. Kids can sharpen their skills, meet Sydney FC A-League players, and even score some gear, including a training kit, cap and Junior Membership.
Places are limited and filling fast, so don't miss out — secure your child's spot today!
Where: Locations across Sydney and Wollongong
When: 6-16 July 2026
Cost: $310 (including new kit) | $280 (excluding new kit)
Monster Skatepark Winter Camps
For kids who'd rather be on wheels than anywhere else, Monster Skatepark's Winter Holiday Camps are basically the dream school holiday program.
Catering to action sports enthusiasts of all skill levels — from absolute beginners who've never stepped on a board to seasoned riders ready to level up — Monster's school holiday camps are run by instructors who work with each rider individually within a group setting. There's proper coaching, genuine progression and a whole lot of fun, rather than just kids rolling around unsupervised while parents nervously watch from the sidelines.
Skaters are grouped by a mix of age and experience, so no one feels out of their depth or held back. A typical camp day kicks off with some preliminary coaching and skill assessment at Monster Skatepark, before the real adventure begins — a Skatepark Tour, where skaters pile into camp vehicles and hit some of Sydney's best skateparks across the city. On tour, coaches work with riders on their skills while also leaving room for free skating time, because sometimes you just need to roll.
Where: 1A Grand Parade, Sydney Olympic Park
When: Week 1: 6-10 July | Week 2: 13-17 July
Cost: $149 for 1 Day; $139 for 3 or 4 days; $109 for 5 or more days
STEM Programs
Code Camp
Let Code Camp inspire your children to get creative with technology these holidays, learn valuable new skills, have fun and make new friends. With a wide range of in-person camps and online programs available, there truly is something for everyone. Choose from beginner to advanced coding camps, robotics, stop-motion animation, DJing, video production and more.
Code Camp's flagship coding programs are the perfect introduction to your child’s Code Camp journey. Choose Little Coders for ages 5-7 to take their first steps into the world of coding, and Spark for ages 7-12 to use drag and drop coding to create an exciting arcade-style game. Their most popular creative camps are also back this season, including Minecraft Engineers, Roblox Legends, Robotics Camps and YouTube Creators, offering the coolest few days of STEM learning and fun.
For a different kind of creative experience, Code Camp also offers tech-free crafting camps called Get Crafty. It is a break from screens where kids can enjoy hands-on programs that encourage mindfulness and creativity while having fun with others.
Where: Various locations throughout Sydney
When: Throughout the winter school holidays
Cost: Various, depending on camp type and duration; check the website for pricing options
Outdoor Adventures
School Holiday Programs at the Wildflower Garden
If your kids think nature is just something they see through a car window, Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden is about to change that — fast.
Nestled in Sydney's north, the Wildflower Garden runs full-day school holiday programs for primary-aged kids (6-12 years) and for children who have just started Kindy. The programs rotate through brilliant nature-based themes, including survival skills, animal encounters, nature detectives and water play. The kind of hands-on experiences that make kids forget screens even exist — hoorah!
Can't commit to a full day? Half-day programs and family experiences also run throughout the school holidays, including animal family walks, twilight safaris and campfire experiences. The twilight safari and campfire combo alone might be the coolest school holiday program in Sydney this winter (just saying).
It's outdoor education at its best: messy, memorable and genuinely good for little humans.
Where: 420 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives
When: Throughout the winter school holidays
Cost: TBA — visit the website for updates
FAQs
What are school holiday programs in Sydney?
School holiday programs in Sydney are structured, supervised activities run during the NSW school holiday periods and are designed to keep kids engaged, active and learning while school is out. They range from sports clinics and coding camps to performing arts workshops and outdoor nature programs.
When are the 2026 winter school holidays in Sydney?
The NSW winter school holidays run from 28 June to 9 July 2026.
How much do school holiday programs in Sydney cost?
Costs vary widely depending on the program. Some museum and cultural programs offer free entry, while multi-day workshops (like coding camps or performing arts intensives) typically range from $100 to $565. Half-day programs generally start from around $40.
What age are school holiday programs suitable for?
Most programs in Sydney cater to primary school-aged children from Kindy (5 years) through to Year 12. Some programs, like Code Camp, offer streams specifically designed for ages 5-7, while others, like Marian Street Theatre, cater up to Year 12.
Do I need to book school holiday programs in advance?
Yes. Popular programs like Sydney FC Soccer Clinics sell out quickly, sometimes weeks in advance. It's worth booking as soon as dates are confirmed, especially for multi-day workshops with limited spots.
Are there free school holiday programs in Sydney?
No. Most school holiday programs in Sydney are paid. While Museums of History NSW offers free general admission, their school holiday workshops are ticketed. For free things to do during the school holidays, check out our School Holiday Activities guide.
What are the best STEM school holiday programs in Sydney?
Code Camp is one of Sydney's most popular STEM holiday programs, offering coding, robotics, Minecraft, Roblox and YouTube creator camps for ages 5-12 across multiple Sydney locations.
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About ellaslist
ellaslist is a trusted local guide for families across Sydney and NSW, written by parents and family lifestyle editors who understand what makes an outing with kids genuinely work. Our team researches and curates the best family-friendly events, attractions, playgrounds, restaurants and school holiday activities, with practical details on age suitability, accessibility, parking, public transport, facilities and family-friendly tips.
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