Parents planning the year can now lock in key dates after the Department of Basic Education confirmed the full 2026 public school calendar.
The school year will begin in mid-January and run through to early December, with clearly defined term breaks and public holidays.
Term dates parents should note
The school year will officially begin on 14 January, marking the start of the first term. Learners will attend classes until 27 March, followed by a short autumn break from 28 March to 7 April.
The second term will start on 8 April and conclude on 26 June. Several public holidays fall within this period, including Freedom Day on 27 April, Workers’ Day on 1 May and Youth Day on 16 June. Schools will also observe a special school holiday on 15 June, before closing for the mid-year break from 27 June to 20 July.
Classes will resume for the third term on 21 July, running until 23 September.
The fourth and final term will begin on 6 October and end on 9 December.
Preparing households for the new school year
With dates now confirmed, families across South Africa have begun preparing for the return to classrooms.
The clarity provided by the calendar allows households to budget, plan leave and arrange transport well in advance, especially for working parents who rely on school schedules.
Policy changes shaping the 2026 calendar
The department confirmed the end of staggered calendars, meaning inland and coastal schools will now operate on the same schedule.
According to the gazetted policy, “schools must open in the third week of January,” bringing uniformity nationwide and ending the system where provinces started the school year at different times.
