Victorian schools run on a four-term year, with term dates set by the Victorian Department of Education. This guide covers the official 2027 term dates, school holidays and public holidays, so families in Melbourne and across Victoria can plan the year ahead. Independent and Catholic schools generally follow similar dates, but always check your school's calendar.
Victorian School Term Dates 2027
These are the official 2027 term dates for Victorian government schools, published by the Victorian Government.
| Term | Term dates | Holiday break after |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed 27 Jan – Thu 25 Mar (students start Thu 28 Jan) | Autumn Holidays: Fri 26 Mar – Sun 11 Apr |
| Term 2 | Mon 12 Apr – Fri 25 Jun | Winter Holidays: Sat 26 Jun – Sun 11 Jul |
| Term 3 | Mon 12 Jul – Fri 17 Sep | Spring Holidays: Sat 18 Sep – Sun 3 Oct |
| Term 4 | Mon 4 Oct – Fri 17 Dec | Summer Holidays: Sat 18 Dec 2027 – Thu 27 Jan 2028 |
📌 In government schools, the first day of Term 1 is for staff only. Students start the following day.
Victorian School Holidays 2027
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Summer Holidays 2026–27 | Until Wed 27 Jan 2027 (students start Thu 28 Jan) |
| Autumn Holidays | Fri 26 Mar – Sun 11 Apr 2027 |
| Winter Holidays | Sat 26 Jun – Sun 11 Jul 2027 |
| Spring Holidays | Sat 18 Sep – Sun 3 Oct 2027 |
| Summer Holidays 2027–28 | Sat 18 Dec 2027 – Thu 27 Jan 2028 (students start Fri 28 Jan 2028) |
Victoria Public Holidays in 2027
These are the statewide public holidays in Victoria, as listed by Business Victoria. Schools are closed on these dates.
| Public Holiday | Date 2027 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan |
| Australia Day | Tue 26 Jan |
| Labour Day | Mon 8 Mar |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 Mar |
| Saturday before Easter Sunday | Sat 27 Mar |
| Easter Sunday | Sun 28 Mar |
| Easter Monday | Mon 29 Mar |
| ANZAC Day | Sun 25 Apr |
| King's Birthday | Mon 14 Jun |
| Friday before the AFL Grand Final | To be confirmed (usually the last Friday in September) |
| Melbourne Cup Day | Tue 2 Nov |
| Christmas Day | Sat 25 Dec |
| Additional Christmas Day holiday | Mon 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Sun 26 Dec |
| Additional Boxing Day holiday | Tue 28 Dec |
📌 In Victoria, there's no replacement holiday when ANZAC Day falls on a weekend. Some regional councils hold a local holiday instead of Melbourne Cup Day.
What's Different About 2027?
- Term 1 is shorter than usual. It runs for just nine weeks and finishes on Thursday 25 March, so the autumn holidays start on Good Friday.
- Easter is fully inside the autumn holidays. Good Friday to Easter Monday (26–29 March) falls at the start of the break, so there's no Easter long weekend during term.
- The AFL Grand Final public holiday will likely fall in the spring holidays. The spring break runs from 18 September to 3 October, which usually includes the last Friday in September.
- Melbourne Cup Day falls during Term 4, on Tuesday 2 November, when VCE written exams are usually underway. Year 12 students should check the 2027 VCE exam timetable once it's released.
Planning the 2027 School Year
Term dates are a great starting point for planning the whole year, not just holidays:
- VCE students: VCE written exams are held across late October and November. See how they were scheduled in our VCE exam timetable 2026 guide, and learn from tutors who got a perfect score, starting with How I Scored a 50 in VCE English.
- Starting Units 3 and 4? Get ahead with our guides to VCE command terms and VCE Maths Methods.
- 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
- Students start: Thu 28 Jan 2027
- Term 4 ends: Fri 17 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 Victorian public holidays
Australia Day, Labour Day (8 March), Easter, ANZAC Day, King's Birthday, AFL Grand Final Friday and Melbourne Cup Day (2 November).
School Dates in Other States
Planning around family or school commitments interstate? See our 2027 guides for Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Want Extra Support in 2027?
Our Melbourne tutors offer one-on-one support in person and online for students from Year 1 to Year 12, including specialist VCE tutors.
