Summer from 2026 to 2027
Summer holidays 2026/27 in New Zealand: when school finishes and goes back
| What | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Term 4 2026 ends | No later than | A school that has met its half-day minimum may close earlier |
| Summer holidays start | No later than | From each school’s own closing date |
| Every state school closed | to | 28 weekdays, 40 days in all; worked out from the published dates |
| Term 1 2027 opens | Between and | Each school chooses its first day inside the window |
| Length as the Ministry states it | 5 or 6 weeks, from the school’s closing date until its opening date the following year | |
Key facts
- Summer closure for all state schools Calculated
- 28 weekdays (40 days in all) from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, when every state school is closed
- Summer weekdays when childcare may be needed Calculated
- 24 weekdays when childcare may be needed during the summer closure for all state schools, assuming a Monday-to-Friday working week and subtracting 4 public holidays observed on weekdays; regional anniversary days are not subtracted
- Summer break with the latest closing and opening dates Calculated
- 32 weekdays for a school closing on the last permitted day and opening on the last day of the Term 1 start window
- Public holidays during summer Calculated
- Christmas Day (Friday 25 December), Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December, Mondayised to Monday 28 December), New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January) and Day after New Year’s Day (Saturday 2 January, Mondayised to Monday 4 January)
- Long weekends during summer Calculated
- Fri 25 to Mon 28 Dec (Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and Fri 1 to Mon 4 Jan (New Year’s Day and Day after New Year’s Day)
- Regional anniversaries during summer Calculated
- Wellington Anniversary Day (Monday 25 January 2027), Auckland Anniversary Day (Monday 1 February 2027) and Nelson Anniversary Day (Monday 1 February 2027)
A fact marked Calculated is worked out from the official dates linked below, rather than quoted from the source.
The summer holidays begin when each school closes in December 2026 and end when it opens for Term 1 2027. Term 4 must end by the published date, but a school may close earlier once it has met its half-day minimum. Each school chooses its opening day within the Ministry’s published window. This page shows the dates when every state school is closed, with weekday counts worked out from the listed dates. It also lists the public holidays, long weekends and regional anniversary days up to the day before the latest permitted Term 1 opening date. Some schools may already have reopened during this period. Where the previous summer’s dates are published, you can compare the start and length of the shared break. Check your school’s own notice for its closing and opening days.
Summer depends on your school
Term 4 must finish by the published date, but a school meeting its half-day requirement may close earlier. Its summer holidays run from its own closing day until its own opening day the following year.
Confirm your school’s first day
Schools select their first day of Term 1 within the published window. The return date therefore varies between schools; check your school’s calendar for its chosen start.
Public holidays in the summer holidays 2026/27
| Public holiday | Date | Weekday | Observed date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday | Same day | |
| Boxing Day | Saturday | Mondayised: | |
| New Year’s Day | Friday | Same day | |
| Day after New Year’s Day | Saturday | Mondayised: |
For all public holidays and where they fall in the school year, see public holidays 2026 and public holidays 2027.
Long weekends inside the break
- Friday 25 December to Monday 28 December 2026: 4 days off in a row with Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Friday 1 January to Monday 4 January 2027: 4 days off in a row with New Year’s Day and Day after New Year’s Day.
Weekends and the national public holidays on their observed days only; the long weekends 2027 page lists the whole year.
Regional anniversary days in the summer holidays
- Wellington Anniversary Day: , in the summer holidays.
- Auckland Anniversary Day: , in the Term 1 start window.
- Nelson Anniversary Day: , in the Term 1 start window.
An anniversary day is a public holiday in its own region only. One that falls inside the Term 1 start window closes a school only if that school has already opened.
The school years on either side
- School holidays 2026: the whole 2026 calendar, Term 4 included.
- School holidays 2027: the Term 1 window and the holidays after each term.
- Term 1 start dates: every published opening window side by side.
Add to your calendar (.ics) Calendar dates come from official publications or legislation, with no estimates and a source link for each event.
Common questions
- When does school finish for the year in 2026?
- Term 4 in 2026 ends no later than Friday 18 December 2026. Schools may finish earlier once they have met their half-day minimum, so check your school's calendar for its exact last day in 2026.
- When does school go back in 2027?
- Schools open for Term 1 in 2027 between Thursday 28 January 2027 and Wednesday 3 February 2027. Each school chooses its opening day within that window; check your school's notice for its 2027 return arrangements.
- How long are the summer holidays from 2026 to 2027?
- Every state school is closed for 28 weekdays (40 days in all), from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Your school's summer break from 2026 to 2027 may be longer if it closes earlier or opens later; use its own dates when arranging care or leave.
Official sources
- Ministry of Education: School terms and holidays dates (read )
- Employment New Zealand: Public holidays and anniversary dates (read )
Every date here was compared with the official pages on . Should anything differ, the official page is right. How dates are checked.