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Shetland school holidays 2026/27

Every holiday, in-service day and early finish for Shetland Islands Council schools in 2026/27 and 2027/28. Shetland has a two-week October break this year, and the usual five in-service days.

Checked against Shetland Islands Council, School Term Dates on 1 October 2026

The school year at a glance

School openHolidayIn-service dayPublic holiday

Term dates 2026/27

DateWhat happensType
Autumn term
Mon 17 and Tue 18 Aug 2026Teachers return (in-service)In-service
Wed 19 Aug 2026Term 1 startsTerm starts
Fri 9 Oct 2026Term 1 endsTerm ends
Mon 12 to Fri 23 Oct 2026October holidayHoliday
Mon 26 and Tue 27 Oct 2026In-service daysIn-service
Wed 28 Oct 2026Term 2 startsTerm starts
Fri 18 Dec 2026Term 2 endsTerm ends
Christmas
Mon 21 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027Christmas holidayHoliday
Spring term
Tue 5 Jan 2027Term 3 startsTerm starts
Wed 27 Jan 2027Occasional holidayHoliday
Fri 12 Feb 2027Occasional holidayHoliday
Mon 15 Feb 2027Occasional holidayHoliday
Tue 16 Feb 2027In-service dayIn-service
Wed 24 Mar 2027Term 3 endsTerm ends
Easter
Thu 25 Mar to Tue 6 Apr 2027Easter holidayIncludes Good Friday 26 March and Easter Monday 29 MarchHoliday
Summer term
Wed 7 Apr 2027Term 4 startsTerm starts
Fri 21 May 2027Occasional holidayHoliday
Fri 2 Jul 2027Term 4 endsTerm ends
Summer
Sat 3 Jul 2027 to Tue 17 Aug 2027Summer holidaysPupils return Wednesday 18 August 2027Holiday
School openHolidayIn-service dayPublic holiday

Term dates 2027/28

DateWhat happensType
Autumn term
Mon 16 and Tue 17 Aug 2027Teachers return (in-service)In-service
Wed 18 Aug 2027Term 1 startsTerm starts
Fri 8 Oct 2027Term 1 endsTerm ends
Mon 11 to Fri 22 Oct 2027October holidayHoliday
Mon 25 and Tue 26 Oct 2027In-service daysIn-service
Wed 27 Oct 2027Term 2 startsTerm starts
Tue 21 Dec 2027Term 2 endsTerm ends
Christmas
Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028Christmas holidayHoliday
Spring term
Wed 5 Jan 2028Term 3 startsTerm starts
Wed 26 Jan 2028Occasional holidayHoliday
Fri 18 Feb 2028Occasional holidayHoliday
Mon 21 Feb 2028In-service dayIn-service
Fri 31 Mar 2028Term 3 endsTerm ends
Easter
Mon 3 to Fri 14 Apr 2028Easter holidayIncludes Good Friday 14 AprilHoliday
Mon 17 Apr 2028Occasional holidayEaster MondayHoliday
Summer term
Tue 18 Apr 2028Term 4 startsTerm starts
Fri 19 May 2028Occasional holidayHoliday
Fri 30 Jun 2028Term 4 endsTerm ends
Summer
Sat 1 Jul 2028Summer holidaysNext session not published yetHoliday

Keep these dates in your phoneSubscribe once and your calendar updates if the council changes a date.

Get the calendar file

Shetland's 2026/27 calendar in brief

Shetland Islands Council runs the schools across Shetland, from Lerwick to the outer isles. Its calendar has four terms rather than three. Pupils start Term 1 on Wednesday 19 August 2026, after in-service days on 17 and 18 August.

The October holiday lasts two full weeks, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October. Two more in-service days follow on 26 and 27 October, so pupils return on Wednesday 28 October. Christmas runs from Monday 21 December to Monday 4 January 2027.

Schools close on Wednesday 27 January, the day after Lerwick Up Helly Aa. In February, Friday 12 and Monday 15 are occasional holidays and Tuesday 16 is an in-service day. That gives pupils a four-day weekend.

Term 3 ends on Wednesday 24 March, and Term 4 starts on Wednesday 7 April. There is one more occasional holiday on Friday 21 May. Each school cluster also sets one floating day with its Parent Councils.

There are five in-service days in 2026/27. The session ends on Friday 2 July 2027, one of the latest finishes in Scotland.

Schools in Shetland

From the September 2025 pupil census.

33council schools: 26 primary, 7 secondary
3,103pupils, about 0.4% of Scotland's total
18.3average primary class size (Scotland 23.1)

Quick answers

When do Shetland schools go back after the summer 2026?

Term 1 starts for pupils on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August are in-service days.

How long is the October holiday in Shetland in 2026?

It lasts two weeks, from Monday 12 to Friday 23 October 2026. In-service days follow on 26 and 27 October, and Term 2 starts on Wednesday 28 October.

When is the Easter holiday in Shetland in 2027?

Term 3 ends on Wednesday 24 March 2027. Term 4 starts on Wednesday 7 April 2027.

What occasional holidays are there in Shetland in 2026/27?

Schools close on Wednesday 27 January, Friday 12 February, Monday 15 February and Friday 21 May 2027. Each cluster also sets one floating day.

Individual schools can add their own closure days, and councils sometimes move in-service days. Your school's letter or website takes priority. Shetland has five in-service days in 2026/27.