Wales school holidays 2026–27

On now: October half term, 26 to 30 October 2026. Here is every break in the 2026-27 school year, the public holidays, and a calendar you can add in one tap.

Dates from Cardiff Council. Term dates across Welsh councils are closely aligned (Welsh Government approves them), but start and end days vary by a day or two, voluntary aided schools may differ, and INSET days are set by each school. Dates below are Cardiff Council's. School year reform (moving a week from the summer into a two-week October break) was paused in June 2024 and deferred to the next Senedd term; approved 2027-28 dates keep the traditional one-week October half term and six-week summer.

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

October half term, 26 to 30 Oct 2026Christmas holidays, 21 Dec 2026 to 1 Jan 2027February half term, 8 to 12 Feb 2027Easter holidays, 22 Mar to 2 Apr 2027May half term, 31 May to 4 Jun 2027Summer holidays, 21 Jul to 31 Aug 2027

Winter and Christmas
Spring, March and Easter
Summer
Autumn and half terms
Public holiday

All dates

Wales school holiday dates

2026-27

Confirmed

Break	Dates	School days off
First day of school	Tue 1 September 2026
October half term	Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026	5
Christmas holidays	Mon 21 Dec – Fri 1 Jan 2027	10
February half termOne week earlier than most English councils.	Mon 8 Feb – Fri 12 Feb 2027	5
Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March).	Mon 22 Mar – Fri 2 Apr 2027	10
May half term	Mon 31 May – Fri 4 Jun 2027	5
Summer holidaysStart date; autumn term 2027 starts Wednesday 1 September 2027.	Wed 21 Jul – Tue 31 Aug 2027	30
Last day of school	Tue 20 July 2027

Term dates

Autumn term1 Sep to 18 Dec 2026
Spring term4 Jan to 19 Mar 2027
Summer term5 Apr to 20 Jul 2027

Source: Cardiff Council school term dates 2026-27

2027-28

Confirmed

Break	Dates	School days off
First day of school	Wed 1 September 2027
October half termOne week; no extended October break under school year reform.	Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027	5
Christmas holidays	Mon 20 Dec – Mon 3 Jan 2028	11
February half term	Mon 21 Feb – Fri 25 Feb 2028	5
Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday (14 April) and Easter Monday (17 April).	Mon 10 Apr – Fri 21 Apr 2028	10
May half term	Mon 29 May – Fri 2 Jun 2028	5
Summer holidaysStart date (term ends Thursday 20 July 2028).	From Fri 21 Jul 2028	–
Last day of school	Thu 20 July 2028

Term dates

Autumn term1 Sep to 17 Dec 2027
Spring term4 Jan to 7 Apr 2028
Summer term24 Apr to 20 Jul 2028

Source: Cardiff Council school term dates 2027-28 (approved by Welsh Government)

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

Wales 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 (England and Wales)

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

1Jan
New Year's DayFriday · long weekend
26Mar
Good FridayFriday · long weekend
29Mar
Easter MondayMonday · long weekend
3May
Early May bank holidayMonday · long weekend
31May
Spring bank holidayMonday · long weekend
30Aug
Summer bank holidayMonday · long weekend
27Dec
Christmas Day (substitute day)Monday · long weekend
28Dec
Boxing Day (substitute day)Tuesday

For travellers and advisors

What these dates do to demand

Cardiff's February 2027 half term (8 to 12 February) is a week before most English councils' (15 to 19 February), so Welsh families can travel before the English peak.
Welsh summer holidays in 2027 start around 21 July, close to England's, so the late July to August peak is shared across both nations.
Wales shares England's bank holidays; St David's Day (1 March) is not a bank holiday.

Also off school during February half term

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

Questions

Quick answers

When is February Half Term 2027 in Wales?

February half term is 8 to 12 February 2027, 5 school days off, according to Cardiff Council school term dates 2026-27. Term dates across Welsh councils are closely aligned (Welsh Government approves them), but start and end days vary by a day or two, voluntary aided schools may differ, and INSET days are set by each school. Dates below are Cardiff Council's. School year reform (moving a week from the summer into a two-week October break) was paused in June 2024 and deferred to the next Senedd term; approved 2027-28 dates keep the traditional one-week October half term and six-week summer.

When are the Christmas holidays 2026 in Wales?

Christmas holidays are 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, according to Cardiff Council school term dates 2026-27.

When are the next school holidays in Wales?

October half term is 26 to 30 October 2026, according to Cardiff Council school term dates 2026-27.

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

The first day of school is Tuesday 1 September 2026 and the last day is Tuesday 20 July 2027.

When are the 2027-28 school holidays in Wales?

October half term: 25 to 29 October 2027; Christmas holidays: 20 December 2027 to 3 January 2028; February half term: 21 to 25 February 2028; Easter holidays: 10 to 21 April 2028; May half term: 29 May to 2 June 2028; Summer holidays: from 21 July 2028.

What are the public holidays in Wales in 2027?

There are 8 public holidays: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday (26 March), Easter Monday (29 March), Early May bank holiday (3 May), Spring bank holiday (31 May), Summer bank holiday (30 August), Christmas Day (substitute day) (27 December), Boxing Day (substitute day) (28 December).

Sources

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