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South African School Terms 2026 and 2027

Public-school term dates for South Africa, based on the Department of Basic Education national calendar. Use this page to plan holidays, exam prep, and tutoring around the school year - the URL stays the same each year while the dates update.
2026 terms2027 terms

2026 school terms

  • Term 1
    Opens
    14 January 2026
    Closes
    27 March 2026
  • Term 2
    Opens
    8 April 2026
    Closes
    26 June 2026

    Includes Easter, Freedom Day, Workers Day, and Youth Day holidays

  • Term 3
    Opens
    21 July 2026
    Closes
    23 September 2026

    National Women's Day observed 10 August 2026

  • Term 4This term
    Opens
    6 October 2026
    Closes
    9 December 2026

2027 school terms

Educators report on 11 January 2027. Learner dates are below.

  • Term 1
    Opens
    13 January 2027
    Closes
    19 March 2027
  • Term 2
    Opens
    6 April 2027
    Closes
    25 June 2027

    Includes Freedom Day and Youth Day holidays

  • Term 3
    Opens
    20 July 2027
    Closes
    22 September 2027
  • Term 4
    Opens
    5 October 2027
    Closes
    8 December 2027

Add the terms to your calendar

Download the school terms calendar (.ics). It lists public-school term dates for 2026 and 2027. Powered by Global Tutors.

Download the calendar

Public holidays and school holidays

Public holidays that fall in school terms reduce teaching days. Independent and private schools may follow a different calendar - confirm with your school. For the published national dates, see the 2026 public school calendar (PDF). Western Cape and other provincial education departments publish planning calendars that follow the same national learner dates.

Questions about school terms

When are the 2026 South African public school terms?
Term 1 opens 14 January 2026 and closes 27 March 2026. Term 2 opens 8 April 2026 and closes 26 June 2026. Term 3 opens 21 July 2026 and closes 23 September 2026. Term 4 opens 6 October 2026 and closes 9 December 2026. These are learner dates for public schools and are the same in all nine provinces.
When are the 2027 South African public school terms?
Term 1 opens 13 January 2027 and closes 19 March 2027. Term 2 opens 6 April 2027 and closes 25 June 2027. Term 3 opens 20 July 2027 and closes 22 September 2027. Term 4 opens 5 October 2027 and closes 8 December 2027. Educators report on 11 January 2027. Term 2 has a special school holiday on 26 April 2027.
Do private and IEB schools use these dates?
Independent and IEB schools set their own term dates. Tell readers to confirm with their school.
Where do these school term dates come from?
DBE gazetted national calendar for public schools (2026; 2027 Government Gazette 52178, 25 Feb 2025). Learner dates. Same dates in all nine provinces.

How tutoring fits the school calendar

Most families book extra lessons in the run-up to June exams, prelims, and final NSC or IEB papers. Online sessions can start mid-term or in the holidays - whichever fits your child's load.

Dates shown are learner open/close days from the national public-school calendar. Educator reporting days may start or end one or two days earlier or later. Always confirm with your school.

Need a tutor before exams?

Match with an online tutor for IEB, CAPS/NSC, Cambridge or IB - scheduled around your school terms.

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