Highland school holidays 2026/27
Highland has an in-service day on Monday 14 September 2026, then a two-week October break from 12 October. The 2026/27 and 2027/28 dates apply to every Highland school, from Caithness to Skye.
Checked against The Highland 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 17 and Tue 18 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Wed 19 Aug 2026 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Mon 14 Sep 2026 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Term 1 ends | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026 | October holidaysTerm 2 starts Monday 26 October. | Holiday |
| Tue 22 Dec 2026 | Term 2 ends | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Christmas and New Year holidaysTerm 3 starts Wednesday 6 January 2027. | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Mon 15 and Tue 16 Feb 2027 | February break | Holiday |
| Wed 17 Feb 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Term 3 ends | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March). Term 4 starts Monday 12 April. | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Thu 1 Jul 2027 | Term 4 ends | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Fri 2 Jul 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 return | Term starts |
| Mon 13 Sep 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Term 1 ends | Term ends |
| Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | October holidaysTerm 2 starts Monday 25 October. | Holiday |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Term 2 ends | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas and New Year holidaysTerm 3 starts Wednesday 5 January 2028. | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Mon 14 and Tue 15 Feb 2028 | February break | Holiday |
| Wed 16 Feb 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Term 3 ends | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Easter holidaysIncludes Good Friday (14 April) and Easter Monday (17 April). Term 4 starts Tuesday 18 April. | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 5 Jun 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Thu 29 Jun 2028 | Term 4 ends | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Fri 30 Jun 2028 | Summer holidaysNext session not published yet | Holiday |
Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar picks up any date the council changes. Use Google Calendar on Android, or the subscribe link on iPhone and Outlook.
Highland's 2026/27 calendar in brief
The Highland Council sets one calendar for schools across a huge area. It covers Inverness, Nairn, Fort William, Skye, Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross. Highland starts later than central Scotland.
Term 1 starts with in-service days on 17 and 18 August 2026, and pupils return on Wednesday 19 August. The October holidays last two weeks, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October. Term 2 runs to Tuesday 22 December.
The Christmas break lasts until Tuesday 5 January 2027. February has a short break on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16, then an in-service day on Wednesday 17. The Easter holidays run from Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027.
Easter weekend falls inside the break. There are five in-service days in the session. One of them is a September Monday, 14 September 2026.
The last is Thursday 6 May 2027, just after the May Day holiday. Term 4 ends on Thursday 1 July 2027. For 2027/28, pupils return on Wednesday 18 August 2027.
Schools in Highland
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When are the October holidays in Highland in 2026?
The October holidays run from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October 2026. Term 2 starts on Monday 26 October.
- How many in-service days are there in Highland in 2026/27?
There are five: 17 and 18 August 2026, 14 September 2026, 17 February 2027 and 6 May 2027.
- When does the Easter holiday start in Highland in 2027?
Term 3 ends on Thursday 25 March 2027. The Easter holidays run from Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April. Term 4 starts on Monday 12 April.
- When do Highland schools break up for summer 2027?
Term 4 ends on Thursday 1 July 2027, and the summer holidays start on Friday 2 July. 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. Highland has five in-service days in 2026/27.