Queensland schools run on a four-term year, with term dates set by the Queensland Department of Education. This guide covers the official 2027 term dates, school holidays, staff professional development days and public holidays, so families in Brisbane and across Queensland can plan the year ahead. Independent and Catholic schools often follow similar dates, but always check your school's calendar.
QLD State School Term Dates 2027
These are the official 2027 term dates for Queensland state schools, published by the Queensland Department of Education.
| Term | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed 27 Jan – Thu 25 Mar | 9 weeks |
| Term 2 | Mon 12 Apr – Fri 25 Jun | 11 weeks |
| Term 3 | Mon 12 Jul – Fri 17 Sep | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Tue 5 Oct – Fri 10 Dec | 10 weeks |
📌 Staff professional development days (student-free): Thu 21, Fri 22 and Mon 25 January (before Term 1), Thu 8 and Fri 9 April (during the autumn holidays) and Fri 3 September (during Term 3).
QLD School Holidays 2027
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Holidays 2026–27 | Sat 12 Dec 2026 – Tue 26 Jan 2027 |
| Autumn Holidays | Fri 26 Mar – Sun 11 Apr 2027 |
| Winter Holidays | Sat 26 Jun – Sun 11 Jul 2027 |
| Spring Holidays | Sat 18 Sep – Mon 4 Oct 2027 |
| Summer Holidays 2027–28 | Sat 11 Dec 2027 – Sun 23 Jan 2028 |
Queensland Public Holidays in 2027
These are the public holidays in Queensland, as listed by the Queensland Government.
| Public Holiday | Date 2027 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan |
| Australia Day | Tue 26 Jan |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 Mar |
| The day after Good Friday | Sat 27 Mar |
| Easter Sunday | Sun 28 Mar |
| Easter Monday | Mon 29 Mar |
| Anzac Day (observed) | Mon 26 Apr |
| Labour Day | Mon 3 May |
| Royal Queensland Show (Ekka), Brisbane area only | Wed 11 Aug |
| King's Birthday | Mon 4 Oct |
| Christmas Eve (6 pm to midnight) | Fri 24 Dec |
| Christmas Day | Sat 25 Dec and Mon 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Sun 26 Dec and Tue 28 Dec |
📌 Because Anzac Day falls on a Sunday in 2027, Queensland observes the public holiday on Monday 26 April. Many regional areas have their own show holiday instead of the Ekka holiday.
What's Different About 2027?
- Term 1 is only nine weeks. It finishes on Thursday 25 March, so the autumn holidays start on Good Friday and include the whole Easter long weekend.
- Term 2 is longer than usual, at 11 weeks, and includes two public holidays: Anzac Day (observed) on Monday 26 April and Labour Day on Monday 3 May.
- Term 3 has two days off for Brisbane students. The Ekka public holiday is on Wednesday 11 August, and Friday 3 September is a student-free staff professional development day.
- Term 4 starts on a Tuesday. Monday 4 October is the King's Birthday public holiday, so students return on Tuesday 5 October.
Planning the 2027 School Year
Term dates are a great starting point for planning the whole year, not just holidays:
- Year 11 and 12 students: Understand how the QCE works, and see how internal assessments are spread across the terms in our guide to IA1, IA2 and IA3.
- QCE external exams in Term 4: External assessments are held across late October and November. See how they were scheduled in our QCE exam timetable 2026 guide, and follow our step-by-step guide to preparing for QCE external exams.
- Years 3, 5, 7 and 9: NAPLAN is held in Term 1. Read our analysis of recent results for Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9.
- Every student: Use the holidays to reset and plan ahead with our guide to creating a study plan that works.
Quick Summary for Families
School year start and finish
- Term 1 starts: Wed 27 Jan 2027
- Term 4 ends: Fri 10 Dec 2027
Holiday periods
- Autumn: late March to mid-April (including Easter)
- Winter: late June to mid-July
- Spring: mid-September to early October
- Summer: mid-December to late January
Key Queensland public holidays
Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day (observed Monday 26 April), Labour Day (3 May), the Ekka (Brisbane, 11 August), King's Birthday (4 October), and Christmas and Boxing Day.
School Dates in Other States
Planning around family or school commitments interstate? See our 2027 guides for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Want Extra Support in 2027?
Our Brisbane tutors offer one-on-one support in person and online for students from Year 1 to Year 12, including specialist QCE tutors.
