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AberdeenAberdeenshireAngusArgyll and ButeClackmannanshireDumfries and GallowayDundeeEast AyrshireEast DunbartonshireEast LothianEast RenfrewshireEdinburghFalkirkFifeGlasgowHighlandInverclydeMidlothianMorayNorth AyrshireNorth LanarkshireOrkneyPerth and KinrossRenfrewshireScottish BordersShetlandSouth AyrshireSouth LanarkshireStirlingWest DunbartonshireWest LothianWestern Isles

October week 2026 in Scotland

October week 2026 starts on Monday 12 October in most Scottish councils. Some take one week, to Friday 16 October, and others take two weeks, to Friday 23 October.

Updated 1 October 2026. Dates checked against each council's published calendar.

12 OctMonday

25 of 32 councils start the October break on Monday 12 October 2026.

CouncilOctober holiday 2026Pupils backWeekdays off
AberdeenMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
AberdeenshireMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
AngusMon 5 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 202610
Argyll and ButeMon 5 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 202610
ClackmannanshireMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
Dumfries and GallowayMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
DundeeMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
East AyrshireMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
East DunbartonshireFri 9 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayMon 19 Oct 20266
East LothianMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
East RenfrewshireFri 9 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayMon 19 Oct 20266
EdinburghMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
FalkirkMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
FifeMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
GlasgowFri 9 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayMon 19 Oct 20266
HighlandMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
InverclydeMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
MidlothianMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
MorayMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
North AyrshireMon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 20265
North LanarkshireMon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 20265
OrkneyMon 12 to Tue 27 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayWed 28 Oct 202612
Perth and KinrossMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
RenfrewshireMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
Scottish BordersMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
ShetlandMon 12 to Tue 27 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayWed 28 Oct 202612
South AyrshireMon 12 to Mon 19 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 20 Oct 20266
South LanarkshireMon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 20265
StirlingMon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026Mon 26 Oct 202610
West DunbartonshireMon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026Mon 19 Oct 20265
West LothianMon 19 to Mon 26 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayTue 27 Oct 20266
Western IslesFri 9 to Wed 21 Oct 2026Includes an in-service dayThu 22 Oct 20269

One week or two

Scotland splits roughly in two for the October holidays.

  • One week, 12 to 16 October 2026: most of the central belt and Ayrshire. This includes Glasgow, Edinburgh, North and South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.
  • Two weeks, 12 to 23 October 2026: much of the north and east. This includes Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife, Highland, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Orkney and Shetland. Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and Dumfries and Galloway also take two weeks.

A few councils use other dates.

  • Angus and Argyll and Bute: two weeks, from Monday 5 to Friday 16 October.
  • West Lothian: one week, from Monday 19 to Friday 23 October.
  • Western Isles: Friday 9 October is an occasional holiday, then the break runs from 12 to 20 October.

In-service days next to the break

Many councils attach an in-service day, which makes the break longer for pupils. In Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire, Friday 9 October is an in-service day. In Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and Renfrewshire, it is Monday 19 October.

Orkney and Shetland have two in-service days after the break, on 26 and 27 October.

When pupils go back

  • Monday 19 October: Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, Angus and Argyll and Bute.
  • Tuesday 20 October: Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and Renfrewshire, after their in-service day.
  • Thursday 22 October: the Western Isles, after an in-service day on 21 October.
  • Monday 26 October: Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife, Highland, Moray and Perth and Kinross.
  • Tuesday 27 October: West Lothian, after an in-service day on 26 October.
  • Wednesday 28 October: Orkney and Shetland.

If you are booking a trip, check both ends of the break. An in-service day can add a Friday before or a Monday after.

October 2027

Next year's October break is similar. Glasgow takes 11 to 15 October 2027, and Fife and Highland take 11 to 22 October. Edinburgh moves later, to 18 to 22 October 2027.

Quick answers

When is October week 2026 in Glasgow?

Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Friday 9 October is an in-service day, so pupils are off from 9 October and return on Monday 19 October.

Is the October holiday one week or two in Scotland?

It depends on the council. Much of the central belt takes one week, while much of the north and east takes two.

When is the October holiday in Edinburgh in 2026?

Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Monday 19 October is an in-service day, and pupils return on Tuesday 20 October.

More guides

Dates for every council, worked out for each break.

Christmas school holidays 2026 in Scotland

Scottish schools break up for Christmas between Friday 18 and Wednesday 23 December 2026.

February holidays 2027 in Scotland

The February break in 2027 falls between Monday 8 and Monday 22 February, depending on the council.

Easter holidays 2027 in Scotland

Easter Sunday 2027 is 28 March.