Even though school holidays happen four times a year every year, we are still blindsided by their swift approach, aren't we, parents?

But while students lament the long wait until their next holiday break, we have a whole term ahead to plan! Whether you're looking to schedule a slew of programs and activities to keep the kids busy during the NSW school holidays 2026 or take off on a family holiday as soon as that last bell rings, here are all the NSW school holiday dates you need to get organised this year.

Get these school holiday and term dates in the diary and check out some inspo in case you do decide to fly the coop.

Please note: these dates are for NSW public schools. Private and independent schools generally base their terms and holidays around these dates, but they may differ slightly.

NSW School Holiday Dates For 2026

Term 1

Term 1 (Eastern Division)

Monday, 2 February to Thursday, 2 April 2026

Term 1 (Western Division)

Monday, 9 February to Thursday, 2 April 2026

NSW Autumn School Holidays

Autumn School Holidays (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Tuesday, 7 April to Friday, 17 April 2026

Term 2

Term 2 (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Wednesday, 22 April to Friday, 3 July 2026

NSW Winter School Holidays

Winter School Holidays (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Monday, 6 July to Friday, 17 July 2026

Term 3

Term 3 (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Tuesday, 21 July to Friday, 25 September 2026

NSW Spring School Holidays

Spring School Holidays (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Monday, 28 September to Friday, 9 October 2026

Term 4

Term 4 (Eastern and Western Divisions)

Tuesday, 13 October to Thursday, 17 December 2026

NSW Summer School Holidays

Summer School Holidays (Eastern Division)

Friday, 18 December to Wednesday, 27 January 2027

Summer School Holidays (Western Division)

Friday, 18 December to Wednesday, 3 January 2027

School Development Days For 2026

In NSW public schools, school development days (also called pupil-free days) are when teachers undertake professional learning, so students do not attend school. The dates differ slightly at the start of the year between the Eastern division (most of NSW) and the Western division (far-west NSW).

For 2026, the Term 1 school development days are 27-30 January for Eastern division schools and 3-6 February for Western division schools. Additional statewide development days are scheduled for 20-21 April (Term 2), 20 July (Term 3), and 12 October (Term 4).

NSW Public Holidays For 2026

You'll definitely want to take note of all the NSW public holidays in 2026 so you can get the most out of your long weekend or family holiday!

New Year's Day 2026

Thursday, 1 January 2026

Australia Day 2026

Monday, 26 January 2026

Easter Public Holidays 2026

Good Friday - Friday, 3 April 2026
Easter Saturday - Saturday, 4 April 2026
Easter Sunday - Sunday, 5 April 2026
Easter Monday - Monday, 6 April 2026

ANZAC Day 2026*

ANZAC Day 2026 falls on a Saturday this year, so the public holiday will be carried over to Monday.

Monday, 27 April 2026

Saturday, 25 April 2026

June & October Long Weekends 2026

King's Birthday - Monday, 8 June 2026

Labour Day - Monday, 5 October 2026

Christmas Day 2026

Friday, 25 December 2026

Boxing Day 2026

Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so that means Monday, 28 December 2026 will be the public holiday in NSW.

How to Maximise Your Annual Leave in 2026

If you're strategic (and just a little bit cheeky), 2026 is ripe for annual leave hacking. By sprinkling a few well-placed leave days around public holidays, you can magically transform a handful of days off into gloriously long stretches away from your inbox.

Here are our tips to sneakily maximise your annual leave in 2026. 

The Easter long weekend is the ultimate jackpot: with Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April) already public holidays, take the 7th and 10th April off, and you'll turn 4 leave days into 10 glorious days off from 3-12 April! 

Take 2 days of annual leave on the 5th and 9th June to turn the King's Birthday long weekend into 4 days of annual leave.

The same applies to the upcoming Labour Day long weekend — score an impressive 9 days off  by taking annual leave on 6-9 October.  

You can repeat the trick coming into the new year, too. Book 27-30 January after Australia Day (Mon 26 Jan) as annual leave for nine glorious days off!

Consider it the workplace equivalent of finding a cheat code—maximum holidays, minimal annual leave!

Useful Resources and Vouchers For NSW Parents

Planning around NSW school holidays and term dates can make family life much easier, especially when it comes to organising childcare, activities and family holidays. Check out our recommended resources and vouchers for NSW families.

School Holiday Calendars

The NSW Department of Education publishes official school calendars each year so parents can see exactly when terms start, when holidays fall, and when school development days occur. 

NSW Government Voucher Programs For Families

Alongside term dates, parents should also keep an eye on NSW Government voucher programs that help reduce the cost of kids' activities. One of the most useful is the Active and Creative Kids Voucher, which provides two $50 vouchers per eligible child each year to help cover the cost of sport, recreation, creative or cultural programs such as dance, music, art classes, and organised sport.

These vouchers are typically released twice a year (January and July) and can be used with registered providers across NSW. If you haven’t used a previous voucher, it can sometimes be combined with a new one, potentially giving families up to $100 off activity fees.

Another helpful program for families is the NSW Government's Youth Development Scholarships, which provide $1,000 to help cover education-related expenses for eligible students. The scholarship is designed for young people living in social housing or out-of-home care, helping reduce the financial barriers that can make it harder to stay engaged in school or training.

Where to Go With Kids During the NSW School Holidays 2026

Now that you've got the NSW school holidays 2026 dates, all you need is a destination!

Paradise Resort Gold Coast 

Looking for a stress-free family holiday? Paradise Resort Gold Coast’s Doin’ It for the Kids deal includes meals for kids, Kids Club, resort activities and waterpark fun from $899. There is also a full program of daily entertainment running throughout the resort. Perfect for Aussie families who want everything in one spot!

The Doin’ It for the Kids package is available for travel on selected dates until March 2027, making it a smart option for school holidays and long weekends. Book now!

Top NSW Holiday Ideas

NSW has some epic family holiday spots that are affordable and jam-packed with activities, so thankfully, you don't even need to leave the state.

Here are our top NSW holiday ideas for some creative inspiration.

• Best Family Farmstays Near Sydney
• Best Places to Take the Kids Glamping Near Sydney
• Best Winter Getaways For Families And Kids Near Sydney
• Top Treehouse Accommodation In NSW And Surrounds
• Best Holiday Parks For Kids And Families Near Sydney
• Where You Can Stay In A Lighthouse In NSW
• Best Kid-Friendly Hotels In NSW
• The Best Family-Friendly Eco Resorts In NSW
• Best Caravan Park Holidays In NSW

More Family Holiday Inspo

ellaslist Reviews: The Gold Coast - An Action-Packed Getaway in Australia’s Holiday Playground
The Top Family Resorts in Fiji
Resorts With Kids' Clubs in Australia

Have you signed up for our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!