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Northern Territory school holidays 2026–27

Next break: Summer holidays, 11 December 2026 to 26 January 2027. Here is every break in the 2027 school year, the public holidays, and a calendar you can add in one tap.

Dates from NT Department of Education (government schools), via nt.gov.au. Most NT government schools follow these dates; Gunbalanya School has a flexible school year. Regional show day holidays apply only in their show regions.

Looking for 2024 or 2025? We only publish the current and next school years, so the dates above are the ones that apply now.

Checked against official sources on 19 October 2026

The 2027 school year

The year at a glance

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Summer holidays 2026-27, 11 Dec 2026 to 26 Jan 2027Term 1 holidays, 5 to 12 Apr 2027Term 2 holidays (dry season), 21 Jun to 12 Jul 2027Term 3 holidays, 20 Sep to 4 Oct 2027Summer holidays 2027-28, from 10 Dec 2027
  • Spring, March and Easter
  • Summer
  • Public holiday
All dates

Northern Territory school holiday dates

2026

Confirmed
BreakDatesSchool days off
First day of schoolThu 29 January 2026
Term 1 holidays (Easter)Students return Tuesday 14 April (teachers Monday 13 April). Fri 3 Apr – Mon 13 Apr 2026 7
Term 2 holidays (dry season)Students return Tuesday 14 July. Mon 22 Jun – Mon 13 Jul 2026 16
Term 3 holidaysStudents return Tuesday 6 October. Mon 21 Sep – Mon 5 Oct 2026 11
Summer holidays 2026-27Students finish Thursday 10 December 2026 and return Wednesday 27 January 2027. Fri 11 Dec – Tue 26 Jan 2027 33
Last day of the school yearThu 10 December 2026

Term dates

  • Term 129 Jan to 2 Apr 2026
  • Term 214 Apr to 19 Jun 2026
  • Term 314 Jul to 18 Sep 2026
  • Term 46 Oct to 10 Dec 2026

Source: NT Government, School term and holiday dates in NT

2027

Confirmed
BreakDatesSchool days off
First day of schoolWed 27 January 2027
Term 1 holidaysStudents return Tuesday 13 April. Easter (26 to 29 March) falls in Term 1. Mon 5 Apr – Mon 12 Apr 2027 6
Term 2 holidays (dry season)Students return Tuesday 13 July. Mon 21 Jun – Mon 12 Jul 2027 16
Term 3 holidaysStudents return Tuesday 5 October. Mon 20 Sep – Mon 4 Oct 2027 11
Summer holidays 2027-28Students finish Thursday 9 December 2027; 2028 dates not yet confirmed. From Fri 10 Dec 2027 –
Last day of the school yearThu 9 December 2027

Term dates

  • Term 127 Jan to 2 Apr 2027
  • Term 213 Apr to 18 Jun 2027
  • Term 313 Jul to 17 Sep 2027
  • Term 45 Oct to 9 Dec 2027

Source: NT Government, School term and holiday dates in NT

Dates are inclusive school days off, Monday to Friday. Individual schools can add closure days of their own (training days, PA days, inset days), so check with your school before you book anything non-refundable.

Public holidays

Northern Territory public holidays 2027

Long weekends move demand as much as school breaks do. Where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day off in lieu is listed.

Source: NT Government, NT public and regional holidays

Long weekends 2027: the leave that turns these into week-long breaks →

  1. New Year's DayFriday · long weekend
  2. Australia DayTuesday
  3. Good FridayFriday · long weekend
  4. Easter SaturdaySaturday
  5. Easter SundaySunday
  6. Easter MondayMonday · long weekend
  7. Anzac Day (observed)Monday · long weekend
  8. May DayMonday · long weekend
  9. King's BirthdayMonday · long weekend
  10. Alice Springs Show Day (regional)Friday · long weekend
  11. Tennant Creek Show Day (regional)Friday · long weekend
  12. Katherine Show Day (regional)Friday · long weekend
  13. Darwin Show Day (regional)Friday · long weekend
  14. Picnic DayMonday · long weekend
  15. Borroloola Show Day (regional)Friday · long weekend
  16. Christmas Eve (part day, 7pm to midnight)Friday · long weekend
  17. Christmas DaySaturday
  18. Boxing DaySunday
  19. Christmas Day (additional day)Monday · long weekend
  20. Boxing Day (additional day)Tuesday
  21. New Year's Eve (part day, 7pm to midnight)Friday · long weekend
For travellers and advisors

What these dates do to demand

  • NT schools take a three-week mid-year break (21 June to 12 July 2027) in the dry season, the Top End's peak tourist period, while the January summer break falls in the wet season.
  • Picnic Day (Monday 2 August 2027) is an NT-only long weekend, and regional show days in July create local long weekends in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin.
  • The NT has a shorter December break than southern states, with students back on 27 January 2027.

Also off school during Term 1 holidays

More regions off at once means fuller flights and resorts that week. See the busiest weeks

Questions

Quick answers

When are Term 1 Holidays 2027 in Northern Territory?

Term 1 holidays are 5 to 12 April 2027, 6 school days off, according to NT Government, School term and holiday dates in NT. Most NT government schools follow these dates; Gunbalanya School has a flexible school year. Regional show day holidays apply only in their show regions.

When are the next school holidays in Northern Territory?

Summer holidays 2026-27 is 11 December 2026 to 26 January 2027, according to NT Government, School term and holiday dates in NT.

When does the 2027 school year start and end in Northern Territory?

The first day of school is Wednesday 27 January 2027 and the last day is Thursday 9 December 2027.

What are the public holidays in Northern Territory in 2027?

There are 21 public holidays: New Year's Day (1 January), Australia Day (26 January), Good Friday (26 March), Easter Saturday (27 March), Easter Sunday (28 March), Easter Monday (29 March), Anzac Day (observed) (26 April), May Day (3 May), King's Birthday (14 June), Alice Springs Show Day (regional) (2 July), Tennant Creek Show Day (regional) (9 July), Katherine Show Day (regional) (16 July), Darwin Show Day (regional) (23 July), Picnic Day (2 August), Borroloola Show Day (regional) (13 August), Christmas Eve (part day, 7pm to midnight) (24 December), Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December), Christmas Day (additional day) (27 December), Boxing Day (additional day) (28 December), New Year's Eve (part day, 7pm to midnight) (31 December).

Sources

Spotted a change? Boards sometimes revise calendars mid-year. Tell us