East Ayrshire school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for East Ayrshire Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. East Ayrshire has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against East Ayrshire Council, School holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28 on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Mon 17 and Tue 18 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service)Pupils not in school | In-service |
| Wed 19 Aug 2026 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 18 and Mon 21 Sep 2026 | Local holidays (Ayr Gold Cup weekend)Friday 18 and Monday 21 September | Holiday |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Last day before October holiday | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October holidays | Holiday |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Last day before Christmas | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Christmas and New Year | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Fri 12 and Mon 15 Feb 2027 | Local holidaysFriday 12 and Monday 15 February | Holiday |
| Tue 16 Feb 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Last day before Easter holidays | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday, 26 March | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 3 May 2027 | Local holiday (May Day) | Public holiday |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Tue 29 Jun 2027 | Last day of session | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Wed 30 Jun 2027 to Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Summer holidaysPupils return Wednesday 18 August 2027 | Holiday |
Term dates 2027/28
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Mon 16 and Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Teachers return (in-service)Pupils not in school | In-service |
| Wed 18 Aug 2027 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 17 and Mon 20 Sep 2027 | Local holidaysSubject to change in alignment with Ayr Gold Cup weekend | Holiday |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Last day before October holidays | Term ends |
| Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | October holidays | Holiday |
| Mon 25 Oct 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Last day before Christmas | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas and New Year | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Mon 21 Feb 2028 | Local holiday | Holiday |
| Tue 22 Feb 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Last day before Easter holidays | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday, 14 April | Holiday |
| Tue 18 Apr 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 1 May 2028 | Local holiday (May Day) | Public holiday |
| 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 fileEast Ayrshire's 2026/27 calendar in brief
East Ayrshire Council runs schools in Kilmarnock, Cumnock, Stewarton, Galston, Dalmellington and the Irvine Valley. Its calendar has one quirk in 2026: the October holiday is a single week. Schools close from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October.
Monday 19 October is then an in-service day, so pupils return on Tuesday 20 October. In 2027 the October holiday goes back to two weeks. East Ayrshire also keeps the Ayr Gold Cup weekend in September.
In 2026 schools closed on Friday 18 and Monday 21 September. Christmas runs from Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027. Pupils return on Tuesday 5 January.
February has a long weekend from Friday 12 to Tuesday 16 February, ending with an in-service day. The Easter holidays start on Good Friday, 26 March, and end on Friday 9 April. There are five in-service days in 2026/27.
The session ends early, on Tuesday 29 June 2027. In 2027/28 pupils return on Wednesday 18 August 2027.
Schools in East Ayrshire
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Local public holidays
These are set by the council for the area. Schools may already be closed for the summer or a holiday.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Fri 18 to Mon 21 Sep 2026 | Ayr Gold Cup weekendCouncil public holidays on Friday 18 and Monday 21 September 2026. Schools closed. |
| Fri 17 to Mon 20 Sep 2027 | Ayr Gold Cup weekendSchool local holidays on Friday 17 and Monday 20 September 2027, subject to change in line with the Ayr Gold Cup weekend. |
Quick answers
- When is the October holiday in East Ayrshire in 2026?
Schools close from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Monday 19 October is an in-service day, and pupils return on Tuesday 20 October.
- How many in-service days are there in East Ayrshire in 2026/27?
There are five. In 2026 they are 17 and 18 August and Monday 19 October. In 2027 they are Tuesday 16 February and Monday 24 May.
- When do East Ayrshire schools break up for the summer 2027?
The summer holidays start on Wednesday 30 June 2027. The last day of term is Tuesday 29 June.
- When do East Ayrshire schools go back after the summer 2027?
In-service days are Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 August 2027. Pupils return on Wednesday 18 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. East Ayrshire has five in-service days in 2026/27.