UK School Holidays 2026: Term Dates for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The next big school holiday of 2026 is Christmas. In most of England and Wales, schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027, and in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen schools break up on 18 December and return on 5 or 6 January. October half term 2026 in England and Wales is the week of 26 to 30 October. There is no single national calendar: councils, academy trusts and, in Northern Ireland, individual schools set their own dates, so the tables below show what each council has published.

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Dates are taken from each council's own term-dates page. Academies, free schools, faith schools and independent schools can set different dates, and every school adds its own training (INSET) days, so check your child's school before you book.

School holidays 2026 at a glance

To find the dates for your own area of England or Wales, enter your postcode in the GOV.UK school term dates lookup, which takes you to your council's page.

England: half term and Christmas dates by council

In England, each local authority sets dates for its community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academy trusts and other schools can follow them or choose their own. Many large councils have the same dates in 2026/27, but not all. Leeds, for example, has a later Easter break.

Manchester and several London boroughs publish their dates too, but we could not read their pages when we checked, so we have left them out rather than guess. Use the GOV.UK lookup for your area.

Earlier in 2026, for reference

Most councils have now taken their 2025/26 calendars down. As an example, Essex had February half term from 16 to 20 February 2026, the Easter holidays from 30 March to 10 April 2026 (Easter Sunday was 5 April), May half term from 25 to 29 May 2026 and the summer holidays from 21 July to 31 August 2026. Other councils were similar, though not identical.

Scotland: school holidays by council

Scottish councils set their own calendars. The school year starts in mid August, the October holiday comes earlier than in England, and the summer holidays start in late June or early July.

Scotland also has extra public holidays in 2026: St Andrew's Day falls on Monday 30 November 2026. Whether schools close for it depends on the council.

Wales: one set of dates for 2026/27

For 2026/27, the Welsh Government directed the term dates for maintained schools in all 22 local authorities, so the half terms are the same across Wales (gov.wales):

• October half term 2026: 26 to 30 October.
• Christmas 2026: autumn term ends Friday 18 December, spring term starts Monday 4 January 2027. Powys is the exception, ending on Tuesday 22 December.
• February half term 2027: 8 to 12 February, a week earlier than most of England.
• Easter 2027: spring term ends Friday 19 March and summer term starts Monday 5 April.
• Summer 2027: term ends Tuesday 20 July (Friday 16 July in Powys).

Wales consulted on a bigger change to the school year, with a longer October break and a shorter summer. In June 2024 the Welsh Government decided not to make that change during the current Senedd term (gov.wales), so 2026/27 follows the familiar pattern.

Northern Ireland: schools set their own dates

In Northern Ireland each school sets its own holidays, within rules from the Department of Education. The Education Authority publishes the days when school transport and meals will not run, which most schools build their calendars around (Education Authority). For 2026/27 these are:

• 29 and 30 October 2026 (Halloween)
• 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 (Christmas)
• 11 and 12 February 2027
• 17 March 2027 (St Patrick's Day)
• 25 March to 2 April 2027 (Easter)
• 3 May and 31 May 2027
• 1 to 31 July 2027

Schools then choose 3 more optional closure days, which some use to lengthen the Halloween or Easter break. Check your school's own calendar.

Bank holidays for the rest of 2026

From GOV.UK bank holidays:

Earlier in 2026, Easter Sunday was 5 April, with Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April. Scotland also had a one-off bank holiday on Monday 15 June 2026 for the World Cup.

Term-time holidays in England: the rules

In England, schools can only authorise absence in term time in exceptional circumstances, and GOV.UK says a holiday "is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance" (GOV.UK). Under the national framework in force since 19 August 2024:

• A council can fine each parent £80 per child, rising to £160 if it is not paid within 21 days (GOV.UK).
• A second fine for the same child within 3 years is £160.
• Each parent can get at most 2 fines for the same child in 3 years. After that, the council may take the case to court instead.
• Councils consider a fine when a pupil has 10 sessions (usually 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school weeks.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so check with your school or council there.

Travelling in the school holidays

Flights and package holidays usually cost more in school holiday weeks, especially when the half terms of big council areas line up, as they do in England this year. A few ways to soften it:

• Book early for February half term and Easter 2027, which share dates across much of England.
• Compare departure days. Leaving on the Friday evening, Saturday or Sunday can change the price.
• Look at different airports. A regional airport can be cheaper than the nearest big one.
• Know your area. Wales's February half term (8 to 12 February 2027) and Leeds's later Easter (5 to 16 April 2027) fall outside the busiest weeks for most of England.

Where to go

• Christmas markets: many big European markets run through December. See our Christmas markets 2026 dates.
• Winter sun: our sun-seekers guide covers where is warm at Christmas and February half term.
• Ski week: February half term is peak week in the Alps. Our ski trip guide covers roaming in France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and Andorra.
• Border queues: the EU Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo on your first trip into the Schengen area, and queues are longest at peak times. Read our EES and ETIAS guide and allow extra time.

Mobile data for family holidays

Several phones roaming at once can add up quickly on daily roaming fees. A data-only travel eSIM for each phone, or one larger plan shared from a parent's phone as a hotspot, is often cheaper. Our family eSIM or hotspot guide helps you choose. On 27 October 2026, SimplySIM plans included:

See all plans for Spain and the United States. eSIMs are data only, so keep your UK SIM in for calls and texts. Check each phone supports eSIM and is unlocked with our compatibility checker.

FAQs

When are the Christmas holidays 2026?

In most of England and Wales, schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and return on Monday 4 January 2027. In Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, schools also break up on 18 December and return on 5 or 6 January 2027. Northern Ireland schools are usually off from 21 December to 1 January at least.

When is October half term 2026?

In England and Wales it is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026 for the councils we checked. Scottish schools had their October break earlier, from 12 October. Northern Ireland schools usually close on 29 and 30 October, and some for longer.

When is February half term 2027?

In most of England it is 15 to 19 February 2027. Wales is a week earlier, 8 to 12 February. Scottish councils have shorter breaks between 8 and 19 February.

Are school holidays the same across England?

No. Each council sets dates for its own schools, and academies can set their own. Many large councils share dates in 2026/27, but some differ, such as Leeds at Easter 2027.

How much is the fine for a term-time holiday in England?

Since August 2024, the fine is £80 per parent per child, rising to £160 if unpaid after 21 days. A second fine within 3 years is £160. GOV.UK has the full rules.