South Africa Public/School Holidays And Academic Calendar 2026

Academic Calendar for South African Schools. PDF

The Department of Basic Education has published the school calendar for 2026, the current and proposed school holidays for South African schools can be seen and accessible here on this page.

The Department of Basic Education published the school calendar for 2026 on 18 March 2026.

Inland cluster: Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West

Term	Duration	Number of weeks	Number of days	Number of public holidays	Actual number of school days
1	(09) 11 Jan – 24 Mar	11	53(55)	1+1	51 (53)
2	12 Apr – 23 Jun	11	53	3+1	49
3	18 Jul – 29 Sept	11	54	2	52
4	10 Oct – 13 (15) Dec	10	47 (49)	0	47 (49)
	Total	43	207 (211)	6+2	199 (203)

Coastal cluster: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Term	Duration	Number of weeks	Number of days	Number of public holidays	Actual number of school days
1	(16) 18 Jan – 31 Mar	11	53(55)	1+1	51(53)
2	12 Apr – 23 Jun	11	53	3+1	49
3	18 Jul – 29 Sept	11	54	2	52
4	10 Oct – 13 (15) Dec	10	47 (49)	0	47 (49)
	Total	43	207 (211)	6+2	199 (203)

Public and School Holidays 2026

1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
15 April: Good Friday
18 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
1 May: Workers’ Day
2 May: Public holiday (Workers’ Day observed)
16 June: Youth Day
17 June: School Holiday
8 August: School Holiday
9 August: National Women’s Day
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
27 December: Public holiday

How to Download the South Africa 2026 Academic Calendar PDF

To download the revised academic calendar, it will require an internet connection, smart phone, tablet, mac-book pro or any electronics device capable of storing documents.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2026/2026 REVISED ACADEMIC CALENDAR .