Dumfries and Galloway school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for Dumfries and Galloway Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Dumfries and Galloway has a two-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against Dumfries and Galloway Council, School term and holiday dates on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Wed 19 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service)Pupils not in school | In-service |
| Thu 20 Aug 2026 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Last day of term 1 | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026 | Autumn holiday | Holiday |
| Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Last day of term 2 | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Staff training dayTerm 3 starts for pupils on Wednesday 6 January | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Thu 18 and Fri 19 Feb 2027 | Staff training closure | In-service |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Last day of term 3 | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Spring holidayStarts on Good Friday, 26 March | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May Day holiday | Public holiday |
| Fri 28 May 2027 | Staff training closure | In-service |
| Fri 2 Jul 2027 | Last day of session | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Sat 3 Jul 2027 to Sun 22 Aug 2027 | Summer holidaysPupils return Monday 23 August 2027 | Holiday |
Term dates 2027/28
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Thu 19 and Fri 20 Aug 2027 | Teachers return (in-service)Pupils not in school | In-service |
| Mon 23 Aug 2027 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Last day of term 1 | Term ends |
| Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | Autumn holiday | Holiday |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Last day of term 2 | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Staff training dayTerm 3 starts for pupils on Thursday 6 January | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Fri 18 Feb 2028 | Staff training dayAlso listed as the first day of the mid-term holiday | In-service |
| Mon 21 Feb 2028 | Mid-term holiday | Holiday |
| Fri 7 Apr 2028 | Last day of term 3 | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 10 to Fri 21 Apr 2028 | Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday, 14 April, and Easter Monday, 17 April | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May Day holiday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 May 2028 | Staff training closure | In-service |
| Fri 30 Jun 2028 | Last day of session | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Sat 1 Jul 2028 | Summer holidaysNext session not published yet | Holiday |
Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar updates if the council changes a date.
Get the calendar fileDumfries and Galloway's 2026/27 calendar in brief
Dumfries and Galloway Council runs schools across the south-west, from Stranraer and Newton Stewart to Dumfries, Annan and Langholm. Pupils started the 2026/27 session on Thursday 20 August 2026, a few days later than many councils. The next break is the autumn holiday, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October.
Term 2 ends on Friday 18 December. Christmas is a long break, as the first school day of January is a staff training day. Pupils return on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
There are five staff training days in 2026/27. They fall on 19 August, 5 January, 18 and 19 February, and 28 May. In February the two training days make a four-day weekend from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 February.
The spring holiday starts on Good Friday, 26 March, and runs to Friday 9 April. The session ends on Friday 2 July 2027. In 2027/28 the Easter break moves later, from Monday 10 to Friday 21 April 2028.
Pupils start that session on Monday 23 August 2027.
Schools in Dumfries and Galloway
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When is the October holiday in Dumfries and Galloway in 2026?
The autumn holiday runs from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October 2026. Term 2 starts on Monday 26 October.
- When do Dumfries and Galloway schools go back after Christmas 2026?
Tuesday 5 January 2027 is a staff training day. Pupils return on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
- How many in-service days are there in Dumfries and Galloway in 2026/27?
There are five staff training days. The 2026 one is Wednesday 19 August. In 2027 they are 5 January, 18 and 19 February, and 28 May.
- When do Dumfries and Galloway schools go back after the summer 2027?
Staff training days are Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August 2027. Pupils start on Monday 23 August 2027.
Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. Dumfries and Galloway has five in-service days in 2026/27.