Northern Ireland School Holidays & Term Dates
Summer Holidays is on now — 1 Jul 2026 (Wed) – 31 Aug 2026 (Mon) (62 days). Official Northern Ireland school term dates.
See 2026 school holiday datesdays left of this school holiday
United KingdomNorthern Ireland
2026 calendar
Northern Ireland school holidays in 2026 include summer, October half-term and Christmas break. Local authorities and schools may add INSET days — confirm locally.
| Period | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
Summer HolidaysBreak | 1 Jul 2026 (Wed) – 31 Aug 2026 (Mon) | 62 |
Autumn TermTerm | 1 Sept 2026 (Tue) – 28 Oct 2026 (Wed) | 58 |
October Half-TermBreak | 29 Oct 2026 (Thu) – 30 Oct 2026 (Fri) | 2 |
Term 2Term | 31 Oct 2026 (Sat) – 20 Dec 2026 (Sun) | 51 |
Christmas HolidaysBreak | 21 Dec 2026 (Mon) – 1 Jan 2027 (Fri) | 12 |
At a glance
- School days
- 109
- Holiday days
- 76
- Terms
- 2
- Longest break
- 62d
- Shortest break
- 2d
- Avg break
- 25.3d
Summer Holidays
October Half-Term
Year timeline
- Summer Holidays· 62d
- Autumn Term· 58d
- October Half-Term· 2d
- Term 2· 51d
- Christmas Holidays· 12d
Browse years
FAQ
When are the next Northern Ireland school holidays?
Open the Northern Ireland hub for a live countdown to the next break, or pick a year calendar for half-terms, Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. Local authority and school INSET days can differ from the reference dates we publish.
Are TermBreaks dates the official Northern Ireland school holidays?
Dates follow the cited Northern Ireland education authority or a widely used reference calendar for that nation. Every page links the source and last-verified date. Always confirm with your local authority or school, especially for INSET days.
Do all schools in Northern Ireland follow the same term dates?
Not always. Most grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland follow Education Authority standard dates, but always confirm with your school. Independent schools can also differ.
How many Northern Ireland school holiday blocks are there each year?
Typically six: October half-term, Christmas, February half-term, Easter, May half-term, and the long summer holiday. Exact lengths vary by nation and local authority.
Where can I verify Northern Ireland school holiday dates?
Cross-check the cited source at https://www.eani.org.uk/ and your local authority or school calendar. TermBreaks links sources and last-verified dates on every calendar page and on the methodology page.
Are INSET / training days included in the Northern Ireland holiday list?
No. TermBreaks lists term blocks and major holiday breaks. Teacher training (INSET) days are set locally and are not always published as term breaks — check your school.
When is Summer Holidays in Northern Ireland 2026?
Summer Holidays runs from 1 July 2026 to 31 August 2026 (62 days) on the reference calendar used here. Confirm with your local authority or school before booking travel.
When is October Half-Term in Northern Ireland 2026?
October Half-Term runs from 29 October 2026 to 30 October 2026 (2 days) on the reference calendar used here. Confirm with your local authority or school before booking travel.
When is Christmas Holidays in Northern Ireland 2026?
Christmas Holidays runs from 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 (12 days) on the reference calendar used here. Confirm with your local authority or school before booking travel.
When does the autumn term start in Northern Ireland 2026?
Autumn term usually begins in early September after the summer holidays. See the year calendar table for the exact reference start date used here.
When does the 2026 Northern Ireland school year end for summer?
Summer holidays begin after the final summer term ends — typically mid to late July in England and Wales, and often earlier in Scotland. Check the year calendar for the reference end date.