Christmas school holidays 2026
When schools break up for Christmas 2026 and when they go back, for 105 councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, from each council's own published term dates. In England, schools in 46 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027.
Christmas school holidays 2026 at a glance
| Where | Last day of term | Back to school |
|---|---|---|
| England46 of 50 councils | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| Wales21 of 22 councils | Fri 18 Decall: Fri 18 Dec to Tue 22 Dec | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| Scotland12 of 32 councils | Fri 18 Decall: Fri 18 Dec to Wed 23 Dec | Tue 5 Jan 2027 |
| Northern IrelandDepartment of Education | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
The most common dates in each nation: in most of England that's off school Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, weekends included. Find your council below; academies and independent schools can differ.
England: Christmas 2026
In England, schools in 46 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. Every English council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Birminghamtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pooletwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Brenttwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Bristoltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Buckinghamshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Cambridgeshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Cheshire Easttwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Cheshire West and Chestertwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Cornwalltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| County Durhamtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Coventrytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Croydontwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Derbyshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Dorsettwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Ealingtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| East Riding of Yorkshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| East Sussextwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Essextwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Gloucestershiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Hampshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Hertfordshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Kenttwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Lancashiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Leedstwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Leicestertwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Leicestershiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Lincolnshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Liverpooltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Manchestertwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Newhamtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Norfolktwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| North Northamptonshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| North Yorkshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 JanINSET |
| Northumberlandtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Nottinghamshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Oxfordshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Sandwelltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Sheffieldtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Shropshiretwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Somersettwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Staffordshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Suffolktwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Surreytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Wakefieldtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Warwickshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 JanINSET |
| West Northamptonshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| West Sussextwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Wigantwo weeks and 1 day off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 JanINSET |
| Wiltshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Worcestershiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
Not published in a form we could check for 2026/27 yet: Devon.
Wales: Christmas 2026
In Wales, schools in 21 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027; the last day of term ranges from Fri 18 Dec to Tue 22 Dec. Every Welsh council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Angleseytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Blaenau Gwenttwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Bridgendtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Caerphillytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Cardifftwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Carmarthenshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Ceredigiontwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Conwytwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Denbighshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Flintshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Gwyneddtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Merthyr Tydfiltwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Monmouthshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Neath Port Talbottwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Newporttwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Pembrokeshiretwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Powysone week and 3 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Rhondda Cynon Taftwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Swanseatwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Torfaentwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Vale of Glamorgantwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
| Wrexhamtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
Scotland: Christmas 2026
In Scotland, schools in 12 of the 32 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027; the last day of term ranges from Fri 18 Dec to Wed 23 Dec. Every Scottish council's holidays side by side.
| Council, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeentwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Aberdeenshireone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Angustwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 23 Dec | Thu 7 Jan |
| Argyll and Buteone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Clackmannanshireone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Dumfries and Gallowaytwo weeks and 2 days off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Dundeetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 23 Dec | Thu 7 Jan |
| East Ayrshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| East Dunbartonshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| East Lothiantwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| East Renfrewshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Edinburghtwo weeks and 2 days off8 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Falkirkone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Fifetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Glasgowtwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Highlandtwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Inverclydetwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Midlothiantwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Thu 7 Jan |
| Moraytwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| North Ayrshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| North Lanarkshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Orkneytwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Perth and Kinrosstwo weeks off6 days' leave | Wed 23 Dec | Thu 7 Jan |
| Renfrewshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Scottish Borderstwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Shetlandtwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| South Ayrshireone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| South Lanarkshiretwo weeks off6 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 6 Jan |
| Stirlingone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| West Dunbartonshiretwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| West Lothiantwo weeks and 1 day off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
| Western Islesone week and 4 days off5 days' leave | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 5 Jan |
Northern Ireland: Christmas 2026
In Northern Ireland, schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027 (the Department of Education's dates).
| Schools, leave to cover it | Last day | Back |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Irelandtwo weeks off7 days' leave | Fri 18 Dec | Mon 4 Jan |
Leave to cover the Christmas holidays
On the most common English dates, Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, being off for every school day takes 7 days of leave for 16 days off: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are bank holidays, so they come free. If you can't cover it all, the best value inside it is Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec: book 3 days, get 10 off.
Christmas school holidays 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off
The tables above have the leave for each council's own dates. Open this break in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
No children at school? See Christmas 2026: the days to book for the most days off from the least leave.
Which schools use these dates
These are each council's dates for its own schools: in England, community and voluntary controlled schools; in Wales, as approved by the Welsh Government; in Northern Ireland, the Department of Education's. Academies, free schools, foundation, voluntary aided and independent schools can set their own, and each school sets most of its training (INSET) days, 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?
Questions
When do schools break up for Christmas 2026?
In England, schools in 46 of the 50 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027. In Wales, schools in 21 of the 22 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027; the last day of term ranges from Fri 18 Dec to Tue 22 Dec. In Scotland, schools in 12 of the 32 councils we have break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027; the last day of term ranges from Fri 18 Dec to Wed 23 Dec. In Northern Ireland, schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January 2027 (the Department of Education's dates). Councils set their own dates, so check yours above.
When do schools go back after Christmas 2026?
England: Monday 4 January 2027 (46 of 50 councils). Wales: Monday 4 January 2027 (21 of 22 councils). Scotland: Tuesday 5 January 2027 (12 of 32 councils). Northern Ireland: Monday 4 January 2027.
Is there a half term at Christmas 2026?
No. The Christmas holidays aren't a half term but a holiday of their own: two weeks off school in most of England, Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027. The half terms are in October, February and May.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Christmas holidays 2026?
7 days on the most common English dates, Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, working Monday to Friday, with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day free as bank holidays. Each council's own dates are in the tables above, with the leave to cover them.
Do all schools break up for Christmas on the same day?
No. Each council sets its own dates: in Wales the last day of term ranges from Friday 18 December 2026 to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Academies, free schools, voluntary aided and independent schools can set their own too.