School holidays 2026/27 · Christmas holidays

Christmas school holidays 2026

Q: When do schools break up for Christmas 2026?

In most of England, christmas holidays 2026/27 runs from Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan. 8 of the 113 councils we hold dates for differ, including Central Bedfordshire, Cumberland, Lincolnshire.

When do schools break up for Christmas 2026?

In most of England, christmas holidays 2026/27 runs from Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan: 16 days off school including the weekends either side. Flights can be taken from Sat 19 Dec to Sun 3 Jan. 105 of the 113 councils whose own calendars we hold follow these dates exactly.

Councils that differ

8 councils we hold publish different dates. Each is read from the council’s own page and linked to it.

Council	First day off	Last day off	Versus most of England
Central Bedfordshire	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
Cumberland	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
Lincolnshire	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
North East Lincolnshire	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
North Northamptonshire	Sat 19 Dec	Thu 31 Dec	3d shorter
Plymouth	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
Westmorland and Furness	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer
Wigan	Sat 19 Dec	Mon 4 Jan	1d longer

Academies and independent schools can set their own dates whatever the council says; of the London independents we read, not one follows the state October half term. The finder shows the dates we hold for a particular school.

What it means for flights

Everyone with these dates is flying on the same days, which is when fares peak. The day you leave inside the window is worth hundreds: on a real October board a family of four saved a median of £260 by leaving on the Sunday rather than the Saturday, at the same length. We price every day of the break from your nearest airports and email you when a fare is worth a look.

Find your school and see the prices

Christmas school holidays 2026

When do schools break up for Christmas 2026?

Councils that differ

What it means for flights

Every council we hold