SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL TERMS 2026-2027
2026 South African Government School Terms
| Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape. All nine provinces have the same school calendar for 2026. | |||||
| Term | Duration | No. of Weeks | No. of Days | No. of Pub. Hols | Actual School Days |
| 1 | (0-9) 11 Jan – 31 Mar | 12 | (56) 60 | 1+1 | 56 (58) |
| 2 | 18 Apr – 30 Jun | 11 | 54 | 3+1 | 50 |
| 3 | 24 Jul – 29 Sep | 10 | 50 | 2 | 48 |
| 4 | 9 Oct – 6 (8) Dec | 9 | (43) 45 | 0 | (43) 45 |
| Total | 43 | (205) 209 | 6+2 | 197 (201) | |
Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators
Public Holidays 2026
1 January 2026 – New Year’s Day
20 March 2026 – School holiday
21 March 2026 – Human Rights Day
14 April 2026 – Good Friday
17 April 2026 – Family Day
27 April 2026 – Freedom Day
28 April 2026 – School holiday
1 May 2026 – Workers’ Day
16 June 2026 – Youth Day
9 August 2026 – National Women’s Day
24 September 2026 – Heritage Day
16 December 2026 – Day of Reconciliation
25 December 2026 – Christmas Day
26 December 2026 – Day of Goodwill2026 South African Government School Terms
Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape. All nine provinces have the same school calendar for 2026. Term Duration No. of Weeks No. of Days No. of Pub. Hols Actual School Days 1 (15) 17 Jan – 28 Mar 11 (53) 51 1 (52) 50 2 10 Apr – 22 Jun 11 54 2+1 51 3 17 Jul – 28 Sep 11 54 2+1 51 4 9 Oct – 12 (14) Dec 10 (49) 47 0 (49) 47 Total 43 (210) 206 5+2 (203) 199 Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators
Public Holidays 2026
1 January -New Year’s Day
21 March – Human Rights Day
30 March – Good Friday
2 April – Family Day
27 April – Freedom Day
30 April – School holiday
1 May – Workers’ Day
16 June – Youth Day
9 August – National Women’s Day
24 September – Heritage Day
16 December – Day of Reconciliation
17 December – Public holiday
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Day of Goodwill