Northern Ireland school holidays 2026-27

What is particular about Northern Ireland

There is no local authority calendar in Northern Ireland: the Department of Education publishes the common non-operational dates agreed by all school sectors, and each school sets its own term around them.

On the common holiday dates, school transport and school meal services are not available, even if a school decides to open.

Schools must open for 200 days in the year and can use up to ten days for staff training and school development, when pupils stay at home.

In 2026-27 the Minister granted three extra closure days, one per term, for the TransformED NI reform of teaching and learning: 25 September 2026, 25 January 2027 and 4 May 2027.

The summer holiday begins on 1 July: schools in Northern Ireland break up at the end of June, three weeks before most schools in England and Wales.

St Patrick's Day (17 March 2027) and Halloween (29 and 30 October 2026) are common closure dates.

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.

Northern Ireland has no councils setting term dates: all school sectors agree common holiday dates each year, and each school then sets its own term dates and staff training days around them.