Western Cape School Terms 2026
School term dates, holidays and long weekends for Western Cape (WC)
200 school days across 4 terms in 2026
National unified calendar — every public school in Western Cape follows these dates.
National Unified Calendar
Since 2024, all 9 South African provinces follow the same school term dates. This includes Western Cape. The unified calendar was implemented by the Department of Basic Education to simplify planning for families who move between provinces.
View Full 2026 CalendarWestern Cape School Terms 2026
Term 1
53 days14 January 2026 - 27 March 2026
Term 2
54 days8 April 2026 - 26 June 2026
Term 3
46 days21 July 2026 - 23 September 2026
Term 4
47 days6 October 2026 - 11 December 2026
2026 School Year at a Glance
200 school daysTerms, public holidays, and today's position across the Western Cape school year.
Term length comparison
Western Cape School Holidays 2026 — Plan Your Break
Four breaks between terms. Use the Leave Optimiser to stretch each break with strategic leave days around public holidays.
About Western Cape Schools
Western Cape is one of South Africa's 9 provinces, with its administrative capital in Cape Town. All public schools in the province follow the national school calendar set by the Department of Basic Education.
Note: Independent (private) schools may have slightly different term dates. Always confirm with your specific school.
Major Cities in Western Cape
All public schools in the following cities follow the Western Cape school calendar above:
Western Cape Education Department
WCED
Contact Details
Toll-free: 0861 819 919
Address
Physical Address
1 North Wharf Square, 2 Lower Loop Street, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001
Postal Address
Private Bag X9114, Cape Town, 8000
Education Districts
Western Cape School Terms 2027
Gazetted — plan next year's leave early
No upcoming term data available
Term 1 · 2027
48 days13 January 2027 – 19 March 2027
Term 2 · 2027
56 days6 April 2027 – 25 June 2027
Term 3 · 2027
46 days20 July 2027 – 22 September 2027
Term 4 · 2027
47 days5 October 2027 – 10 December 2027
Source: Government Gazette No. 52178, Notice 5902 (25 February 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions
School Terms in Other Provinces
Related Resources
Data sourced from the Department of Basic Education (DBE)
Government Gazette No. 52177, Notice 5901 (25 February 2025)