Christmas school holidays 2026 in Scotland

When schools break up

The last day of term falls on one of three days in December 2026.

• Friday 18 December: 15 councils, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Orkney and Shetland.
• Tuesday 22 December: 14 councils, including Fife, Highland, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Stirling and the Western Isles.
• Wednesday 23 December: Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross.

Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday. Pupils in the 18 December councils are off for the whole of Christmas week. The latest finishers start their holiday on Christmas Eve.

Early closing on the last day

Some councils publish an early finish. Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Inverclyde schools close at 2.30pm on Friday 18 December 2026.

Most councils leave the closing time to each school. Check your school's newsletter or app.

When schools go back in January 2027

Most councils return on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Monday 4 January is a Scottish bank holiday, the substitute day for 2 January.

• Monday 4 January: Inverclyde. As this is also a bank holiday, confirm it with your school.
• Tuesday 5 January: 19 councils, including Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Stirling and West Lothian.
• Wednesday 6 January: Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Fife, Highland, Moray, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire.
• Thursday 7 January: Angus, Dundee, Midlothian and Perth and Kinross.

In Edinburgh and Dumfries and Galloway, Tuesday 5 January is an in-service day. In Midlothian it is Wednesday 6 January. Teachers are back on those days, but pupils are not.

How long the break is

Most pupils get about two weeks. A Glasgow pupil is off from Monday 21 December to Monday 4 January and returns on 5 January. In Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross, the break runs from Thursday 24 December to Wednesday 6 January.

The break includes four bank holidays: 25 and 28 December, and 1 and 4 January.

Other closures in December

A few councils close earlier in the month. Angus has in-service days on 2 and 3 December 2026. It then closes for St Andrew's Day on Friday 4 December. Some Scottish Borders school clusters close on Tuesday 1 December.

Leaving school at Christmas

Pupils whose 16th birthday falls between 1 October and the end of February can leave at Christmas. The law sets this winter leaving date as the first day of the school's Christmas holidays.

So the date depends on the council. In 2026 it is Monday 21 December in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In Fife it is Wednesday 23 December, and in Dundee Thursday 24 December. Our school leaving date tool works out the date from a birthday.

Christmas 2027

Christmas Day 2027 is a Saturday. The bank holidays move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. New Year bank holidays are Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 January 2028.

Of the 27 councils with 2027/28 dates, most break up on Tuesday 21 or Wednesday 22 December 2027. North Lanarkshire finishes first, on Friday 17 December. Edinburgh finishes on Monday 20 December.

Most return on Wednesday 5 January 2028, and ten councils return on Thursday 6 January. East Dunbartonshire returns on Monday 10 January 2028.

Five councils had not published 2027/28 dates on 1 October 2026. They are Aberdeenshire, East Lothian, Inverclyde, Orkney and the Western Isles.

Before you book

Councils can move in-service days during the year. Confirm the last day and the return date with your school before booking travel.

Quick answers

When do schools in Scotland break up for Christmas 2026?

Between Friday 18 and Wednesday 23 December 2026. Fifteen councils finish on 18 December and 14 on 22 December. Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross finish on 23 December.

When do Glasgow schools break up for Christmas 2026?

Friday 18 December 2026, with schools closing at 2.30pm. Pupils return on Tuesday 5 January 2027.

When do Edinburgh schools go back after Christmas?

Wednesday 6 January 2027. Tuesday 5 January is an in-service day, so teachers go back a day before pupils.

When do Fife schools break up for Christmas 2026?

Tuesday 22 December 2026. The spring term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2027.

Is 4 January 2027 a bank holiday in Scotland?

Yes. Monday 4 January 2027 is the substitute bank holiday for 2 January, which falls on a Saturday.