Planning your 2027 calendar around Sydney? Here are the school term and public holiday dates that have been locked in so far. At the bottom of the page, I’ll also include Sydney-specific events that shape the city’s year, important to know if you’re planning events or trips around those dates.
Sydney NSW Public Holidays 2027
These are the gazetted public holidays that apply across New South Wales in 2027.
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday |
| Australia Day | 26 January 2027 | Tuesday |
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Friday |
| Easter Saturday | 27 March 2027 | Saturday |
| Easter Sunday | 28 March 2027 | Sunday |
| Easter Monday | 29 March 2027 | Monday |
| Anzac Day | 25 April 2027 | Sunday |
| Anzac Day (additional holiday) | 26 April 2027 | Monday |
| King’s Birthday | 14 June 2027 | Monday |
| Bank Holiday (banks and some public sector only) | 2 August 2027 | Monday |
| Labour Day | 4 October 2027 | Monday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2027 | Saturday |
| Christmas Day (additional holiday) | 27 December 2027 | Monday |
| Boxing Day | 26 December 2027 | Sunday |
| Boxing Day (additional holiday) | 28 December 2027 | Tuesday |
A few notes on the fine print: unlike some other states, NSW does add a substitute public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend, so 2027’s Sunday Anzac Day gets a following Monday holiday on 26 April. Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall on a weekend in 2027, so NSW adds extra public holidays on the following Monday and Tuesday. The August Bank Holiday is a legislated public holiday, but it’s effectively observed only by banks and some public sector workers, most private employers in Sydney treat it as a normal working day.
Sydney NSW School Term Dates 2027
Term dates for NSW public schools in 2027, as published by the NSW Department of Education.
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 3 February 2027 | Friday 9 April 2027 |
| Term 2 | Thursday 29 April 2027 | Friday 2 July 2027 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 20 July 2027 | Friday 24 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 12 October 2027 | Monday 20 December 2027 |
Schools in the Western Division (far western NSW) start Term 1 a week later, on Wednesday 10 February 2027, with the same finish date. Terms 2, 3 and 4 are identical across both divisions. A small number of schools near the Victorian and Queensland borders run on slightly different dates, so it’s worth checking with the individual school if you’re near a border.
School Holiday Periods 2027
| Break | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 holidays | 10 April – 28 April 2027 |
| Term 2 holidays (winter) | 3 July – 19 July 2027 |
| Term 3 holidays (spring) | 25 September – 11 October 2027 |
| Term 4 holidays (summer) | From 21 December 2027, through to the start of Term 1 2028 |
These dates apply to NSW public schools. Catholic and independent schools generally follow very similar dates but set their own calendars, so it’s worth checking directly with your child’s school before booking anything around the edges of a term.
Other Dates That Matter in Sydney
Beyond the official public holidays, these are the events that genuinely shape life in Sydney, especially traffic and accommodation prices. Some 2027 dates are locked in; others are estimates based on the event’s usual pattern and haven’t been officially confirmed yet.
| Event | Expected 2027 Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney Festival | Thursday 7 January – Sunday 24 January 2027 | Estimated – official program announced closer to the event |
| Australia Day events (Sydney Harbour) | Tuesday 26 January 2027 | Confirmed date |
| Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | Festival: Sunday 21 February – Sunday 7 March 2027. Parade: Saturday 6 March 2027 | Estimated – official dates confirmed by organisers closer to the event |
| Vivid Sydney | Friday 28 May – Saturday 19 June 2027 | Confirmed by Vivid Sydney organisers |
| King’s Birthday long weekend | Monday 14 June 2027 | Confirmed public holiday |
| Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks | Friday 31 December 2027 | Confirmed date (annual fixture) |
This page will be updated as the City of Sydney, Vivid Sydney, Sydney Mardi Gras and other event organisers lock in their official 2027 dates, so please check back closer to the date if you see “estimated” against something you’re planning around.