School holidays in United Kingdom, 2026
Term breaks region by region, taken from the published education calendars. Schools add their own staff-training and free-choice days on top, so confirm the exact first and last day with your school.
School holiday dates 2026
There is no single UK school calendar. Wales and Northern Ireland set national dates, Scottish councils each set their own, and in England every local authority and academy trust publishes its own — so English dates below are the pattern the large majority follow. Add one or two INSET days per term that your school picks itself.
England (typical local authority pattern)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2025
Ends: 2 Jan 2026
12 days
February half term
Starts: 16 Feb 2026
Ends: 20 Feb 2026
5 days
Easter holidays
Good Friday 3 April and Easter Monday 6 April fall inside the break.
Starts: 30 Mar 2026
Ends: 10 Apr 2026
12 days
May half term
Starts on the late May bank holiday.
Starts: 25 May 2026
Ends: 29 May 2026
5 days
Summer holidays
Break-up dates range from 17 to 24 July depending on the authority.
Starts: 22 Jul 2026
Ends: 2 Sep 2026
43 days
October half term
Starts: 26 Oct 2026
Ends: 30 Oct 2026
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
Wales (national dates)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2025
Ends: 2 Jan 2026
12 days
February half term
Starts: 16 Feb 2026
Ends: 20 Feb 2026
5 days
Easter holidays
Starts: 30 Mar 2026
Ends: 10 Apr 2026
12 days
Whitsun half term
Starts: 25 May 2026
Ends: 29 May 2026
5 days
Summer holidays
Starts: 20 Jul 2026
Ends: 31 Aug 2026
43 days
Autumn half term
Starts: 26 Oct 2026
Ends: 30 Oct 2026
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
Scotland (Edinburgh / Glasgow pattern)
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2025
Ends: 5 Jan 2026
15 days
February break
Most councils take the second or third week of February.
Starts: 9 Feb 2026
Ends: 13 Feb 2026
5 days
Spring (Easter) break
Starts: 6 Apr 2026
Ends: 17 Apr 2026
12 days
Summer holidays
Scotland breaks up around three weeks earlier than England and returns in mid-August.
Starts: 3 Jul 2026
Ends: 17 Aug 2026
46 days
October break
Starts: 12 Oct 2026
Ends: 16 Oct 2026
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2026
Ends: 5 Jan 2027
15 days
Northern Ireland
Christmas holidays
Starts: 22 Dec 2025
Ends: 2 Jan 2026
12 days
Mid-term break
Starts: 16 Feb 2026
Ends: 17 Feb 2026
2 days
Easter holidays
Starts: 30 Mar 2026
Ends: 7 Apr 2026
9 days
Summer holidays
The longest summer break in the UK — schools close before the Twelfth.
Starts: 1 Jul 2026
Ends: 31 Aug 2026
62 days
Halloween break
Starts: 26 Oct 2026
Ends: 30 Oct 2026
5 days
Christmas holidays
Starts: 21 Dec 2026
Ends: 1 Jan 2027
12 days
Dates published by: Department for Education, Welsh Government, Scottish councils and the NI Education Authority. Official source
Public holidays that close schools anyway
New Year's Day
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, GB-WLS
2 January
Regional · GB-SCT
Saint Patrick's Day
Regional · GB-NIR
Good Friday
Nationwide
Easter Monday
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-WLS, GB-NIR
Early May Bank Holiday
Nationwide
Spring Bank Holiday
Nationwide
World Cup Bank Holiday
Regional · GB-SCT
Battle of the Boyne
Regional · GB-NIR
Summer Bank Holiday
Regional · GB-SCT
Summer Bank Holiday
Regional · GB-ENG, GB-WLS, GB-NIR
Saint Andrew's Day
Regional · GB-SCT
Christmas Day
Nationwide
Boxing Day
St. Stephen's Day · Nationwide