Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearManchester school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Manchester's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from Manchester City Council. Manchester schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Monday 4 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027). Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Apr to Sun 18 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week later than most English councils' dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 41 of 50 councils).
Manchester school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week | 24 Oct to 1 Novback Mon 2 Nov | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 19 Dec to 3 Janback Mon 4 Jan | 7 days → 16 off |
| February half termone week | 13 to 21 Febback Mon 22 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter weekend2 days | 26 to 29 Marback Tue 30 Mar | No leave |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 3 to 18 Aprback Mon 19 Apr | 10 days → 16 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May | No leave |
| May half termone week | 29 May to 6 Junback Mon 7 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 3 days | 23 Jul to 31 Augback Wed 1 Sep | 27 days → 40 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
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 | Tue 1 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Fri 2 Apr 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Thu 22 Jul 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Manchester compares
- Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Apr to Sun 18 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week later than most English councils' dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 41 of 50 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Fri 23 Jul to Tue 31 Aug 2027 (five weeks and 3 days), shorter than the most common English dates: Thu 22 Jul to Tue 31 Aug 2027 (five weeks and 4 days, 17 of 50 councils).
Its October half term, Christmas holidays, February half term and May half term match the most common English dates.
Compared with the 50 English councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every English 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 58 days of leave. 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 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 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.
Summer 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.
About these dates: Easter holidays are the two weeks after Easter (5 to 16 April); schools close for Good Friday and Easter Monday in term.
Source: Manchester City Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Manchester school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October half termone week | 23 to 31 Octback Mon 1 Nov | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 18 Dec to 3 Janback Tue 4 Jan | 8 days → 17 off |
| February half termone week | 19 to 27 Febback Mon 28 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 1 to 17 Aprback Tue 18 Apr | 9 days → 17 off |
| May Day1 day | 29 Apr to 1 Mayback Tue 2 May | No leave |
| May half termone week | 27 May to 4 Junback Mon 5 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 4 days | 22 Jul to 31 Augback Fri 1 Sep | 28 days → 41 off |
The council doesn't publish training (INSET) days for every school: each school sets its own, usually five a year. Check with your school.
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 | Wed 1 Sep 2027 | Fri 17 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Mar 2028 |
| Summer term | Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Fri 21 Jul 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Manchester compares
- February half term 2028 is Sat 19 Feb to Sun 27 Feb 2028 (one week), a week later than most English councils' dates: Sat 12 Feb to Sun 20 Feb 2028 (one week, 39 of 49 councils).
Its October half term, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, May half term and summer holidays match the most common English dates.
Compared with the 49 English councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every English 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 59 days of leave. 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 10 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 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
May half term 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.
About these dates: February half term is a week later than in most of England (21 to 25 February 2028).
Source: Manchester City Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Manchester City Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.
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 is October half term 2026 in Manchester?
Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov 2026, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 23 October and pupils go back on Monday 2 November.
When is October half term 2027 in Manchester?
Sat 23 Oct to Sun 31 Oct 2027, weekends included: one week off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 22 October and pupils go back on Monday 1 November.
When do Manchester schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Friday 18 December 2026. The holiday runs Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Monday 4 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Manchester?
Fri 23 Jul to Tue 31 Aug 2027: five weeks and 3 days off school. The last day of term is Thursday 22 July.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in Manchester?
Sat 22 Jul to Thu 31 Aug 2028: five weeks and 4 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 21 July.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Manchester school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, 10 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the Manchester school holidays?
58 days in 2026/27 and 59 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 43% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Manchester follow these dates?
These are Manchester City Council's dates for community and voluntary controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation and voluntary aided schools can set their own, and independent schools always do, so check with your school before you book. Most training (INSET) days are set by each school.