Ireland school holidays 2026
October Mid-term Break is on now: 26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri) (5 days). Official Department of Education standardised break dates for recognised primary and post-primary schools.
See 2026 school holiday dates
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Next school holiday in Ireland
Ireland schools are currently on the October Mid-term Break.
The break ends on , and schools reopen on .
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2026 calendar
Ireland’s Department of Education standardises mid-term, Christmas and Easter breaks nationwide. Summer holidays and the exact start of the school year are set by each school. February mid-term dates below use the post-primary full week; primary schools close Thursday–Friday and may extend with discretionary days.
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| Period | Dates | Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
Post-Christmas TermTermTerm | Dates5 Jan 2026 (Mon) – 15 Feb 2026 (Sun) | Schools reopened Mon 5 Jan 2026 after the Christmas break. | Days42 |
February Mid-term BreakBreakBreak | Dates16 Feb 2026 (Mon) – 20 Feb 2026 (Fri) | Post-primary: Mon 16–Fri 20 Feb. Primary: closed Thu 19–Fri 20 Feb; may use 3 discretionary days for Mon 16–Fri 20. | Days5 |
Pre-Easter TermTermTerm | Dates21 Feb 2026 (Sat) – 27 Mar 2026 (Fri) | Final school day before Easter is Fri 27 Mar 2026 (unless contingency shortens the break). | Days35 |
Easter BreakBreakBreak | Dates28 Mar 2026 (Sat) – 12 Apr 2026 (Sun) | Schools reopen Mon 13 Apr 2026. | Days16 |
Summer TermTermTerm | Dates13 Apr 2026 (Mon) – 26 Jun 2026 (Fri) | Representative primary-style end (last week of June). Post-primary schools usually finish before the June bank holiday (Mon 1 Jun 2026). | Days75 |
Summer HolidaysBreakBreak | Dates27 Jun 2026 (Sat) – 30 Aug 2026 (Sun) | Not standardised. Schools set summer start/end; typically closed for July and most or all of August. Representative primary-style window; post-primary summer is often longer. | Days65 |
Autumn TermTermTerm | Dates31 Aug 2026 (Mon) – 25 Oct 2026 (Sun) | Representative start in the week of 1 Sep 2026. Exact opening dates are school-set. | Days56 |
October Mid-term BreakBreakBreak | Dates26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri) | Days5 | |
Pre-Christmas TermTermTerm | Dates31 Oct 2026 (Sat) – 22 Dec 2026 (Tue) | Final school day before Christmas is Tue 22 Dec 2026. | Days53 |
Christmas BreakBreakBreak | Dates23 Dec 2026 (Wed) – 5 Jan 2027 (Tue) | Schools reopen Wed 6 Jan 2027. | Days14 |
More ways to plan your trips
Compare calendars with family abroad, or stretch leave into longer breaks.
At a glance
- School days
- 261
- Holiday days
- 105
- Terms
- 5
- Longest break
- 65d
- Shortest break
- 5d
- Avg break
- 21d
Summer Holidays
February Mid-term Break
Year timeline
Sky bars show school terms, and amber bars show school breaks across 2026.
School terms: Post-Christmas Term, 5 Jan 2026 (Mon) – 15 Feb 2026 (Sun); Pre-Easter Term, 21 Feb 2026 (Sat) – 27 Mar 2026 (Fri); Summer Term, 13 Apr 2026 (Mon) – 26 Jun 2026 (Fri); Autumn Term, 31 Aug 2026 (Mon) – 25 Oct 2026 (Sun); Pre-Christmas Term, 31 Oct 2026 (Sat) – 22 Dec 2026 (Tue). School breaks: February Mid-term Break, 16 Feb 2026 (Mon) – 20 Feb 2026 (Fri); Easter Break, 28 Mar 2026 (Sat) – 12 Apr 2026 (Sun); Summer Holidays, 27 Jun 2026 (Sat) – 30 Aug 2026 (Sun); October Mid-term Break, 26 Oct 2026 (Mon) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri); Christmas Break, 23 Dec 2026 (Wed) – 5 Jan 2027 (Tue)
- School terms
- School breaks
School holidays by year
FAQ
How many Ireland school holiday blocks are there each year?
Five main blocks: October mid-term, Christmas, February mid-term, Easter, and summer. Schools may also close on discretionary or religious observance days outside those windows.
What is the next school holiday in Ireland?
Ireland schools are currently on October Mid-term Break, ending 30 Oct 2026 (Fri).
When are the next Ireland school holidays?
Recognised Irish schools close for October mid-term, Christmas, February mid-term, Easter, and a longer summer break. The Ireland hub countdown shows the next upcoming break; year pages list every standardised break with exact dates.
Are schools currently on holiday in Ireland?
Yes. Ireland schools are on October Mid-term Break until 30 Oct 2026 (Fri).
Are TermBreaks dates the official Ireland school holidays?
Yes for the standardised breaks. Mid-term, Christmas and Easter dates come from the Department of Education and Youth (including Circular 0018/2026). Summer start/end and the first day of the school year are not standardised — confirm those with your school.
Why aren’t Ireland summer holidays standardised?
The Department standardises Christmas, Easter and mid-term breaks so families with children in different schools align. Start and end of the school year (including summer length) stay with each school, subject to minimum open-day requirements.
Do primary and post-primary schools have the same holidays?
Christmas, Easter and October mid-term are the same. February mid-term differs: post-primary schools close for a full week; primary schools close Thursday and Friday and may use discretionary days to take the full week.
Where can I verify Ireland school holiday dates?
Check the Department of Education school holiday dates page on gov.ie and Circular 0018/2026 for 2026/27 onwards. TermBreaks links sources and last-verified dates on every calendar page and on the methodology page.