Primary school holidays 2026/27
Mid-term breaks, Christmas, Easter and bank holidays for every primary school in Ireland, as set by the Department of Education. Schools are closed on 31 weekdays during the 2026/27 school year, not counting the summer.
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2026/27 school holidays
| Break | Schools closed | School days |
|---|---|---|
| October mid-term breakThe October bank holiday is Monday 26 October. | Mon, 26 October to Fri 30 October 2026 | 5 |
| Christmas holidaysLast day of term is Tuesday 22 December. Schools reopen Wednesday 6 January. | Wed 23 December 2026 to Tue 5 January 2027 | 10 |
| St Brigid's Day bank holiday | Monday 1 February 2027 | 1 |
| February mid-term breakEvery primary school closes on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February. | Thu, 18 February to Fri 19 February 2027 | 2 |
| February mid-term: full week at some schoolsSchools can use discretionary days to close for the whole week. Check with your school. | Mon, 15 February to Wed 17 February 2027 | 3 |
| St Patrick's Day | Wednesday 17 March 2027 | 1 |
| Easter holidaysLast day of term is Friday 19 March. Schools reopen Monday 5 April. | Mon, 22 March to Fri 2 April 2027 | 10 |
| May bank holiday | Monday 3 May 2027 | 1 |
| June bank holiday | Monday 7 June 2027 | 1 |
Dates are the first and last days schools are closed. Schools also close on Saturdays and Sundays either side.
From primaryschool.ie/term-dates. Source: Department of Education Circular 0018/2026: Standardisation of the school year 2026/27 to 2028/29.
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Questions parents ask
- When is the October mid-term 2026?
- Primary schools close for the October mid-term from Mon, 26 October to Fri 30 October 2026. The October bank holiday is Monday 26 October.
- When do primary schools close for Christmas 2026?
- Last day of term is Tuesday 22 December. Schools reopen Wednesday 6 January.
- When is the February mid-term 2027?
- All primary schools close on Thursday, 18 February and Friday 19 February 2027. Some schools use discretionary days to close for the full week from Monday, 15 February, so check with your school.
- When are the Easter holidays 2027?
- Last day of term is Friday 19 March. Schools reopen Monday 5 April. Schools are closed from Mon, 22 March to Fri 2 April 2027.
- When do primary schools close for the summer 2027?
- Each primary school sets its own last day, usually towards the end of June. Your school will tell you the date. Primary schools must be open for at least 182 days a year.
- How many days off school are there in 2026/27?
- Primary schools are closed on 31 weekdays during the 2026/27 school year for mid-term breaks, Christmas, Easter and bank holidays, not counting the summer. Working parents would need that many days of leave or childcare to cover them all, plus any days your school adds.
- Do all primary schools have the same holidays?
- Yes for the main breaks. The Department of Education sets the October, Christmas, February and Easter breaks for every primary school (Department of Education Circular 0018/2026: Standardisation of the school year 2026/27 to 2028/29). Schools have a few discretionary days of their own, and set their own start date in late August or early September and their last day in June.
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Other years
Where these dates come from
Department of Education Circular 0018/2026: Standardisation of the school year 2026/27 to 2028/29. The Department sets the main breaks for 2026/27 to 2028/29 so that families with children in different schools get the same holidays.
Secondary schools follow a similar calendar with some differences. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].