Navigate the 2026 academic year with confidence using the complete UK school term calendar including term dates, holidays, and a free printable PDF.
Planning for the academic year ahead is essential for parents, students, and educators. The Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF gives you a concise, all-in-one view of key term dates, half-term breaks, public holidays, and holiday periods across the United Kingdom covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whether you’re organising family plans, work schedules, travel or childcare, having this calendar in a downloadable PDF format makes it easy to reference and share.
This guide provides accurate, officiel-based term dates and clear instructions on how to download the free UK school calendar PDF for 2026, along with helpful tips and frequently asked questions.
Overview of UK School Term Dates 2026
The 2026 UK school term calendar typically runs from early January through July, after the major Christmas/New Year break. In most parts of the UK, the school year is split into three main terms the Spring term, Summer term, and beginning of the Autumn term with half-term breaks and major holiday periods in between. However, dates can vary slightly by region, local authority, and individual school, especially for councils that set their own calendars.
For the 2025/26 academic year (covering most of 2026), standard holiday patterns include:
- Spring Half-Term Break: mid-February 2026
- Easter Holiday: end of March into April 2026
- Summer Half-Term: late May 2026
- Summer Holidays Start: late July 2026 in many regions
Planning your year works best when you align your goals with key dates.
To help you do that, you may also want to check:
School Term Dates by UK Region
Note: While official centralised term dates are not published at a single UK government page, term and holiday dates are compiled from local authorities and verified sources.
England
(Representative example dates may vary slightly by council/school)
Spring Term 2026:
- Term begins: Monday 5 January 2026
- Spring Half-Term Break: Monday 16 Feb – Friday 20 Feb 2026
- Easter Holidays: Monday 30 Mar – Friday 10 Apr 2026
Summer Term 2026:
- Term begins: Monday 13 Apr 2026
- Summer Half-Term: Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May 2026
- Summer Holiday start: late July 2026
England’s school calendars are largely determined by local councils and can differ slightly across regions. Parents should check their specific council or school site for exact dates.
Scotland
Scottish schools often start earlier in the calendar year and finish summer term earlier than the rest of the UK. Example calendars show:
2025/26 Scottish Dates:
- Spring Term: Monday 5 January 2026
- Mid-Term Break: mid-February 2026
- Easter Holiday: Thursday 2 April – Friday 17 April 2026
- Summer Holiday from early July 2026
The specific start times and mid-term patterns may vary by council area with earlier start dates in August for the autumn term of 2026.
Wales
Wales term dates generally align with England but local authorities coordinate a shared calendar. For example:
- Autumn Half-Term 2026: Monday 26 Oct – Friday 30 Oct 2026
- Spring Half-Term 2027: Monday 8 Feb – Friday 12 Feb 2027
- Summer Term 2027: Monday 5 April – Tuesday 20 July 2027
Wales sometimes offers slight variations depending on local authority groupings.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland follows its own statutory holiday pattern with fewer days in half terms and earlier summer holidays:
- Mid-Term Break: 12 & 13 Feb 2026
- Easter Holidays: 2–10 April 2026
- Summer Holidays begin: 1 July 2026
What’s Included in the Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF
When you download the Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF, you will typically get:
- Clear layout of term start and end dates
- Half-term breaks for Spring and Summer terms
- Holiday periods (Easter, Summer, Christmas where applicable)
- Public holidays that affect school closures
- Space for notes or school-specific events
- A printable, high-quality PDF format easy to share with family or colleagues
How to Download the Free UK School Term Calendar PDF
Here’s how to get your printable 2026 UK school term calendar PDF:
- Scroll to the “Download” section in this article.
- Click the button labeled “Download Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF”.
- Choose Save or Print, depending on your preference.
- Keep a copy on your device or print a hard copy for home, office, or school use.
→ If a direct downloadable file link is not included here, many UK councils and authority education sites offer exportable PDF school term dates for example through council term date pages or local authority resources (search your local council name + “school term dates 2026 PDF” on GOV.UK).
Benefits of Downloading and Using a Printable Calendar
A printable UK school term calendar PDF helps you to:
- Organise family holidays with confidence.
- Plan around term and holiday dates for childcare or travel.
- Avoid scheduling conflicts with important exams or events.
- Share accurate dates with caregivers, teachers, and employers.
- Keep a reusable and easy-to-reference document.
📥 Download: Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF
You can download the full 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF for England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland using the button below:
Download Free PDF (A4 Printable)
File type: PDF
Regions: UK-wide
Cost: Free
Download 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF
School Holiday Dates and Breaks (Term by Term)
Below is a concise summary of the key holiday periods within the UK school calendar in 2026 (note that specific councils or schools may vary):
| Holiday | Typical Dates (2026) | Notes |
| Spring Half-Term | 16-20 Feb 2026 | Major break across much of UK |
| Easter Holiday | 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026 | Varies by region; Scotland may shift by council |
| Summer Half-Term | 25-29 May 2026 | Common across England & Wales |
| Summer Holiday Start | Late July 2026 | England & Wales; Scotland earlier in July |
| Autumn Half-Term | 26-30 Oct 2026 | Wales & England for 2026/27 |
Tips for Parents and Teachers Using the Calendar
- Always verify dates with your child’s school or local council calendars vary locally.
- Use the calendar to coordinate extracurricular activities and events efficiently.
- Mark bank holidays and public holidays as they also influence school closures.
- Keep the PDF saved on mobile devices for quick access when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Free 2026 UK School Term Calendar PDF?
It’s a downloadable, printable calendar listing key UK school term dates and holidays for 2026, designed for easy planning by families and schools.
Are the term dates the same across all UK countries?
No. Term dates differ by region: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own structures and holiday periods.
Do schools publish official PDFs?
Many local councils and education authorities publish free, official PDF term calendars on their websites (search your local council term dates page).
Can calendars change?
Yes schools may adjust dates due to local decisions or unforeseen closures such as extreme weather.
Why plan using a school term calendar?
It helps with scheduling holidays, childcare, transport plans, work commitments, and school events without conflicts.
Sources & References
- GOV.UK: School term and holiday dates vary across the UK and must be confirmed locally.
- Department of Education Northern Ireland term holiday dates.
- Hertfordshire and local council term date examples (printable PDF links).
- Wales approved school term dates for 2026/27 (detailed dates).
- Scotland term date examples from council sites.
