Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving

Public holidays in the ACT

Public holidays in Australia are different in each state and territory. These are the ACT’s public holidays.

2026

View ACT public holidays in previous years.

Download public holiday calendars

Bank holidays

The Holidays Act 1958 includes bank holidays. In the ACT, there is a bank holiday on the first Monday in August.

Bank holidays do not apply to everyone. Refer to your Enterprise Agreement or Award for more information.

ACT public school term dates

These are term dates for our public schools. Private schools may have different dates.

2026

*New students include anyone starting at a school for the first time or transitioning to the next school type. This includes:

• all Kindergarten students (even if they previously attended the attached preschool)
• all year 7 students (even if they previously attended the school as a primary school student)
• all year 11 students (even if they previously attended the school as a high school student)
• students in any year level who are starting at the school for the first time (please confirm with your school about timing and requirements on the first day).

College exam periods are managed and communicated by individual schools. Please contact your school for more information.

Download public school term calendars

Subscribe to iCalendar

Find out how to add dates to your device by subscribing to iCalendar.

Daylight saving in the ACT

Daylight saving in the ACT is the same as in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Start and end dates

Daylight saving begins at 2am Eastern Standard Time on the first Sunday in October each year. This is when you need to put your clocks forward one hour.

Daylight saving ends at 3am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. This is when you need to put your clocks back one hour.

In 2026, daylight saving starts at 2am on Sunday 4 October 2026.