Printable 2026 School Calendar for South Africa
The whole 2026 public school year on one A4 page: term days, school holidays and public holidays. Print it for the fridge or save it as a PDF.
2026 school calendar
South African public schools
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Terms
- Term 1: Wed, 14 January – Fri, 27 March
- Term 2: Wed, 8 April – Fri, 26 June
- Term 3: Tue, 21 July – Wed, 23 September
- Term 4: Tue, 6 October – Wed, 9 December (or 11 December)
200 school days. Mon, 15 June: special school holiday.
Public holidays
- 1 January: New Year’s Day
- 21 March: Human Rights Day
- 3 April: Good Friday
- 6 April: Family Day
- 27 April: Freedom Day
- 1 May: Workers’ Day
- 16 June: Youth Day
- 9 August: National Women’s Day
- 10 August: National Women’s Day (observed)
- 24 September: Heritage Day
- 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: DBE: Published 2026 School Calendar (Government Gazette, 25 Feb 2025). Free from noadmin.co.za
More for the 2026 school year
Get a countdown and add the terms to your phone calendar on School terms 2026. Your child goes to an independent school? Use private school term dates. Planning leave around the holidays: leave planner. Other years: 2027.
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How it works
The term dates come from the Department of Basic Education’s published 2026 school calendar. Public holidays follow the Public Holidays Act: when one falls on a Sunday, the Monday after is also a holiday.
Dates are learner dates for public schools in every province. Teachers usually start a few days earlier and finish a few days later. Independent schools set their own calendars.
Figures last checked against official sources on .
Questions
Can I print the 2026 school calendar on one page?
Yes. Press “Print calendar” and it fits on one A4 page, with all twelve months, the term dates and the public holidays. Choose “Save as PDF” in the print window to keep a copy on your phone or share it.
When does school open and close in 2026?
Public schools open for learners on Wed, 14 January 2026 and close on Wed, 9 December 2026.
Does this calendar work for private schools?
It shows the public school calendar from the Department of Basic Education. Many independent schools set their own terms; use the private school term dates tool to check yours.
Can schools print and hand this out?
Yes. Schools, crèches and aftercare centres are welcome to print and share it with parents.