School Holidays 2026

School holidays are scheduled periods when classes are not in session. These pauses give students and teachers time to rest, recharge, and spend time with family. They follow a pattern set by each country's education system and typically include long summer vacations, winter recesses, and shorter mid-year gaps.

The timing and length of these periods vary widely around the world. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer vacation usually falls between June and August. In the Southern Hemisphere, the longest recess happens from December to February. Some countries also include religious observances, national celebrations, and regional traditions in their academic calendars.

Knowing when these time-off periods occur helps families plan travel, childcare, and activities well in advance. Our free calendar brings all of this information together in one place so you can see upcoming dates at a glance.

Getting started with the calendar takes just a few steps:

• Select your country — Choose from the available list of countries. Each one shows its own academic calendar with region-specific dates.
• Browse by year — View dates for 2026, 2027, or toggle between academic years to plan further ahead.
• Check specific periods — Find the exact start and end dates for summer vacation, winter recess, spring time off, and any mid-term pauses.
• Set a countdown — Pick any upcoming recess and the tool shows a live countdown with days, hours, and minutes remaining until it begins.

The calendar updates automatically as new dates become available. Bookmark the page and check back whenever you need to confirm a date or start planning your next trip.

Most education systems divide the academic year into terms separated by scheduled time off. Here is a typical pattern found in many countries:

Autumn or fall recess occurs in October or November. It usually lasts one to two weeks and gives students a pause after the first stretch of the new school year. In the UK, this is called half term.

Winter recess falls around December and January. It covers the Christmas and New Year period and typically lasts two to three weeks. Some countries extend it further to include religious observances.

Spring recess arrives in March or April. It often coincides with Easter in Western countries and lasts one to two weeks. Families commonly use this time for travel since the weather begins to warm up.

Summer vacation is the longest period off. In most Northern Hemisphere countries, it runs from mid-June to late August or early September. Southern Hemisphere countries have their long vacation from December through February.

Some systems add shorter mid-term pauses or teacher training days throughout the year. The exact pattern depends on national and regional education policies.

Summer is the time off everyone looks forward to. Its length and timing differ significantly depending on where you live.

In the United States, summer vacation typically runs from early June to late August, giving students about 10 to 12 weeks off. Many districts set their own calendars, so exact dates vary by state and even by school district.

In Europe, summer vacation lengths range from 6 weeks in Germany and the UK to over 12 weeks in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Northern European countries like Sweden and Finland start their summer recess in mid-June and return in mid-August.

In Australia and New Zealand, the academic year follows the calendar year. Their long vacation runs from mid-December through late January. What Northern Hemisphere families call summer vacation falls during the Southern Hemisphere's winter, when students have a shorter two-week recess.

In Japan, summer vacation lasts about six weeks from late July to the end of August. South Korea has a similar schedule, though some schools include mandatory study sessions during the time off.

Understanding these differences is essential if you have family in other countries or plan international travel during off-peak seasons.

The winter recess is one of the most anticipated periods of the school year. It brings together family gatherings, festive celebrations, and a welcome pause from academic routines.

In most Western countries, this period begins a few days before Christmas and extends through the first week of January. The typical duration is two to three weeks. Students in the US usually finish classes around December 19 and return in early January.

In countries where Christmas is not widely celebrated, winter schedules follow different patterns. In China, the winter vacation spans roughly four weeks from mid-January to mid-February, aligning with the Lunar New Year period. Japan gives students about two weeks from late December to early January.

In the Southern Hemisphere, December marks the start of summer vacation rather than a winter recess. Countries like Australia, Brazil, and South Africa have their longest time off during this period. Their actual winter recess falls in June or July and lasts one to two weeks.

Checking your country's specific dates on the calendar helps avoid confusion, especially when coordinating plans across different time zones and hemispheres.

The spring recess provides a refreshing pause in the middle of the second half of the academic year. It typically falls in March or April and lasts one to two weeks.

In the United States, spring dates vary widely between districts. Some schools schedule time off around Easter, while others pick a fixed week in March regardless of the Easter date. College spring recesses often start earlier than K-12 schedules.

In Europe, many countries tie their spring recess to the Easter holiday. This means the dates shift each year since Easter is a moveable feast. French schools rotate their spring time off across three zones to reduce travel congestion.

In Asia, mid-year recesses do not always align with Western spring schedules. The academic year in many Asian countries starts in April or September, so their mid-year pauses fall at different times. India typically has a short pause around Holi in March, while major vacations come later in the year.

Half-term periods in the UK and Ireland occur around February and May, providing additional week-long pauses. These give students a rest without the longer duration of a full seasonal recess.

The United States does not have a single national school calendar. Each state, and often each district within a state, sets its own academic schedule. Despite this variation, most American schools follow a similar general pattern.

The school year runs from late August or early September through May or June. Thanksgiving in late November gives students a week or a long weekend off. The winter recess covers late December through early January. Spring time off falls in March or April and lasts about one week.

