New Zealand school calendar

School term dates

Check term dates and school holidays for 2026, 2027 and 2028. See what's happening now or add the dates to your calendar.

Right now
Term 3 is under way
Ends Fri, 25 Sept · 32 days to go
Next break
26 Sept – 11 Oct
Starts in 5 weeks · Term 3 holidays
4
terms a year
4
holiday breaks
3
years covered

2026

This year

  1. Term 1

    10 weeks
    2 Feb – 2 Apr
    Schools start between 26 Jan – 9 Feb
    6 Feb · Waitangi Day

  2. Term 1 holidays

    17 days
    Fri, 3 Apr – Sun, 19 Apr
    3 Apr · Good Friday6 Apr · Easter Monday7 Apr · Easter Tuesday

  3. Term 2

    11 weeks
    20 Apr – 3 Jul
    27 Apr · Anzac Day (observed)1 Jun · King's Birthday

  4. Term 2 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 4 Jul – Sun, 19 Jul
    10 Jul · Matariki

  5. Term 3

    Current term
    10 weeks
    20 Jul – 25 Sept

  6. Term 3 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 26 Sept – Sun, 11 Oct

  7. Term 4

    10 weeks
    12 Oct – 18 Dec
    26 Oct · Labour Day

  8. Summer holidays

    44 days
    Sat, 19 Dec – Sun, 31 Jan

Upcoming

Looking ahead

2027
Term 1 starts 1 Feb · Term 4 ends 17 Dec

  1. Term 1

    11 weeks
    1 Feb – 9 Apr
    Schools start between 28 Jan – 3 Feb
    8 Feb · Waitangi Day (observed)26 Mar · Good Friday29 Mar · Easter Monday30 Mar · Easter Tuesday

  2. Term 1 holidays

    17 days
    Sat, 10 Apr – Mon, 26 Apr
    26 Apr · Anzac Day (observed)

  3. Term 2

    10 weeks
    27 Apr – 2 Jul
    7 Jun · King's Birthday25 Jun · Matariki

  4. Term 2 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 3 Jul – Sun, 18 Jul

  5. Term 3

    10 weeks
    19 Jul – 24 Sept

  6. Term 3 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 25 Sept – Sun, 10 Oct

  7. Term 4

    10 weeks
    11 Oct – 17 Dec
    25 Oct · Labour Day

  8. Summer holidays

    44 days
    Sat, 18 Dec – Sun, 30 Jan
2028
Term 1 starts 31 Jan · Term 4 ends 15 Dec

  1. Term 1

    11 weeks
    31 Jan – 13 Apr
    Schools start between 31 Jan – 8 Feb
    7 Feb · Waitangi Day (observed)

  2. Term 1 holidays

    17 days
    Fri, 14 Apr – Sun, 30 Apr
    14 Apr · Good Friday17 Apr · Easter Monday18 Apr · Easter Tuesday25 Apr · Anzac Day

  3. Term 2

    10 weeks
    1 May – 7 Jul
    5 Jun · King's Birthday

  4. Term 2 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 8 Jul – Sun, 23 Jul
    14 Jul · Matariki

  5. Term 3

    10 weeks
    24 Jul – 29 Sept

  6. Term 3 holidays

    16 days
    Sat, 30 Sept – Sun, 15 Oct

  7. Term 4

    9 weeks
    16 Oct – 15 Dec
    23 Oct · Labour Day

  8. Summer holidays

    47 days
    Sat, 16 Dec – Wed, 31 Jan

FAQs

Common questions

When are the next NZ school holidays?
The next school holidays start Sat, 26 Sept and run through Sun, 11 Oct. School returns the following Monday.
When does Term 2 start in 2026?
Monday 20 April 2026. Term 2 runs through Friday 3 July 2026.
Do private schools use the same term dates?
State and state-integrated schools follow the Ministry of Education dates shown here. Private schools set their own dates, so check with the school directly.
Why does Term 1 have a date range for the start?
Schools have a window in late January or early February to start Term 1, so the exact first day varies. The range shown is the official Ministry of Education window. Check with your school for its date.
Do public holidays mean schools are closed?
Yes. Schools close for gazetted public holidays that fall on a weekday during term. The relevant dates are shown with each term above.

Dates shown are the official Ministry of Education term dates for state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand. The school year runs from late January to mid-December. Private schools set their own dates and may vary slightly.

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