School holidays 2026/2027: Ireland term dates
In the 2026/2027 school year, Irish schools break for the October mid-term (Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026), Christmas, the February mid-term and Easter (Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027). These are the standardised term dates set by the Department of Education in Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all primary and post-primary schools.
Coverage: These dates apply to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland publishes a separate school calendar.
Term dates 2026/2027 (primary & secondary)
| 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.
Add the 2026/2027 school year to your calendar
Break-by-break guides
Each break has its own page with the last day of school, the reopening date, the primary and secondary difference and a calendar download.
Public holidays during the 2026/2027 school year
- October Bank Holiday Mon 26 Oct 2026
- Christmas Day Fri 25 Dec 2026
- St. Stephen's Day Sat 26 Dec 2026
- New Year's Day Fri 1 Jan 2027
- St. Brigid's Day Mon 1 Feb 2027
- Saint Patrick's Day Wed 17 Mar 2027
- Easter Monday Mon 29 Mar 2027
- May Bank Holiday Mon 3 May 2027
- June Bank Holiday Mon 7 Jun 2027
- August Bank Holiday Mon 2 Aug 2027
Frequently asked questions
When is the october mid-term break in 2026/2027?
Schools close 26 to 30 October 2026 and reopen on Monday 2 November 2026.
When is the christmas holidays in 2026/2027?
Schools close 23 December 2026 to 5 January 2027 and reopen on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
When is the february mid-term break in 2026/2027?
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 2026/2027?
Schools close 22 March to 4 April 2027 and reopen on Monday 5 April 2027.
How many days must schools be open each year?
Primary schools must provide a minimum of 182 tuition days and post-primary schools a minimum of 166 days. The standardised breaks above are set so schools can meet these minimums.
Do all schools in Ireland follow these dates?
Yes, for the main breaks. The dates above come from Department of Education Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna and DEIS schools. Individual schools set a small number of their own discretionary closure days, so confirm the details with your child's school.
Related
Verified against DoE Circular 0018/2026 on 26 July 2026. Source of truth: gov.ie standardised school year circular.