United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) 2026/27 - school year

Beginning of the school year

End of the school year

School year - Autumn / Christmas / New Year / Winter holidays

Autumn holidays: England: 26–30 October 2026 (Camden), 24 October – 1 November 2026 (Manchester); Wales: 26–30 October 2026 (Cardiff); Northern Ireland: 29–30 October 2026

Christmas / New Year: England: 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 (Camden), 19 December 2026 – 3 January 2027 (Manchester); Wales: 19 December 2026 – 3 January 2027 (Cardiff); Northern Ireland: 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027

Winter holidays (February half-term): England: 15–19 February 2027 (Camden), 13–21 February 2027 (Manchester); Wales: 8–12 February 2027 (Cardiff); Northern Ireland: 11–12 February 2027

School year - Spring / Easter holiday

School year - summer holidays

Regions of the country

England: term dates are set by each local authority (academies and voluntary-aided schools may differ); there are no national dates. Examples – Camden (London): start 2 September 2026, autumn half-term 26–30 October, Christmas 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027, February half-term 15–19 February, Easter 26 March – 9 April, May half-term 31 May – 4 June, term ends 22 July 2027. Manchester: start 1 September 2026, October half-term 24 October – 1 November, Christmas 19 December 2026 – 3 January 2027, February half-term 13–21 February, Easter 3–18 April (schools also closed 26 and 29 March), May half-term 29 May – 6 June, term ends 22 July 2027. INSET days are set by each school.

Wales: Cardiff – start 1 September 2026 (all authorities except Powys), autumn half-term 26–30 October, Christmas 19 December 2026 – 3 January 2027, February half-term 8–12 February, Easter 20 March – 4 April, May half-term 31 May – 4 June, term ends 20 July 2027. Powys: autumn term ends 22 December 2026 and the school year ends 16 July 2027.

Northern Ireland: dates are set nationally by the Department of Education and apply to all schools. Start 1 September 2026; Halloween break 29–30 October 2026; Christmas 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027; mid-term break 11–12 February 2027; St Patrick's Day 17 March 2027; Easter 25 March – 2 April 2027; May Day 3 May 2027; spring bank holiday 31 May 2027; summer holiday from 1 July 2027. Three additional closure days: 25 September 2026, 25 January 2027 and 4 May 2027. Additional public holidays in Northern Ireland: 17 March 2027 and 12 July 2027.

Scotland (separate block): school dates are set by each council. Example – City of Edinburgh: school year starts 12 August 2026 and ends 29 June 2027; September holiday 14 September 2026; October break 12–19 October 2026; Christmas 21 December 2026 – 5 January 2027; February break 15–19 February 2027; Easter holidays 5–19 April 2027; May Day holiday 3 May 2027 (staff-only day 4 May); Victoria Day holiday 24 May 2027; summer holidays from 30 June 2027.

Scotland – bank holidays: 25 December 2026, 28 December 2026, 1 January 2027, 4 January 2027, 26 March 2027, 3 May 2027, 31 May 2027, 2 August 2027 (Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland).

Scotland – universities: University of Edinburgh: Semester 1 21 September – 21 December 2026 (Welcome Week from 14 September; teaching 21 September – 4 December; exams 9–21 December). Semester 2 11 January – 22 May 2027 (teaching 11 January – 2 April with a Flexible Learning Week 15–19 February; spring vacation 5–16 April; exams 26 April – 21 May). Summer vacation from 24 May 2027; graduations 1–14 July 2027; resit dates to be confirmed.

Sources: GOV.UK – bank holidays in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Department of Education Northern Ireland – school holidays 2026/27; Welsh Government – approved school term dates 2026–2027 (Cardiff and Powys); Cardiff Council – school term dates; London Borough of Camden – term dates; Manchester City Council – school holidays and term dates; City of Edinburgh Council – school term dates 2026/27; University of Oxford – dates of term; University of Edinburgh – semester dates 2026/27.