Here are the official term dates and school holidays for Gauteng’s public schools in 2026 and 2027, from the Department of Basic Education’s gazetted school calendars. The same calendar applies to public schools in every province.
Next up: schools close for the year on Wednesday, 9 December 2026 and reopen on Wednesday, 13 January 2027.
Last checked: October 2026.
School Calendar 2026: Term Dates
| Term | Schools open | Schools close |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 | Friday, 27 March 2026 |
| Term 2 | Wednesday, 8 April 2026 | Friday, 26 June 2026 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday, 21 July 2026 | Wednesday, 23 September 2026 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday, 6 October 2026 | Wednesday, 9 December 2026 |
The 2026 school year has 200 school days for learners. Teachers start two days earlier, on 12 January, and finish two days later, on 11 December, for administration.
School Holidays 2026
- Autumn (Easter) holidays: schools close on Friday, 27 March and reopen on Wednesday, 8 April.
- Winter holidays: schools close on Friday, 26 June and reopen on Tuesday, 21 July.
- Spring holidays: schools close on Wednesday, 23 September and reopen on Tuesday, 6 October.
- December holidays: schools close on Wednesday, 9 December 2026 and reopen on Wednesday, 13 January 2027.
- Special school holiday: Monday, 15 June 2026, the day before Youth Day.
Public holidays that fall in term time in 2026 are Freedom Day (Monday, 27 April), Workers’ Day (Friday, 1 May), Youth Day (Tuesday, 16 June) and National Women’s Day, observed on Monday, 10 August.
School Calendar 2027: Term Dates
| Term | Schools open | Schools close |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday, 13 January 2027 | Friday, 19 March 2027 |
| Term 2 | Tuesday, 6 April 2027 | Friday, 25 June 2027 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday, 20 July 2027 | Wednesday, 22 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday, 5 October 2027 | Wednesday, 8 December 2027 |
The 2027 school year has 197 school days for learners. Teachers start on 11 January and finish on 10 December 2027.
School Holidays 2027
- Autumn (Easter) holidays: schools close on Friday, 19 March and reopen on Tuesday, 6 April.
- Winter holidays: schools close on Friday, 25 June and reopen on Tuesday, 20 July.
- Spring holidays: schools close on Wednesday, 22 September and reopen on Tuesday, 5 October.
- December holidays: schools close on Wednesday, 8 December 2027.
- Special school holiday: Monday, 26 April 2027, the day before Freedom Day.
Public holidays that fall in term time in 2027 are Freedom Day (Tuesday, 27 April), Youth Day (Wednesday, 16 June) and National Women’s Day (Monday, 9 August).
Official Sources
These dates come from the Department of Basic Education’s calendars for public schools, published in the Government Gazette on 25 February 2025: the 2026 school calendar (PDF) and the 2027 school calendar (PDF). Independent (private) schools set their own term dates, so check with your school.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do schools close in December 2026?
Public schools close for learners on Wednesday, 9 December 2026. Teachers work until 11 December.
When do schools open in 2027?
Learners return on Wednesday, 13 January 2027. Teachers start on 11 January 2027.
Does Gauteng have different school holidays from other provinces?
No. The Department of Basic Education’s calendar applies to public schools in all provinces, so Gauteng’s term dates and holidays are the same as the rest of the country.
How many school days are there in 2026 and 2027?
Learners have 200 school days in 2026 and 197 in 2027, according to the calendar summaries, after public holidays are taken out.
When is the matric exam period?
The 2026 matric final exams run from 13 October to 26 November. See our full matric exam timetable.