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Scotland school holidays 2026–27

Next break: Winter holidays, 21 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. Here is every break in the 2026-27 school year, the public holidays, and a calendar you can add in one tap.

Dates from City of Edinburgh Council. Each Scottish council sets its own dates, so Glasgow and other councils differ (for example in the October break, spring holiday and local holiday Mondays). Dates below are City of Edinburgh Council's.

Looking for 2024–25 or 2025–26? We only publish the current and next school years, so the dates above are the ones that apply now.

Checked against official sources on 19 October 2026

The 2026-27 school year

The year at a glance

SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAug
Autumn holiday, 14 Sep 2026October mid-term break, 12 to 19 Oct 2026Winter holidays, 21 Dec 2026 to 5 Jan 2027February mid-term break, 15 to 19 Feb 2027Good Friday and Easter Monday, 26 to 29 Mar 2027Spring holiday, 5 to 19 Apr 2027May Day and staff only day, 3 to 4 May 2027Victoria Day, 24 May 2027Summer holidays, 30 Jun to 17 Aug 2027
  • Winter and Christmas
  • Spring, March and Easter
  • Summer
  • Autumn and half terms
  • Short breaks
  • Public holiday
All dates

Scotland school holiday dates

2026-27

Confirmed
BreakDatesSchool days off
First day of schoolWed 12 August 2026
Autumn holidaySingle day. Mon 14 Sep – Mon 14 Sep 2026 1
October mid-term break Mon 12 Oct – Mon 19 Oct 2026 6
Winter holidays Mon 21 Dec – Tue 5 Jan 2027 12
February mid-term break Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 5
Good Friday and Easter MondaySchools close Good Friday and Easter Monday only; all resume Tuesday 30 March. Fri 26 Mar – Mon 29 Mar 2027 2
Spring holiday Mon 5 Apr – Mon 19 Apr 2027 11
May Day and staff only dayTuesday 4 May is a staff only (in-service) day. Mon 3 May – Tue 4 May 2027 2
Victoria DaySingle day. Mon 24 May – Mon 24 May 2027 1
Summer holidaysStart date; Autumn Term 2027 starts Wednesday 18 August 2027. Wed 30 Jun – Tue 17 Aug 2027 35
Last day of schoolTue 29 June 2027

Term dates

  • Autumn term12 Aug to 18 Dec 2026
  • Spring term6 Jan to 2 Apr 2027
  • Summer term20 Apr to 29 Jun 2027

Source: City of Edinburgh Council school term dates 2026/27

2027-28

Confirmed
BreakDatesSchool days off
First day of schoolWed 18 August 2027
Autumn holidaySingle day. Mon 20 Sep – Mon 20 Sep 2027 1
October mid-term break Mon 18 Oct – Mon 25 Oct 2027 6
Winter holidays Tue 21 Dec – Wed 5 Jan 2028 12
February mid-term break Mon 14 Feb – Fri 18 Feb 2028 5
Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday (14 April) and Easter Monday (17 April). Mon 3 Apr – Mon 17 Apr 2028 11
May Day and staff only dayTuesday 2 May is a staff only (in-service) day. Mon 1 May – Tue 2 May 2028 2
Victoria DaySingle day. Mon 22 May – Mon 22 May 2028 1
Summer holidaysStart date (term ends Friday 30 June 2028). From Mon 3 Jul 2028 –
Last day of schoolFri 30 June 2028

Term dates

  • Autumn term18 Aug to 20 Dec 2027
  • Spring term6 Jan to 31 Mar 2028
  • Summer term18 Apr to 30 Jun 2028

Source: City of Edinburgh Council school term dates 2027/28

Dates are inclusive school days off, Monday to Friday. Individual schools can add closure days of their own (training days, PA days, inset days), so check with your school before you book anything non-refundable.

Public holidays

Scotland public holidays 2027

Long weekends move demand as much as school breaks do. Where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day off in lieu is listed.

Source: GOV.UK UK bank holidays (Scotland)

Long weekends 2027: the leave that turns these into week-long breaks →

  1. New Year's DayFriday · long weekend
  2. 2nd January (substitute day)Monday · long weekend
  3. Good FridayFriday · long weekend
  4. Early May bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  5. Spring bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  6. Summer bank holidayMonday · long weekend
  7. St Andrew's DayTuesday
  8. Christmas Day (substitute day)Monday · long weekend
  9. Boxing Day (substitute day)Tuesday
For travellers and advisors

What these dates do to demand

  • Scottish summer holidays start at the end of June and schools return in mid-August, so Scottish family demand peaks about three to four weeks earlier than England's.
  • Edinburgh's October 2026 break (12 to 19 October) falls two weeks before English half term, spreading UK autumn family travel across several weeks.
  • Schools return in mid-August while Edinburgh's festivals run through August, so city accommodation is driven by festival visitors rather than local school holidays that month.

Also off school during February mid-term break

More regions off at once means fuller flights and resorts that week. See the busiest weeks

Questions

Quick answers

When is February Mid-term Break 2027 in Scotland?

February mid-term break is 15 to 19 February 2027, 5 school days off, according to City of Edinburgh Council school term dates 2026/27. Each Scottish council sets its own dates, so Glasgow and other councils differ (for example in the October break, spring holiday and local holiday Mondays). Dates below are City of Edinburgh Council's.

When are the Christmas holidays 2026 in Scotland?

Winter holidays are 21 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, according to City of Edinburgh Council school term dates 2026/27.

When are the next school holidays in Scotland?

Winter holidays are 21 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, according to City of Edinburgh Council school term dates 2026/27.

When does the 2026-27 school year start and end in Scotland?

The first day of school is Wednesday 12 August 2026 and the last day is Tuesday 29 June 2027.

When are the 2027-28 school holidays in Scotland?

Autumn holiday: 20 September 2027; October mid-term break: 18 to 25 October 2027; Winter holidays: 21 December 2027 to 5 January 2028; February mid-term break: 14 to 18 February 2028; Spring holiday: 3 to 17 April 2028; May Day and staff only day: 1 to 2 May 2028; Victoria Day: 22 May 2028; Summer holidays: from 3 July 2028.

What are the public holidays in Scotland in 2027?

There are 9 public holidays: New Year's Day (1 January), 2nd January (substitute day) (4 January), Good Friday (26 March), Early May bank holiday (3 May), Spring bank holiday (31 May), Summer bank holiday (2 August), St Andrew's Day (30 November), Christmas Day (substitute day) (27 December), Boxing Day (substitute day) (28 December).

Sources

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