School Holidays in NT: Dates, Free Programs and Where to Look
Live listings refreshed 25 Sept 2026 · Last updated 25 Sept 2026
The next NT school holidays run from to . We have 1 events listed across NT for that break, 1 of them free, and 59 providers in our directory running classes and holiday programs year-round. This page is kept: the dates come from the government calendar, the lists refresh from the AroundSchools directory twice a day.
Key takeaways
- The NT mid-year break falls in late June, weeks before the southern states break in July.
- The reliably free holiday programs come from councils — libraries, leisure centres and youth services. Bookings usually open two to three weeks before a break and fill fast.
- The Northern Territory runs a kids' Sport Voucher Scheme for school-age children. Full details are in our state-by-state voucher guide.
The NT calendar is shaped differently from every other state: the mid-year break falls in late June, several weeks before the southern states break in July, and the school year starts in late January. If you are coordinating with family interstate, assume the dates do not line up.
Northern Territory has not published term dates for this period yet — check the education department.
By age
How to find the free things in NT
Start with the library. Membership is free wherever you live, work or study in the area, and library services run school-holiday sessions for children — craft, Lego, coding, science shows, author visits. Bookings usually open two to three weeks before the break, and the library's own page is the primary source.
Leisure centres and youth services. Councils run the pools, the playgrounds and, in most areas, holiday programs at the leisure centres. Youth services run free or gold-coin activities for 10-to-17-year-olds — the programs that rarely reach the big listing sites, which is why we track councils calendars directly.
Playgrounds, trails and free attractions. Public playgrounds, the regional trails and the free museums and gardens cost nothing beyond getting there.
The voucher. The Northern Territory runs a kids' Sport Voucher Scheme for school-age children. Its rounds and amounts change through the year, so check the NT Government site or ask the club before you pay a registration. Our guide to every state's scheme has the eligibility rules, the dates and how to claim.
Worth knowing. These are the first NT term dates we have published. NT teacher start dates run one to two days earlier than students' every term, and Gunbalanya School runs a flexible school year set by separate consultation, so its dates are not these.
Where to look nearby
Free things to do around Darwin are listed on our free kids' activities in Darwin page. Suburb by suburb, the NT activities hub lists providers by category.
Council libraries in NT
| Place | Suburb | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Casuarina Library | Casuarina | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Charles Darwin University Alice Springs Campus Library | East Side | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| City of Palmerston Library | Palmerston City | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Darwin City Library | Darwin City | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Darwin City Library | Casuarina | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Darwin Council - Karama Branch Library | Darwin City | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Darwin Toy Library | Marrara | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Minerals Council | Darwin City | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Nhulunbuy Community Library | Nhulunbuy | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Nhulunbuy Community Toy Library | Nhulunbuy | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
| Nightcliff Library | Nightcliff | Library · Details not verified yet — check the council site |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 11 libraries, 227 parks and 0 community spaces we hold inside Northern Territory · correct as at 25 Sept 2026
NT council areas with a kids' activities page
| Council | Kids' activity providers | Schools | What's on |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Darwin | 22 | 42 | See the council's site |
| Alice Springs Town Council | 10 | 24 | 1 event |
| Barkly Regional Council | 9 | 10 | See the council's site |
| City of Palmerston | 5 | 16 | See the council's site |
| Tiwi Islands | 3 | 4 | See the council's site |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 5 Northern Territory councils currently have a page · correct as at 25 Sept 2026
Providers listing class times in NT
| Provider | Suburb | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Art Centre | The Gap | Art Centre |
| Ali Curung FC | Tennant Creek | AFL, Female AFL |
| Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre | The Gap | Swimming |
| Alice Springs Swimming Pool | The Gap | Swimming |
| Banyan Hawks | Banyan | AFL, Female AFL |
| Barkly Work Camp | Northern Territory | AFL, Female AFL |
| Barkly Youth Girls | Tennant Creek | AFL, Female AFL |
| Big River Hawks | Katherine South | AFL, Female AFL |
| Bombers U10's | Alice Springs | AFL, Female AFL |
| Canteen Creek | Northern Territory | AFL, Female AFL |
| Casuarina Pool Complex | Casuarina | Swimming |
| Concept Pools & Spas | Moulden | Swimming |
Live from the AroundSchools directory — 12 of 59 kids' activity providers we list in Northern Territory · correct as at 25 Sept 2026
Frequently asked questions
When are the next school holidays in NT? From to . These are government school dates — independent and Catholic schools can differ by a few days, so check with your school.
Are council holiday programs free? Library sessions almost always are. Leisure-centre and youth-service programs are often free or a gold-coin donation, with some paid workshops; each listing below shows the price the organiser published.
Can I use the voucher for a holiday camp? Usually not: these schemes pay towards a season or term with a registered provider rather than a one-off camp. Ask the provider whether it is registered before you enrol.
How we checked
Term dates are the government calendar for the Northern Territory. Scheme amounts and dates were read at the scheme's own page on 25 September 2026. Event and provider lists come from the AroundSchools directory and refresh twice a day.