Some districts use a year-round calendar with shorter but more frequent recesses spread throughout the year. This approach replaces the long summer vacation with multiple three-week periods off. Year-round schools are less common but growing in popularity in states like California, North Carolina, and Arizona.

Federal holidays such as Labor Day, Presidents Day, and Memorial Day add single-day closures to the calendar. Many districts also include teacher professional development days when students stay home.

Because dates vary so much across the country, checking your specific district's calendar is important for accurate planning.

European countries generally offer more structured and uniform schedules than the United States. Many follow national calendars set by education ministries.

United Kingdom — The academic year runs from September to July with six half terms. Each half term lasts about six to eight weeks, separated by a one-week pause. Longer recesses occur at Christmas (two weeks), Easter (two weeks), and summer (six weeks).

Germany — Each of the 16 federal states sets its own schedule, but summer vacations are staggered to reduce highway congestion. Summer lasts about six weeks. Autumn, Christmas, winter, and Easter recesses add several more weeks throughout the year.

France — The school year runs from September to early July. Time off includes two weeks each for autumn, Christmas, winter, and spring. France divides the country into three zones that take their recesses at slightly different times.

Netherlands — Summer vacation is six weeks long, and additional recesses of one to two weeks occur in autumn, around Christmas, in February, and at Easter. The country also uses regional zones for staggering.

Scandinavia — Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark offer generous summer vacations of 9 to 10 weeks. Additional week-long pauses fall in autumn, around Christmas, and in February or March.

Academic calendars outside the Northern Hemisphere follow different rhythms. The timing of time off depends on climate, cultural traditions, and when the school year begins.

Japan starts its academic year in April. Major recesses include summer (late July to August), winter (late December to early January), and spring (late March to early April). Golden Week in early May provides a shorter pause.

South Korea follows a similar April-start calendar. Summer and winter recesses each last several weeks. Many students use the time off for academic enrichment programs.

India varies by region and school type. Many schools start in April and have their longest vacation during May and June when temperatures peak. A shorter winter recess occurs around Diwali or Christmas depending on the region.

Australia runs its academic year from late January to mid-December with four terms. Gaps between terms last two weeks each, with the longest summer vacation spanning six to eight weeks over December and January.

Brazil and Argentina also follow a February-to-December calendar. Their winter recess falls in July and lasts two to three weeks. The long summer vacation runs from December through February.

Knowing when time off occurs lets you book trips early, find better deals, and avoid last-minute stress. Here are practical tips for planning family travel around the academic calendar:

• Book early for peak periods — Summer and Christmas recesses are the busiest travel seasons. Booking flights and accommodations months in advance saves money and guarantees availability.
• Consider shoulder seasons — Traveling at the start or end of a vacation period often means smaller crowds and lower prices. The first and last days of summer are especially good for finding deals.
• Check multiple calendars — If you have children in different schools or live in a country with regional zones, compare all relevant calendars before committing to dates.
• Use the countdown feature — Set a countdown to the next recess so the whole family can look forward to it together. Knowing exactly how many days remain makes planning feel more concrete.
• Plan activities in advance — Popular attractions, camps, and programs fill up quickly during school holidays. Register early for any activities your children want to join.

Our calendar makes this process easier by showing all upcoming dates in one place. Check the dates, set your countdown, and start planning with confidence.

Public holidays and school recesses are related but not the same. Understanding the difference helps you plan more accurately.

Public holidays are official days off recognized by the government. Banks, offices, and many businesses close on these days. Examples include Independence Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Everyone in the country observes them regardless of whether they are students.

School recesses are longer periods when educational institutions suspend classes. They are set by education authorities and apply specifically to students and teachers. A school recess may include one or more public holidays within it, but the time off extends beyond those single days.

For example, the Christmas public holiday falls on December 25. But the winter school recess usually starts several days earlier and continues into the first week of January. The public holiday is one day within a two-week period off.

Some single-day public holidays also result in school closures even when they fall outside a scheduled recess. Teachers and students get the day off, but it is not technically part of the academic calendar. Our tool shows both types so you have a complete picture of all non-school days.

This free calendar includes everything you need to stay on top of upcoming time off:

• Country selection — Browse schedules for multiple nations. Each country shows its own verified dates based on official education ministry data.
• Year toggle — Switch between 2026 and 2027 to plan ahead. The calendar covers the current and upcoming academic years.
• Countdown timer — Pick any future recess and see a live countdown showing exactly how many days, hours, and minutes remain until it starts.
• Detailed dates — View the name, start date, end date, and duration of each period. No guessing or manual counting required.
• Mobile friendly — The calendar works on phones, tablets, and desktops. The layout adjusts to your screen size for easy reading on any device.
• No account needed — Access the full calendar without signing up or downloading anything. It runs directly in your browser.

All dates are checked against official sources and updated when governments announce changes. Bookmark the page and return whenever you need to confirm a date or check the next vacation.