Minister Gwarube, acting under section 3(4)(k) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996, confirmed the 2026 school calendar's publication.
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.
Process Behind Calendar Development
The DBE employs a structured multi-stage procedure to finalise the annual school calendar. This involves drafting a preliminary calendar, soliciting feedback from provincial education departments and stakeholders, and subsequent review by a dedicated subcommittee. Following public consultation, the subcommittee reassesses the calendar based on public input. The revised calendar is then submitted for evaluation and recommendation to the council. Once approved by the council, the Minister of Basic Education authorises its publication via the Government Gazette, the DBE website, and social media platforms.
Key Dates for the 2026 Academic Year
The 2026 school year will commence on 14 January 2026 and conclude on 9 December 2026, encompassing 200 school days over 43 weeks for teaching, learning, and examinations.
2026 Term Dates Outlined
- Term 1: 14 January – 27 March
- Term 2: 8 April - 26 June
- Term 3: 21 July - 2 October
- Term 4: 13 October - 9 December
Public Holidays Observed in 2026
The 2026 calendar incorporates the following 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
- 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
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Preparations Underway for 2026
Despite the 2026 school year being several months away, the DBE has initiated preparatory measures to optimise teaching and learning time.
