The Department of Education’s term dates page says that dates for 2027, 2028 and 2029 are listed on a separate future school dates page. The 2026 term and holiday dates below come from the department’s term dates page as it stood on 9 November 2026, which shows a last-updated date of 22 January 2026. The other facts come from the department’s holidays and staff development pages, the Queensland Government’s outside school hours care page and Brisbane City Council’s school holiday events page. For 2027 term dates, see our separate article Queensland School Term Dates for 2027, which is why 2027 dates are not repeated here.
How the Queensland school year is built
The department’s pages describe Queensland state schools, which provide 40 school weeks each year, with a rare cyclical exception of 41. The department lists the holidays as six weeks over summer, two weeks around Easter, two weeks at the end of Semester 1 and two weeks in the middle of Semester 2. The four terms are set to be as balanced as possible, averaging 10 weeks each. Schools also close for one extra day a year, either an appointed show holiday or a day off in lieu. This guide has no department source for non-state school calendars.
The 2026 calendar, as at 9 November 2026
Per the department’s current-year page, the 2026 state school terms are:
- Term 1 runs Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April.
- Term 2 runs Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June.
- Term 3 runs Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September.
- Term 4 runs Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December.
The holidays between them are:
- After Term 1, Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, which is 17 days.
- After Term 2, Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July, which is 16 days.
- After Term 3, Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October, which is 17 days.
- Summer, Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027, which is 46 days.
Staff development days
State schools have five staff professional development days a year: two fixed days at the end of the summer holidays and two flexible days during the Easter holidays. One further day falls in the third last week of Term 3. The department lists the 2026 days as Thursday 22 and Friday 23 January, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April and Friday 4 September. Students are not required to attend on the Term 3 day.
When older students finish
Prep to Year 9 in state schools finish on the last day of Term 4. Years 10 and 11 usually finish two weeks before the end of Term 4, and sometimes three. Year 12 usually finishes three weeks before the end of Term 4, and sometimes four.
Some schools follow a different summer. The department says some state schools have a seven-week summer holiday that starts one week before the rest of Queensland. These are schools north of 16 degrees south latitude and west of 144 degrees east longitude, or in listed towns such as Charleville and Longreach. At 9 November 2026, the department’s list names 69 such schools.
Outside school hours care
The Queensland Government describes before and after school care, commonly called outside school hours care, as supervised relaxation and play before school, after school or during school holidays. As at 9 November 2026, the page says it is generally provided from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm, and for 10 to 12 hours a day during school holidays and pupil free days. Treat these hours with caution: the page was last updated on 26 September 2017. Services are delivered in places such as schools, youth clubs and community centres.
The page lists these points:
- On a state school site the service operates separately from the school, so enrolling at the school does not guarantee a place.
- Each service has its own working hours and fee structure.
- Where demand is high, the local service decides which children get priority.
- Most services are approved by the Australian Government, so you may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy.
To find a service, the page (as at 9 November 2026) directs parents to enter an address, postcode or suburb on the Childcare Finder website, where vacancies and fees can also be searched. Because the page was last updated in 2017, its Childcare Finder link and the fee and priority wording may be out of date. National standards apply to most services, including a quality rating system. Before a child starts, the page suggests discussing what they need to bring each day and whether meals are provided. This 26 September 2017 last-updated date is the page’s own, so confirm hours, fees and the finder link with the service or current Queensland Government information.
Council holiday activities
Brisbane City Council’s school holiday events page points parents to its What’s on calendar, which can be searched by date, location or category and includes free and low-cost activities. Event types include workshops, outdoor activities such as Move Well Brisbane events, library programs, and shows and exhibitions. Council says some activities require bookings and advises securing a place early. It also advises checking dates, times, costs, age limits and accessibility details before attending, and notes that listings are updated regularly and may change. The page links to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, where opening hours and show times are listed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find official Queensland school holiday dates?
The Department of Education’s term dates page covers 2026 and says dates for 2027, 2028 and 2029 are on a separate future school dates page. See our separate article for 2027.
Does enrolling at a state school guarantee a place in its before and after school care?
No. The Queensland Government says the service operates separately from the school, and in high-demand areas the local service decides who gets priority.
How long is the Queensland summer school holiday in 2026-27?
The department lists it as Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027, 46 days, at 9 November 2026.
How do I find school holiday activities in Brisbane?
Brisbane City Council’s What’s on calendar can be searched by date, location or category. Some activities require bookings.
