Planning a language immersion trip, organising a school exchange or simply booking a family holiday abroad all require knowing the school rhythm of each country. Here is the complete guide to school holidays across Europe — and beyond — for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Why Do School Calendars Vary Across Europe?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no unified school calendar at European level. Each EU member state — and every country on the continent — freely sets its own teaching periods and holiday dates. Some countries, such as France or Germany, even decentralise the calendar by region or Bundesland, creating staggered dates within the same country.
The purpose of this fragmentation is often to prevent the saturation of transport networks, tourist accommodation and cultural venues during major holiday periods. It also allows the school rhythm to be adapted to local climatic or cultural specificities.
🇫🇷 France — School Calendar 2026-2027
In France, the academic year is divided into five teaching periods separated by four sets of intermediate holidays, plus the long summer break. The country is split into three zones (A, B, C) with slightly staggered dates to spread tourist flows across the season.
| Holiday | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to school | 1–2 September 2026 | ||
| Autumn | 17 Oct. – 3 Nov. | 17 Oct. – 3 Nov. | 17 Oct. – 3 Nov. |
| Christmas | 19 Dec. 2026 – 4 Jan. 2027 | ||
| Winter | 6 – 22 Feb. | 13 Feb. – 1 Mar. | 20 Feb. – 8 Mar. |
| Spring | 3 – 19 Apr. | 10 – 26 Apr. | 17 Apr. – 3 May |
| Summer | 5 July – 31 August 2027 | ||
Zone A: Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers. Zone B: Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg. Zone C: Paris, Créteil, Versailles.
🌍 A European Tour: School Calendars 2026-2027
From the cold north of Scandinavia to the Mediterranean sunshine, school rhythms vary considerably across the continent. Here is an overview of the main European countries.
🇩🇪 Germany
- Back to schoolEarly Sept. (by Land)
- AutumnOct.–Nov. (2 weeks)
- Christmas23 Dec. – 6 Jan.
- WinterFeb. (1–2 weeks)
- EasterApr. (2 weeks)
- SummerJune–Aug. (6 weeks)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Back to school2–4 Sept.
- Autumn half-term26–30 Oct.
- Christmas18 Dec. – 5 Jan.
- Feb. half-term15–19 Feb.
- Easter1–16 Apr.
- Summer23 July – 2 Sept.
🇪🇸 Spain
- Back to school8–14 Sept. (region)
- All Saints’31 Oct. – 2 Nov.
- Christmas23 Dec. – 7 Jan.
- Holy Week25 Mar. – 4 Apr.
- Summer21 June – 15 Sept.
🇮🇹 Italy
- Back to school10–15 Sept. (region)
- All Saints’31 Oct. – 2 Nov.
- Christmas24 Dec. – 6 Jan.
- Easter1–6 Apr.
- Summer12 June – 15 Sept.
🇧🇪 Belgium
- Back to school1 Sept.
- Autumn26 Oct. – 1 Nov.
- Christmas21 Dec. – 4 Jan.
- Carnival15–21 Feb.
- Easter5–18 Apr.
- Summer5 July – 31 Aug.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Back to schoolLate August
- AutumnOct. (1 week)
- Christmas26 Dec. – 11 Jan.
- WinterFeb. (1 week)
- SpringApr. (2 weeks)
- SummerJuly–Aug.
🇵🇹 Portugal
- Back to school14 Sept.
- Christmas19 Dec. – 4 Jan.
- Carnival1–5 Mar.
- Easter25 Mar. – 5 Apr.
- Summer20 June – 14 Sept.
🇨🇭 Switzerland
- Back to schoolAugust (by canton)
- AutumnOct. (2 weeks)
- Christmas24 Dec. – 9 Jan.
- Ski weekFeb. (2 weeks)
- EasterApr. (2 weeks)
- SummerJuly–Aug.
🇵🇱 Poland
- Back to school1 Sept.
- All Saints’30 Oct. – 8 Nov.
- Christmas23 Dec. – 3 Jan.
- WinterJan.–Feb. (regional)
- EasterApr.
- Summer26 June – 31 Aug.
