The School Holiday System in Ireland
Ireland operates a single national school calendar set by the Department of Education, covering all primary and post-primary schools across the Republic. There are no regional zones: every school in the country follows the same break schedule, making Ireland one of the simplest European systems to navigate for travel planning. The academic year is divided into three terms and includes five main holiday periods per year.
- Autumn Mid-Term Break: One week in late October, typically the last week of the month — aligned with the October Bank Holiday Monday.
- Christmas Holidays: Approximately two weeks, running from around 22 December to 6 January.
- February Mid-Term Break: One week in mid-February, often coinciding with St Brigid's Day weekend.
- Easter Holidays: Approximately two weeks around Easter Sunday, falling in March or April depending on the year.
- Summer Holidays: From early June to the end of August — the longest break at roughly 12 weeks.
In addition to school holidays, Ireland observes 10 statutory bank holidays. Most are fixed to Monday by law, creating a consistent pattern of long weekends. Note that Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, follows a separate school and bank holiday calendar — use the United Kingdom page for Northern Ireland dates. Use the Holiday Planner to overlay Ireland's calendar with neighbouring countries such as the UK or France to find the best travel windows.
Summer holidays Ireland 2026 and 2027
The 2026 school summer holidays in Ireland run from 5 June 2026 to 31 August 2026. The 2027 school summer holidays in Ireland run from 4 June 2027 to 31 August 2027 (provisional dates).
Frequently asked questions
When are the school summer holidays in Ireland in 2026?
The 2026 school summer holidays in Ireland run from 5 June 2026 to 31 August 2026. The 2027 school summer holidays in Ireland run from 4 June 2027 to 31 August 2027 (provisional dates).
When do schools go back in Ireland in 2026?
The 2026 summer holidays end on 31 August 2026; the new school year starts in the following days.
Are school holidays the same everywhere in Ireland?
Yes, holiday dates are set nationally and apply everywhere.
Public holidays Ireland 2026, 2027 & 2028 →
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School Holidays in Ireland 2026–2027 by region
| Region | Autumn | Christmas | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole | 26 Oct – 30 Oct 2026 | 23 Dec – 5 Jan 2027; 30 Jan – 1 Feb 2027 | 15 Feb – 19 Feb 2027 | 20 Mar – 4 Apr 2027; 1 May – 3 May 2027 | 4 Jun – 31 Aug 2027 |
Public holidays in Ireland 2026–2027
| Holiday | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| October Bank Holiday | Mon 26 Oct 2026 | inside school holidays |
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec 2026 | inside school holidays |
| St. Stephen's Day | Sat 26 Dec 2026 | inside school holidays |
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan 2027 | inside school holidays |
| St. Brigid's Day | Mon 1 Feb 2027 | inside school holidays |
| St. Patrick's Day | Wed 17 Mar 2027 | – |
| Easter Monday | Mon 29 Mar 2027 | inside school holidays |
| May Day | Mon 3 May 2027 | inside school holidays |
| June Bank Holiday | Mon 7 Jun 2027 | inside school holidays |
| August Bank Holiday | Mon 2 Aug 2027 | inside school holidays |
School Holidays in Ireland 2025–2026 by region
| Region | Autumn | Christmas | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole | 27 Oct – 31 Oct 2025 | 22 Dec – 6 Jan 2026; 31 Jan – 2 Feb 2026 | 16 Feb – 20 Feb 2026 | 30 Mar – 12 Apr 2026; 2 May – 4 May 2026; 30 May – 1 Jun 2026 | 5 Jun – 31 Aug 2026 |
Public holidays in Ireland 2025–2026
| Holiday | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| October Bank Holiday | Mon 27 Oct 2025 | inside school holidays |
| Christmas Day | Thu 25 Dec 2025 | inside school holidays |
| St. Stephen's Day | Fri 26 Dec 2025 | inside school holidays |
| New Year's Day | Thu 1 Jan 2026 | inside school holidays |
| St. Brigid's Day | Mon 2 Feb 2026 | inside school holidays |
| St. Patrick's Day | Tue 17 Mar 2026 | – |
| Easter Monday | Mon 6 Apr 2026 | inside school holidays |
| May Day | Mon 4 May 2026 | inside school holidays |
| June Bank Holiday | Mon 1 Jun 2026 | inside school holidays |
| August Bank Holiday | Mon 3 Aug 2026 | inside school holidays |