Edinburgh school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for City of Edinburgh Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Edinburgh has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against City of Edinburgh Council, School term dates 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 |
| Mon 14 Sep 2026 | Autumn holidayAll resume Tuesday 15 September. | Holiday |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Mid-term break begins after school | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October mid-term break | Holiday |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Tuesday 20 October. | In-service |
| Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Autumn term ends | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Winter holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Tue 5 Jan 2027 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Wednesday 6 January. | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Fri 12 Feb 2027 | Mid-term break begins after school | Term ends |
| Mon 15 to Fri 19 Feb 2027 | February mid-term breakAll resume Monday 22 February. | Holiday |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Good Friday | Public holiday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter MondayAll resume Tuesday 30 March. | Public holiday |
| Fri 2 Apr 2027 | Spring term ends | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 5 to Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Spring holidayIncludes the Edinburgh Spring Holiday on Monday 19 April. All resume Tuesday 20 April. | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Tue 4 May 2027 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Wednesday 5 May. | In-service |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | Victoria DayAll resume Tuesday 25 May. | Public holiday |
| Tue 29 Jun 2027 | Summer term ends | 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) | In-service |
| Wed 18 Aug 2027 | Pupils resume | Term starts |
| Mon 20 Sep 2027 | Autumn holidayAll resume Tuesday 21 September. | Holiday |
| Fri 15 Oct 2027 | Mid-term break begins after school | Term ends |
| Mon 18 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | October mid-term break | Holiday |
| Mon 25 Oct 2027 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Tuesday 26 October. | In-service |
| Mon 20 Dec 2027 | Autumn term ends | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Winter holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Wed 5 Jan 2028 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Thursday 6 January. | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Fri 11 Feb 2028 | Mid-term break begins after school | Term ends |
| Mon 14 to Fri 18 Feb 2028 | February mid-term breakAll resume Monday 21 February. | Holiday |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Spring term ends | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday (14 April) and Easter Monday (17 April). All resume Tuesday 18 April. | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Tue 2 May 2028 | In-service dayStaff only. Pupils resume Wednesday 3 May. | In-service |
| Mon 22 May 2028 | Victoria DayAll resume Tuesday 23 May. | Public holiday |
| Fri 30 Jun 2028 | Summer term ends | 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 fileEdinburgh's 2026/27 calendar in brief
The City of Edinburgh Council sets term dates for all council schools in the capital. Pupils went back on Wednesday 12 August 2026. The October mid-term break runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October.
Monday 19 October is a staff only day, so pupils return on Tuesday 20 October. The autumn term ends on Friday 18 December. Tuesday 5 January 2027 is another staff only day, and pupils come back on Wednesday 6 January.
February is a full week off, from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February. Easter is split in 2027. Good Friday and Easter Monday fall on 26 and 29 March, during term.
The spring holiday then runs from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April. That last Monday is the Edinburgh Spring Holiday. Two local Mondays are also off: the autumn holiday on 14 September and Victoria Day on 24 May.
There are five in-service days across the session. The summer term ends on Tuesday 29 June 2027. In 2027/28 pupils start later, on Wednesday 18 August 2027.
Schools in Edinburgh
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 |
|---|---|
| Mon 14 Sep 2026 | Autumn holidaySchools closed |
| Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Edinburgh Spring HolidaySchools closed, last day of the Easter break |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | Victoria DaySchools closed |
| Mon 20 Sep 2027 | Autumn holidaySchools closed |
| Mon 22 May 2028 | Victoria DaySchools closed |
Quick answers
- When is the October holiday in Edinburgh in 2026?
The mid-term break runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Monday 19 October is a staff only day, so pupils return on Tuesday 20 October.
- How many in-service days are there in Edinburgh in 2026/27?
There are five: 10 and 11 August 2026, 19 October 2026, 5 January 2027 and 4 May 2027.
- When does the Easter holiday start in Edinburgh in 2027?
The spring term ends on Friday 2 April 2027. The spring holiday runs from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April, and all resume on Tuesday 20 April.
- When do Edinburgh schools go back after the summer 2027?
Staff return on Monday 16 August 2027 for two in-service days. Pupils go back 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. Edinburgh has five in-service days in 2026/27.