Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearAberdeen school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Aberdeen's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from Aberdeen City Council. Aberdeen schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027). October holidays 2026 are Sat 10 Oct to Sun 25 Oct 2026 (two weeks), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
Aberdeen school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days, past | 18 to 21 Sepback Tue 22 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaystwo weeks, past | 10 to 25 Octback Mon 26 Oct | 10 days → 16 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 19 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan | 7 days → 17 off |
| February mid-term1 day | 6 to 8 Febback Tue 9 Feb INSET day | 1 day → 3 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 26 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 10 days → 17 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May INSET day | No leave |
| Summer holidaysseven weeks and 1 day | 3 Jul to 23 Augback Tue 24 Aug | 35 days → 52 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Fri 14 Aug 2026, Fri 13 Nov 2026, Tue 9 Feb 2027, Wed 10 Feb 2027 and Tue 4 May 2027. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2026/27
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Mon 17 Aug 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Thu 25 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Fri 2 Jul 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Aberdeen compares
- October holidays 2026 are Sat 10 Oct to Sun 25 Oct 2026 (two weeks), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
- February mid-term 2027 is Sat 6 Feb to Mon 8 Feb 2027 (1 day), a week earlier than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 13 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (2 days, 8 of 32 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Jul to Mon 23 Aug 2027 (seven weeks and 1 day), a week later and longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 26 Jun to Tue 10 Aug 2027 (six weeks and 2 days, 4 of 32 councils).
Its Christmas holidays and Easter holidays match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 32 Scottish councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every Scottish council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2026/27
To be off for every school holiday day in 2026/27 you'd need 70 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 5 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2027: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Source: Aberdeen City Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Aberdeen school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days | 17 to 20 Sepback Tue 21 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaystwo weeks | 9 to 24 Octback Mon 25 Oct | 10 days → 16 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 22 Dec to 4 Janback Wed 5 Jan | 6 days → 14 off |
| February mid-term1 day | 12 to 14 Febback Tue 15 Feb INSET day | 1 day → 3 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 1 to 16 Aprback Mon 17 Apr | 9 days → 16 off |
| May Day1 day | 29 Apr to 1 Mayback Tue 2 May INSET day | No leave |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks | 7 Jul to 10 Augback Fri 11 Aug | 24 days → 35 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Mon 23 Aug 2027, Fri 12 Nov 2027, Tue 15 Feb 2028, Wed 16 Feb 2028 and Tue 2 May 2028. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2027/28
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Tue 24 Aug 2027 | Tue 21 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Mar 2028 |
| Summer term | Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Thu 6 Jul 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Aberdeen compares
- February mid-term 2028 is Sat 12 Feb to Mon 14 Feb 2028 (1 day), shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 12 Feb to Tue 15 Feb 2028 (2 days, 8 of 29 councils).
- Easter holidays 2028 are Sat 1 Apr to Sun 16 Apr 2028 (two weeks), shorter than most Scottish councils' dates: Sat 1 Apr to Mon 17 Apr 2028 (two weeks and 1 day, 21 of 29 councils).
- Summer holidays 2028 are Fri 7 Jul to Thu 10 Aug 2028 (five weeks), a week later and shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 1 Jul to Thu 10 Aug 2028 (five weeks and 4 days, 10 of 29 councils).
Its October holidays and Christmas holidays match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 29 Scottish councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every Scottish council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2027/28
To be off for every school holiday day in 2027/28 you'd need 57 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2027: book 3 days, get 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2028: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2028: book 5 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Source: Aberdeen City Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Aberdeen City Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time? Work in a school? Teachers and annual leave.
Questions
When are the October holidays 2027 in Aberdeen?
Sat 9 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027, weekends included: two weeks off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 8 October and pupils go back on Monday 25 October.
When do Aberdeen schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Friday 18 December 2026. The holiday runs Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Aberdeen?
Sat 3 Jul to Mon 23 Aug 2027: seven weeks and 1 day off school. The last day of term is Friday 2 July.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in Aberdeen?
Fri 7 Jul to Thu 10 Aug 2028: five weeks off school. The last day of term is Thursday 6 July.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Aberdeen school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, 11 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Aberdeen school holidays?
70 days in 2026/27 and 57 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day and the council's INSET days, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 36% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Aberdeen follow these dates?
These are Aberdeen City Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.