East Lothian school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for East Lothian Council schools in 2026/27. East Lothian has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against East Lothian Council, School term dates 2026-2027 on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Mon 10 and Tue 11 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Wed 12 Aug 2026 | Pupils resume | Term starts |
| Fri 11 and Mon 14 Sep 2026 | Autumn holidaySchools closed Friday 11 and Monday 14 September. All return Tuesday 15 September. | Holiday |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Schools break for October | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October break | Holiday |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | Staff in-service day 3Pupils resume Tuesday 20 October. | In-service |
| Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Term ends | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Christmas and New YearAll resume Tuesday 5 January 2027. | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Fri 12 Feb 2027 | Schools break for February | Term ends |
| Mon 15 to Fri 19 Feb 2027 | February break | Holiday |
| Mon 22 Feb 2027 | Staff in-service day 4Pupils resume Tuesday 23 February. | In-service |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter MondayAll return Tuesday 30 March. | Public holiday |
| Fri 2 Apr 2027 | Term ends | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 5 to Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Easter holidayAll resume Tuesday 20 April. | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May DaySchools closed. All resume Tuesday 4 May. | Public holiday |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | Staff in-service day 5Pupil holiday. Pupils resume Tuesday 25 May. | In-service |
| Tue 29 Jun 2027 | Term ends | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Wed 30 Jun 2027 | Summer holidaysNext session not published yet | Holiday |
East Lothian Council has not published its 2027/28 dates yet. We add them as soon as the council does.
Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar updates if the council changes a date.
Get the calendar fileEast Lothian's 2026/27 calendar in brief
East Lothian Council covers schools in Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Tranent, Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Its calendar is set close to Edinburgh and Midlothian, so many families share the same breaks. Pupils went back on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
The October break runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October. Monday 19 October is an in-service day, and pupils resume on Tuesday 20 October. Term ends on Friday 18 December, and everyone returns on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
February is a full week off, from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February. Another in-service day follows on Monday 22 February. Easter is unusual in 2026/27.
Good Friday and Easter Monday fall on 26 and 29 March, while schools are still in session. The Easter holiday comes later, from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April. The council's own report called this split very unusual.
There are five in-service days in the session. The last is Monday 24 May 2027, which gives pupils a long weekend. Term ends on Tuesday 29 June 2027.
Dates for 2027/28 have been consulted on but are not yet on the council's term dates page.
Schools in East Lothian
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When is the October week in East Lothian in 2026?
Schools break up on Friday 9 October 2026. The holiday runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, then Monday 19 October is an in-service day. Pupils go back on Tuesday 20 October.
- How long is the February break in East Lothian in 2027?
It is a full week, from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Monday 22 February is an in-service day, so pupils return on Tuesday 23 February.
- When does the Easter holiday start in East Lothian in 2027?
Term ends on Friday 2 April 2027. The Easter holiday runs from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April, and everyone returns on Tuesday 20 April.
- How many in-service days are there in East Lothian in 2026/27?
There are five: 10 and 11 August 2026, 19 October 2026, 22 February 2027 and 24 May 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 Lothian has five in-service days in 2026/27.