Moray school holidays 2026/27
Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for The Moray Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Moray has a two-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.
Checked against The Moray Council, School term and holiday dates 2026 to 2029 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 |
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Last day of autumn term | Term ends |
| Mon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026 | Autumn holiday | Holiday |
| Mon 26 Oct 2026 | Winter term starts | Term starts |
| Mon 9 and Tue 10 Nov 2026 | In-service days | In-service |
| Tue 22 Dec 2026 | Last day before ChristmasTerm does not end on Friday 18 December | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 23 Dec 2026 to Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | Spring term starts | Term starts |
| Thu 11 Feb 2027 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 12 and Mon 15 Feb 2027 | Mid-term holiday | Holiday |
| Tue 16 Feb 2027 | Occasional dayBuckie High, Elgin Academy, Elgin High, Forres Academy, Lossiemouth High and Milne's High ASGs only | Holiday |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Last day of spring term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Fri 26 Mar to Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday 26 March and Easter Monday 29 March | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Summer term starts | Term starts |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Mon 7 Jun 2027 | Occasional dayKeith Grammar and Speyside High ASGs only | Holiday |
| Fri 2 Jul 2027 | Last day of session | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Sat 3 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 |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Last day of autumn term | Term ends |
| Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027 | Autumn holiday | Holiday |
| Mon 25 Oct 2027 | Winter term starts | Term starts |
| Mon 8 and Tue 9 Nov 2027 | In-service days | In-service |
| Tue 21 Dec 2027 | Last day before Christmas | Term ends |
| Christmas | ||
| Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 | Christmas holiday | Holiday |
| Spring term | ||
| Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Spring term starts | Term starts |
| Thu 10 Feb 2028 | In-service day | In-service |
| Fri 11 and Mon 14 Feb 2028 | Mid-term holiday | Holiday |
| Fri 31 Mar 2028 | Last day of spring term | Term ends |
| Easter | ||
| Mon 3 to Fri 14 Apr 2028 | Spring holidayIncludes Good Friday 14 April | Holiday |
| Summer term | ||
| Mon 17 Apr 2028 | Summer term starts | Term starts |
| Mon 1 May 2028 | May Day | Public holiday |
| Thu 29 Jun 2028 | Last day of session | Term ends |
| Summer | ||
| Fri 30 Jun 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 fileMoray's 2026/27 calendar in brief
The Moray Council calendar covers schools from Elgin, Forres and Lossiemouth to Buckie, Keith and the Speyside villages. Pupils return on Wednesday 19 August 2026, after in-service days on 17 and 18 August. The autumn holiday lasts two full weeks, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October.
Two more in-service days follow on 9 and 10 November. Term runs to Tuesday 22 December, not Friday 18 December. Pupils return on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
February brings a short break. Thursday 11 February is an in-service day, then schools close on Friday 12 and Monday 15 February. Six secondary school groups also close on Tuesday 16 February as an occasional day.
These are Buckie, Elgin Academy, Elgin High, Forres, Lossiemouth and Milne's. The Keith Grammar and Speyside High groups take their occasional day on Monday 7 June instead. The spring holiday runs from Good Friday, 26 March, to Friday 9 April.
Schools close for May Day on 3 May. The session ends on Friday 2 July 2027. There are five in-service days in 2026/27.
In 2027/28, pupils start on Wednesday 18 August 2027 and finish on Thursday 29 June 2028. One occasional day for 2027/28 is still to be agreed.
Schools in Moray
From the September 2025 pupil census.
Quick answers
- When do Moray schools go back after the summer 2026?
Pupils return on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August are in-service days for staff.
- How long is the October holiday in Moray in 2026?
It lasts two weeks, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October 2026. Pupils return on Monday 26 October.
- When is the occasional day in Moray in 2026/27?
It depends on the school group. Buckie, Elgin Academy, Elgin High, Forres, Lossiemouth and Milne's groups close on Tuesday 16 February 2027. Keith Grammar and Speyside High groups close on Monday 7 June 2027.
- When does the Easter holiday start in Moray in 2027?
The spring holiday starts on Good Friday, 26 March 2027, and runs to Friday 9 April. Pupils return on Monday 12 April.
Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. Moray has five in-service days in 2026/27.