School Holidays in Ireland 2026/2027: Dates & Midterm Breaks

Planning childcare, annual leave or a family trip? Here are the main school holiday dates in the Republic of Ireland for 2026/2027, including the different February arrangements for primary and secondary schools.

The dates below follow the Department of Education’s Circular 0018/2026. They cover the scheduled October, Christmas, February and Easter breaks. Summer dates and the start of the school year are set by individual schools. Northern Ireland has a separate calendar.

School Holidays Ireland 2026/2027: Dates at a Glance

“Last school day” means the final scheduled day of attendance before the break, not the collection time. The table shows the normal calendar before any school-specific contingency changes.

February is the main difference between school levels. A primary pupil’s break may be two school days or a full week. If you have children in different schools, confirm the primary school’s choice before booking a trip.

October Midterm 2026

Primary and secondary schools close for midterm from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026. The last scheduled school day is Friday 23 October, with pupils returning on Monday 2 November.

Including the weekends on either side, children are out of school from Saturday 24 October through Sunday 1 November. Our Halloween in Ireland 2026 guide has ideas for the break, while our guide to October weather in Ireland can help you plan outdoor days.

Christmas School Holidays 2026/2027

Schools finish on Tuesday 22 December 2026 and reopen on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The holiday period runs from Wednesday 23 December through Tuesday 5 January, inclusive.

Check the school’s finishing time on 22 December before arranging childcare or onward travel. Knowing the last school day won’t tell you when to be at the gate.

February Midterm 2027: Primary vs Secondary Schools

Secondary schools are scheduled to close from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Their last school day before the break is Friday 12 February.

The standard primary break is shorter: Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February 2027. Primary schools may use three discretionary days to extend it to the full week, Monday 15 to Friday 19 February.

Under either primary arrangement, and for secondary schools, the normal return date is Monday 22 February 2027.

Have children at different school levels? Don’t assume they all have the full week off. A secondary-school pupil may be home on Monday while a sibling in primary school still has three school days to go.

Can the February break change?

Where contingency arrangements are needed after prolonged unforeseen closures, a school may shorten the full-week break by remaining open up to and including Wednesday 17 February 2027. All schools must still close on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February. This is a school-level decision, not an automatic national change.

Easter School Holidays 2027

The scheduled Easter holiday begins after school on Friday 19 March 2027, with pupils returning on Monday 5 April 2027. The two school weeks without scheduled classes begin on Monday 22 March, with the surrounding weekends also off.

Primary schools have a specific contingency option: if required to make up lost time, they may remain open up to and including Wednesday 24 March 2027. The normal reopening date remains Monday 5 April. Check the school’s notice if you are planning travel during the first part of the break.

Other Public Holidays to Note in 2027

The main school breaks aren’t the whole planning calendar. Using the Workplace Relations Commission’s public-holiday rules, these 2027 dates fall outside the October, Christmas, February and Easter breaks listed above:

• St Brigid’s Day public holiday: Monday 1 February 2027.
• St Patrick’s Day: Wednesday 17 March 2027.
• May public holiday: Monday 3 May 2027.
• June public holiday: Monday 7 June 2027.

Some secondary pupils may already have finished their normal school year before the June holiday. Use these dates alongside your school’s calendar, rather than treating every public holiday as an extra day added to a school break. Our 2026 Ireland bank holidays guide covers the earlier calendar year.

Summer Holidays and Autumn Reopening Dates

There is no single national summer closing or autumn reopening date. Schools set their exact dates within the school-year requirements: at least 182 school days for primary pupils and 166 for post-primary students.

Check the school’s own calendar for its autumn 2026 start and summer 2027 finish. For the return after summer 2027, confirm your child’s class or year-group arrangements too. A general reopening date may not settle every family’s plans.

Before You Book: Five School-Calendar Checks

• February arrangements: does the primary school take two days or the full week?
• School-specific closures: add discretionary days and any other dates in the published calendar.
• Summer and autumn dates: confirm them with each school your children attend.
• Collection and attendance times: check the last day’s finishing time and any class-specific return arrangements.
• Later notices: look for revised calendars before making non-refundable travel or childcare commitments.

Dates checked on 20 October 2026 against Department of Education Circular 0018/2026. You can also read the Department’s circular as a PDF hosted by ASTI. The dates above are the scheduled arrangements; follow your school’s published calendar and any later updates.

Matt Hook

Matt Hook is a Canadian writer of Scottish and Irish heritage. He built his writing career creating detailed gaming guides, turning complex mechanics, history and lore into useful information for readers. Matt brings that same research-focused approach to Ireland Wide, where he writes about Irish travel, heritage, history and culture. He also holds CMA and CPA designations as a professional accountant, giving him a strong background in research, accuracy and attention to detail.