Midlothian school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for Midlothian Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Midlothian has a one-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against Midlothian Council, School term dates and holidays on 1 October 2026
The school year at a glance
Term dates 2026/27
| Date | What happens | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | ||
| Tue 11 and Wed 12 Aug 2026 | Teachers return (in-service) | In-service |
| Thu 13 Aug 2026 | Pupils return | Term starts |
| Fri 11 and Mon 14 Sep 2026 | Autumn holidayFriday to Monday inclusive | Holiday |
| Mon 12 to Fri 16 Oct 2026 | October mid-term breakLast day in school is Friday 9 October | Holiday |
| Mon 19 Oct 2026 | In-service dayPupils resume Tuesday 20 October | In-service |
| Tue 22 Dec 2026 | Last day before ChristmasSchools set their own finishing time | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Thu 7 Jan 2027 | Pupils return after Christmas | Term starts |
| Mon 15 to Fri 19 Feb 2027 | February mid-term breakLast day in school is Friday 12 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 | Last day of spring term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 5 to Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Spring holiday | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Tue 20 Apr 2027 | Pupils return for summer term | Term starts |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 24 May 2027 | Victoria Day (in-service day)Listed by the council as Victoria Day and as a staff development day | In-service |
| Tue 29 Jun 2027 | Last day of sessionSchools set their own finishing time | 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 return | Term starts |
| Fri 17 and Mon 20 Sep 2027 | Autumn holidayFriday to Monday inclusive | Holiday |
| Mon 18 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | October mid-term breakLast day in school is Friday 15 October | Holiday |
| Mon 25 Oct 2027 | In-service dayPupils resume Tuesday 26 October | In-service |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Last day before ChristmasSchools set their own finishing time | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Autumn term | ||
| Wed 5 Jan 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Spring term | ||
| Thu 6 Jan 2028 | Pupils return after Christmas | Term starts |
| Mon 14 to Fri 18 Feb 2028 | February mid-term breakLast day in school is Friday 11 February | Holiday |
| Thu 30 Mar 2028 | Last day of spring term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 31 Mar to Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday 14 April and Easter Monday 17 April | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Pupils return for summer term | Term starts |
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 22 May 2028 | Victoria Day (in-service day)Listed by the council as Victoria Day and as a staff development day | In-service |
| Fri 30 Jun 2028 | Last day of sessionSchools set their own finishing time | 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 fileMidlothian's 2026/27 calendar in brief
Midlothian Council sets one calendar for its schools, from Penicuik and Dalkeith to Bonnyrigg, Loanhead and Gorebridge. Pupils return on Thursday 13 August 2026, after in-service days on 11 and 12 August. The first break comes early.
Schools close for a long autumn weekend from Friday 11 to Monday 14 September. The October holiday runs from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October. Monday 19 October is an in-service day, so pupils go back on Tuesday 20 October.
The Christmas break starts after Tuesday 22 December. Pupils return on Thursday 7 January 2027, a day after staff. The February break is a full week, from 15 to 19 February.
Easter is split in two. Schools close for Good Friday and Easter Monday at the end of March. The main spring holiday then runs from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April.
There are five in-service days in 2026/27. One of them falls on Victoria Day, Monday 24 May 2027. The session ends on Tuesday 29 June 2027.
For 2027/28, pupils start on Wednesday 18 August 2027 and finish on Friday 30 June 2028. Schools set their own finishing times on the last day of term, so check with your school.
Schools in Midlothian
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When do Midlothian schools go back after the summer 2026?
Pupils return on Thursday 13 August 2026. Staff are in school for in-service days on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 August.
- When is the October holiday in Midlothian in 2026?
Schools close from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. Monday 19 October is an in-service day, so pupils return on Tuesday 20 October.
- How many in-service days are there in Midlothian in 2026/27?
There are five: 11 and 12 August 2026, 19 October 2026, 6 January 2027 and 24 May 2027.
- When does the Easter holiday start in Midlothian in 2027?
Schools close for Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March. The main spring holiday runs from Monday 5 to Monday 19 April, and pupils return on Tuesday 20 April.
Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. Midlothian has five in-service days in 2026/27.