Planning your 2027 calendar around Melbourne? Here’s everything locked in so far including for Victoria’s official public holidays and Victorian government school term dates. Also, dates for Melbourne-specific events that shape the city’s year, from the AFL Grand Final to the Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne & Victorian Public Holidays 2027
These are the gazetted public holidays that apply across Victoria in 2027, based on Business Victoria’s official calendar.
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday |
| Australia Day | 26 January 2027 | Tuesday |
| Labour Day | 8 March 2027 | Monday |
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Friday |
| Saturday before Easter Sunday | 27 March 2027 | Saturday |
| Easter Sunday | 28 March 2027 | Sunday |
| Easter Monday | 29 March 2027 | Monday |
| ANZAC Day | 25 April 2027 | Sunday |
| King’s Birthday | 14 June 2027 | Monday |
| Friday before the AFL Grand Final | 1 October 2027 (expected) | Friday |
| Melbourne Cup Day | 2 November 2027 | Tuesday |
| 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: ANZAC Day doesn’t get a substitute day in Victoria when it falls on a weekend, so 2027’s Sunday ANZAC Day stays as-is. Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall on a weekend in 2027, so Victoria adds extra public holidays on the following Monday and Tuesday. Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday for metropolitan Melbourne only, most regional Victorian council areas don’t get it off. The Friday before the AFL Grand Final is set based on the AFL’s fixture; the 2027 Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday 2 October at the MCG, which puts the holiday on Friday 1 October, though this is confirmed only once the AFL locks in its final fixture.
Melbourne & Victorian School Term Dates 2027
Term dates for Victorian government schools in 2027, as published by the Department of Education.
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 27 January 2027 | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Term 2 | Monday 12 April 2027 | Friday 25 June 2027 |
| Term 3 | Monday 12 July 2027 | Friday 17 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | Monday 4 October 2027 | Friday 17 December 2027 |
School Holiday Periods 2027
| Break | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 holidays | 26 March – 11 April 2027 |
| Term 2 holidays (winter) | 26 June – 11 July 2027 |
| Term 3 holidays (spring) | 18 September – 3 October 2027 |
| Term 4 holidays (summer) | From 18 December 2027, through to the start of Term 1 2028 |
These dates apply to Victorian government 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 Melbourne
Beyond the official public holidays, these are the events that genuinely shape life in Melbourne including traffic, accommodation prices, and what’s on all move around them. Some 2027 dates are locked in while others are estimates based on the event’s usual pattern and haven’t been officially confirmed yet.
| Event | Expected 2027 Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Open (tennis) | Mid-to-late January 2027 | Estimated – official dates announced closer to the event |
| Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix | March 2027, Albert Park | Estimated – exact dates TBC |
| Moomba Festival | Around the Labour Day long weekend (5–8 March 2027) | Estimated – City of Melbourne confirms closer to the date |
| Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Late March – April 2027 | Estimated – runs roughly four weeks each autumn |
| AFL ANZAC Day Match | Sunday 25 April 2027, MCG | Confirmed date (fixture pending) |
| King’s Birthday AFL Match | Monday 14 June 2027, MCG | Confirmed date (fixture pending) |
| AFL Grand Final | Saturday 2 October 2027, MCG | Confirmed by the AFL |
| Spring Racing Carnival / Melbourne Cup Day | Tuesday 2 November 2027, Flemington | Confirmed |
This page will be updated as the City of Melbourne, the AFL, Tennis Australia and other event organisers lock in their official 2027 dates so check back closer to the date if you see “estimated” against something you’re planning around.