Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearOrkney school holidays 2026/27
Orkney's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27, from Orkney Islands Council. Orkney 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 Tue 27 Oct 2026 (two weeks and 2 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
Orkney school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| October holidaystwo weeks and 2 days | 10 to 27 Octback Wed 28 Oct | 12 days → 18 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 19 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan | 7 days → 17 off |
| February mid-term4 days | 11 to 16 Febback Wed 17 Feb | 4 days → 6 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 27 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 10 days → 16 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May | No leave |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 2 days | 3 Jul to 10 Augback Wed 11 Aug | 26 days → 39 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Mon 17 Aug 2026, Mon 26 Oct 2026, Tue 27 Oct 2026, Tue 16 Feb 2027 and Mon 31 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 | Tue 18 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 Orkney compares
- October holidays 2026 are Sat 10 Oct to Tue 27 Oct 2026 (two weeks and 2 days), 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 Thu 11 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (4 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 13 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (2 days, 8 of 32 councils).
- Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 27 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks), shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 13 of 32 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Jul to Tue 10 Aug 2027 (five weeks and 2 days), a week later and shorter 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 matches 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 60 days of leave, including the council's INSET day. 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:
October holidays 2026: book 5 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
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.
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.
About these dates: Schools are also closed on Monday 31 May 2027, an in-service day.
Source: Orkney Islands Council's term dates (PDF), checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Orkney Islands 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.
We don't have Orkney's 2027/28 dates yet. We'll add them once they're published and checked.
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 2026 in Orkney?
Sat 10 Oct to Tue 27 Oct 2026, weekends included: two weeks and 2 days off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 9 October and pupils go back on Wednesday 28 October.
When do Orkney 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 Orkney?
Sat 3 Jul to Tue 10 Aug 2027: five weeks and 2 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 2 July.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the Orkney 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 Orkney school holidays?
60 days in 2026/27, 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 42% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Orkney follow these dates?
These are Orkney Islands 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.