The 2026 school calendar has been officially gazetted by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, outlining crucial dates for the upcoming academic year. The announcement, published on 25 February 2025, follows a rigorous consultation process.
I, Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, acting in terms of section 3(4)(k) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996, (Act No. 27 of 1996), and after consultation with the Council of Education Ministers, hereby publish the 2026 Calendar for public schools in South Africa as detailed in the accompanying schedule
Comprehensive Process Underpins Calendar Finalisation
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) employs a multi-stage approach to finalise the annual school calendar. This process begins with a preliminary draft, distributed to provincial education departments and key stakeholders for initial feedback.
A subcommittee then reviews and refines the calendar, before submitting it for public consultation. Following public input, the subcommittee reconvenes, and the revised calendar is presented to a committee for evaluation and recommendation to the council.
The council's decision led to the Minister's approval, with the calendar published in the Government Gazette, on the DBE website, and via social media.
Key Dates for 2026 Academic Year Revealed
The 2026 school year will commence on 14 January 2026 and conclude on 9 December 2026. The calendar allocates 200 school days across 43 weeks for teaching, learning, and examinations.
Term Dates and Public Holidays Outlined
The 2026 school terms are as follows:
- Term 1: 14 January – 27 March (Teachers begin 12 January)
- Term 2: 8 April - 26 June
- Term 3: 21 July - 2 October
- Term 4: 13 October - 9 December (Teachers conclude 11 December)
The following public holidays are included in the 2026 calendar:
- 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
- 15 June: Special School Holiday
- 16 June: Youth Day
- 9 August: National Women’s Day
- 10 August: Public Holiday
- 24 September: Heritage Day
- 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Preparations Underway for Optimal Learning Time
Despite the 2026 school year being months away, the DBE has initiated preparations to maximise teaching and learning time.
