Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearWigan school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Wigan's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from Wigan Council. Wigan schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January (an INSET day). For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 10 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027). Christmas 2026 is Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (two weeks and 1 day), longer than most English councils' dates: Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027 (two weeks, 46 of 50 councils).
Wigan 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 and 1 day | 19 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan INSET day | 8 days → 17 off |
| February half termone week | 13 to 21 Febback Mon 22 Feb | 5 days → 9 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 2 days | 25 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 10 days → 18 off |
| May half termone week | 29 May to 6 Junback Mon 7 Jun | 4 days → 9 off |
| Summer holidayssix weeks and 1 day | 22 Jul to 2 Sepback Fri 3 Sep | 30 days → 43 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Tue 1 Sep 2026 and Tue 5 Jan 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 1 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Wed 24 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Wed 21 Jul 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How Wigan compares
- Christmas 2026 is Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 (two weeks and 1 day), longer than most English councils' dates: Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027 (two weeks, 46 of 50 councils).
- Easter holidays 2027 are Thu 25 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 2 days), longer 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 Thu 22 Jul to Thu 2 Sep 2027 (six weeks and 1 day), longer 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, 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 64 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 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: 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 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.
If your leave year runs January to December, covering the whole Christmas holiday takes 7 days from your 2026 leave and 1 day from 2027's.
About these dates: Terms as the council lists them; the first day of the autumn and spring terms is a fixed INSET day for all schools, so pupils start on 2 September and 6 January. Schools set one more INSET day in the summer term, and two others of their own.
Source: Wigan Council's term dates (PDF), checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Wigan 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 INSET day | 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 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 |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Fri 3 Sep 2027 and Tue 4 Jan 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 | Fri 3 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 Wigan 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 61 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 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: Terms as the council lists them; the first day of the autumn and spring terms is a fixed INSET day for all schools, so pupils start on Monday 6 September and 5 January. Schools set one more INSET day in the summer term, and two others of their own.
Source: Wigan Council's term dates (PDF), checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are Wigan 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 Wigan?
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 Wigan?
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 Wigan 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 (an INSET day).
When are the summer holidays 2027 in Wigan?
Thu 22 Jul to Thu 2 Sep 2027: six weeks and 1 day off school. The last day of term is Wednesday 21 July.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in Wigan?
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 Wigan 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 Wigan school holidays?
64 days in 2026/27 and 61 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 39% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in Wigan follow these dates?
These are Wigan 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.