🇸🇪 Sweden
- Back to schoolLate August
- AutumnNov. (1 week)
- Christmas21 Dec. – 10 Jan.
- Sportlov (ski)Feb.–Mar. (1 week)
- EasterApr. (1 week)
- SummerJune–Aug. (10 weeks)
🇩🇰 Denmark
- Back to school12 August
- AutumnOct. (1 week)
- Christmas22 Dec. – 4 Jan.
- WinterFeb. (1 week)
- EasterApr. (1 week)
- Summer26 June – 12 Aug.
🇦🇹 Austria
- Back to school7 Sept.
- Autumn26 Oct. – 2 Nov.
- Christmas24 Dec. – 6 Jan.
- Ski weekFeb. (2 weeks)
- Easter29 Mar. – 6 Apr.
- SummerEarly July – late Aug.
🌐 Beyond Europe: School Holidays Around the World
For expatriate families, internationally mobile professionals or organisers of school exchanges, knowing school calendars outside Europe is equally valuable.
| Country | School year start | Main summer holiday | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | Late Aug. – early Sept. | June – late August | 10–12 weeks |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Early September | Late June – late August | 10 weeks |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | April 2027 | July–Aug. + Dec.–Jan. + Mar. | 6 weeks |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Late January 2027 | Dec. 2026 – Jan. 2027 | 6–7 weeks |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | February 2027 | Dec. 2026 – Jan. 2027 | 8 weeks |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | January 2027 | Dec. 2026 – Jan. 2027 | 6 weeks |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | 15 September 2026 | July – September | 10 weeks |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | October 2026 | July – October | 14 weeks |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | January 2027 | Nov.–Dec. 2026 + June 2027 | 5–6 weeks |
Making the Most of School Holidays in the Mountains
The school holidays calendar is far more than an administrative planning tool — it is the starting point for your best mountain experiences, winter and summer alike. Whether you are passionate skiers or lovers of summer hiking, choosing the right window makes all the difference between a memorable stay and an overcrowded week.
⛷️ Winter Holidays: The Mountains at Their Peak
The February half-term concentrates the highest demand of the ski season across French, Swiss and Austrian alpine resorts. The staggered zones A, B and C in France spread the flow slightly — but the most sought-after resorts are fully booked months in advance. The Christmas holidays offer a uniquely magical mountain atmosphere: reliable snowfall, festive markets and a cosy village ambience in the French Alps.
For international families, German and Dutch February school holidays frequently coincide with the French ones, creating booking peaks across all major Alpine and Tyrolean resorts. Planning 3 to 6 months ahead is strongly recommended for the busiest weeks.
🌿 Summer Holidays: The Mountains From a Different Angle
A summer in the mountains is increasingly popular as a cool, restorative alternative to overcrowded coastal destinations. With 9 weeks of summer holidays in France — and up to 13 weeks in Italy or Spain — summer offers an ideal window to enjoy hiking trails, mountain lakes, trail cycling and outdoor family activities at altitude.
The French Alps attract families from across Europe every summer — British, Belgian, Dutch and German visitors alike — taking advantage of their long school break to settle in for several weeks. Owning or renting a property in the mountains turns these recurring holidays into a genuine lifestyle investment.
📅 Key Weeks to Book for 2026-2027
To plan your mountain stay ahead of the crowds, here are the priority dates to lock in your diary:
- Christmas 2026: 19 Dec. – 4 Jan. → perfect for the season opening and festive resort atmosphere
- Winter Zone A: 6 – 22 Feb. 2027 → skiing at the height of peak season
- Winter Zone B: 13 Feb. – 1 Mar. 2027 → highly sought-after weeks in major resorts
- Winter Zone C: 20 Feb. – 8 Mar. 2027 → late season, typically optimal snow conditions
- Spring: Apr. 2027 → spring skiing and the first high-altitude hikes of the year
- Summer: 5 July – 31 Aug. 2027 → hiking, mountain biking, mountain lakes, fresh air for the whole family
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: Official calendars from national ministries of education and recurring historical data. Dates are indicative and subject to change by the relevant authorities. Last updated: January 2026.
