School holidays
School term dates for pupils in Northern Ireland.
School holidays 2026/2027
The table below lists the non-operational dates for schools in the 2026/2027 academic year. It is worth noting that schools can operate on these dates at their own discretion to suit their individual circumstances.
| Event | Dates (inclusive) |
| Schools resume after summer holiday | 1 September 2026 |
| Halloween | 29 & 30 October 2026 |
| Christmas and New Year | 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 |
| Mid-term | 11 & 12 February 2027 |
| St Patrick's Day | 17 March 2027 |
| Easter | 25 March to 2 April 2027 |
| May Day | 3 May 2027 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 31 May 2027 |
| Summer holiday begins | 1 July 2027 |
Note: Schools also have the discretion to take a number of staff training and school development days. Pupils do not attend on these days and such days are likely to differ from school-to-school. Exceptionally, during the 2026/27 academic year, recognising the need for schools to engage with the significant TransformED NI programme of reform of teaching and learning, the Minister has granted three additional closure days, one per term. These have been specified as 25 September 2026, 25 January 2027 and 4 May 2027.
School holidays 2025/2026
The table below lists the non-operational dates for schools in the 2025/2026 academic year. It is worth noting that schools can operate on these dates at their own discretion to suit their individual circumstances.
| Event | Dates (inclusive) |
| Schools resume after summer holiday | 1 September 2025 |
| Halloween | 30 & 31 October 2025 |
| Christmas and New Year | 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026 |
| Mid-term | 12 & 13 February 2026 |
| St Patrick's Day | 17 March 2026 |
| Easter | 2 April to 10 April 2026 |
| May Day | 4 May 2026 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May 2026 |
| Summer holiday begins | 1 July 2026 |
Note: Schools also have the discretion to take a number of staff training and school development days. Pupils do not attend on these days and such days are likely to differ from school-to-school.
School holidays 2024/2025
The table below lists the non-operational dates for schools in the 2024/2025 academic year. It is worth noting that schools can operate on these dates at their own discretion to suit their individual circumstances.
| Event | Dates (Inclusive |
| Schools resume after summer holiday | 1 September 2024 |
| Halloween | 31 October 2024 & 1 November 2024 |
| Christmas and New Year | 23 December 2024 to 2 January 2025 |
| Mid-term | 13 & 14 February 2025 |
| St Patrick's Day | 17 March 2025 |
| Easter | 17 April to 25 April 2025 |
| May Day | 5 May 2025 |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 26 May 2025 |
| Summer holiday begins | 1 July 2025 |
Note: Schools also have the discretion to take a number of staff training and school development days. Pupils do not attend on these days and such days are likely to differ from school-to-school.