Melbourne Notes
By MELB_NOTE
The short answer
Term 4 2026 in Victorian government schools runs from Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026. The summer school holidays run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, and students start back on Thursday 28 January 2027 in government schools. Term 1 2027 begins on Wednesday 27 January and ends on Thursday 25 March. These are the dates the Victorian Government lists, and they can change, so check the page before you book.
This guide sets out the Victorian school term dates for 2026 and 2027 as the Victorian Government page School term dates and holidays in Victoria lists them. We read that one page on 27 October 2026 (Melbourne time) and used no other source. It covers government schools and kindergartens. It does not cover pupil-free days or school-specific days.
30-second summary
- Term 4 2026: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026.
- Summer holidays: Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027.
- Students start Thursday 28 January 2027 in government schools.
- 2027 terms: 27 January to 25 March, 12 April to 25 June, 12 July to 17 September, and 4 October to 17 December.
- Non-government schools may differ, so check your school.
Term 4 2026 in Victorian government schools ends on Friday 18 December
The Victorian Government page shows Term 4 as running from Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026. The page lists the school holidays that follow as Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Students in government schools start back on Thursday 28 January 2027.
The 2026 term dates are four terms from 27 January to 18 December
The page lists four terms for 2026:
- Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April. Students start on Wednesday 28 January in government schools.
- Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June.
- Term 3: Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September.
- Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December.
The diagram lays the four terms out on a calendar line. The gaps between terms are our own derivation from the term dates: 2 April to 20 April, 26 June to 13 July and 18 September to 5 October. After Term 4 come the summer holidays, which the page lists as 21 December 2026 to 27 January 2027.
The 2027 term dates start on 27 January and end on 17 December
For 2027 the page lists these dates:
- Term 1: Wednesday 27 January to Thursday 25 March. Students start on Thursday 28 January in government schools.
- Term 2: Monday 12 April to Friday 25 June.
- Term 3: Monday 12 July to Friday 17 September.
- Term 4: Monday 4 October to Friday 17 December.
The derived gaps in 2027 are 25 March to 12 April, 25 June to 12 July and 17 September to 4 October. The table also shows the page’s 2028 dates beside 2027.
Term dates are set by the Minister for Education in five-year blocks under Regulation 13 of the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017. The page says the 2021 to 2025 dates were approved on 4 April 2016 and the 2026 to 2030 dates on 28 June 2021.
Students start on 28 January, a day after Term 1 begins, in both 2026 and 2027
The page gives two dates for the start of Term 1. Term 1 itself starts on 27 January in both years: a Tuesday in 2026 and a Wednesday in 2027. For students in government schools, the page gives the start as 28 January: a Wednesday in 2026 and a Thursday in 2027.
The summer holidays that end the 2026 school year are listed as running until Wednesday 27 January 2027, and students start on Thursday 28 January 2027.
Check your own school before you book
The page covers government schools and kindergartens in Victoria. Non-government schools may set different dates, so check your school before you book.
The page also does not cover pupil-free days or other school-specific days. Your school will tell you about those. Dates can change, so check the School term dates and holidays in Victoria page for the current version.
The same page links to public holidays in Victoria, VCAA administrative dates and the VCE exam timetable. We did not read those pages. If you are planning around the spring racing dates, see our Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026: Dates for Derby Day, Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
Questions people ask
When does Term 4 end in 2026?
Term 4 ends on Friday 18 December 2026 in Victorian government schools, according to the Victorian Government page. It began on Monday 5 October 2026.
When do Victorian school summer holidays start?
The summer holidays start on Monday 21 December 2026 and run to Wednesday 27 January 2027.
When do students go back in January 2027?
Students start on Thursday 28 January 2027 in government schools. Term 1 begins the day before, on Wednesday 27 January.
When do school terms start in 2027?
Term 1 starts on Wednesday 27 January, Term 2 on Monday 12 April, Term 3 on Monday 12 July and Term 4 on Monday 4 October 2027.
Who sets the Victorian school term dates?
The Minister for Education sets them in five-year blocks under Regulation 13 of the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017. The 2026 to 2030 dates were approved on 28 June 2021.
Sources and scope
We read the text of this page on 27 October 2026 (Melbourne time) and used no other source.
Photo credits:
- Cover: Misaochan2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Bathing houses at Brighton Beach, Melbourne, dated 1 January 2020 per Exif data on the Commons page.
- Canterbury School: Pru.mitchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Dated 19 April 2020 on the Commons page.
- Viewbank Primary School: BobTanGo, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Dated 17 October 2024 on the Commons page.
- Diagrams: drawn by MELB NOTE from the source above.
Scope: These are the dates for Victorian government schools and kindergartens as the Victorian Government page lists them on 27 October 2026. They can change, so check the page. Gaps between terms are derived by us. The page does not cover pupil-free days or school-specific days.
