School dates · Republic of Ireland
Irish school holidays & term dates
Official Department of Education term dates for primary and secondary schools, 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, with free calendar downloads.
Coverage: These dates apply to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland publishes a separate school calendar.
Academic year 2026/2027
| Break | Primary schools | Secondary schools | Reopen |
|---|---|---|---|
| October Mid-Term Break | Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026 | Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026 | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| Christmas Holidays | Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Wednesday 6 January 2027 |
| February Mid-Term Break | Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027* | Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 | Monday 22 February 2027 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027 | Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027 | Monday 5 April 2027 |
* Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week off, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Most post-primary schools reopen in the last week of August 2026 and most primary schools reopen at the end of August or the start of September 2026 (each school sets its own reopening date).
Primary schools close for the summer at the end of June 2027. Post-primary schools generally close at the end of the school year in late May/June 2027, around the start of the State examinations.
Academic year 2027/2028
| Break | Primary schools | Secondary schools | Reopen |
|---|---|---|---|
| October Mid-Term Break | Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027 | Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027 | Monday 1 November 2027 |
| Christmas Holidays | Thu 23 Dec 2027 – Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Thu 23 Dec 2027 – Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Thursday 6 January 2028 |
| February Mid-Term Break | Thu 24 Feb – Fri 25 Feb 2028* | Mon 21 Feb – Fri 25 Feb 2028 | Monday 28 February 2028 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 10 Apr – Sun 23 Apr 2028 | Mon 10 Apr – Sun 23 Apr 2028 | Monday 24 April 2028 |
* Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week off, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Most post-primary schools reopen in the last week of August 2027 and most primary schools reopen at the end of August or the start of September 2027 (each school sets its own reopening date).
Primary schools close for the summer at the end of June 2028. Post-primary schools generally close at the end of the school year in late May/June 2028, around the start of the State examinations.
Academic year 2028/2029
| Break | Primary schools | Secondary schools | Reopen |
|---|---|---|---|
| October Mid-Term Break | Mon 30 Oct – Fri 3 Nov 2028 | Mon 30 Oct – Fri 3 Nov 2028 | Monday 6 November 2028 |
| Christmas Holidays | Sat 23 Dec 2028 – Sun 7 Jan 2029 | Sat 23 Dec 2028 – Sun 7 Jan 2029 | Monday 8 January 2029 |
| February Mid-Term Break | Thu 15 Feb – Fri 16 Feb 2029* | Mon 12 Feb – Fri 16 Feb 2029 | Monday 19 February 2029 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 26 Mar – Sun 8 Apr 2029 | Mon 26 Mar – Sun 8 Apr 2029 | Monday 9 April 2029 |
* Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week off, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Most post-primary schools reopen in the last week of August 2028 and most primary schools reopen at the end of August or the start of September 2028 (each school sets its own reopening date).
Primary schools close for the summer at the end of June 2029. Post-primary schools generally close at the end of the school year in late May/June 2029, around the start of the State examinations.
Jump to the dates you need
School holidays 2026/2027
Every term date for the 2026/27 school year.
School holidays 2027/2028
Full term dates for next year, already confirmed.
School holidays 2028/2029
The third and final year confirmed by the current circular.
October mid-term 2026
Halloween break dates, primary & secondary.
Christmas holidays 2026
When schools close and reopen for Christmas.
February mid-term 2027
Primary vs secondary February break dates.
Easter holidays 2027
The two-week Easter break dates.
Summer holidays 2027
When do schools finish for the summer?
Back to school 2026/27
First day back and all key dates.
Add Irish school holidays to your calendar
Important information
Required tuition days
Primary: 182 days
Secondary: 166 days
Contingency arrangements
In case of unforeseen closures (e.g. severe weather), schools may reduce the February mid-term or shorten the Easter break by up to three days to make up lost days.
School-specific dates
Individual schools may set additional closure days for staff training. Always verify the exact dates with your specific school, find your school here.
Planning a birthday during the break?
Mid-term and holiday weeks are when party venues fill up first. Compare venues by price per child, minimum group size and age range.
Parent guides
Frequently asked questions
When is the october mid-term break in 2026/27?
Schools close 26 to 30 October 2026 and reopen on Monday 2 November 2026.
When is the christmas holidays in 2026/27?
Schools close 23 December 2026 to 5 January 2027 and reopen on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
When is the february mid-term break in 2026/27?
Secondary schools close 15 to 19 February 2027 and primary schools 18 to 19 February 2027. All schools reopen on Monday 22 February 2027.
When is the easter holidays in 2026/27?
Schools close 22 March to 4 April 2027 and reopen on Monday 5 April 2027.
Do all schools in Ireland follow these dates?
Yes, for the main breaks. The October, Christmas, February and Easter breaks are standardised by Department of Education Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna and DEIS schools. Each school still sets a small number of its own discretionary closure days.
How many days must schools be open?
Primary schools must provide at least 182 tuition days and post-primary schools at least 166 days per year.
Verified against DoE Circular 0018/2026 on 26 July 2026. Source of truth: gov.ie standardised school year circular.