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School holidays 2026/27 · October half term

October half term 2026

When is October half term 2026?

In most of England, october half term 2026/27 runs from Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov: 9 days off school including the weekends either side. Flights can be taken from Sat 24 Oct to Sun 1 Nov. 156 of the 201 councils whose own calendars we hold follow these dates exactly.

Councils that differ

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

CouncilFirst day offLast day offVersus most of England
Aberdeen CitySat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
AberdeenshireSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
AngusSat 3 OctSun 18 Oct21d earlier, 7d longer
Argyll and ButeSat 3 OctSun 18 Oct21d earlier, 7d longer
BromleySat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
ClackmannanshireSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
Comhairle nan Eilean SiarFri 9 OctWed 21 Oct15d earlier, 4d longer
Dumfries and GallowaySat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
Dundee CitySat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
East AyrshireSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
East DunbartonshireFri 9 OctSun 18 Oct15d earlier, 1d longer
East LothianSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
East RenfrewshireFri 9 OctSun 18 Oct15d earlier, 1d longer
EdinburghSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
FalkirkSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
FifeSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
GlasgowFri 9 OctSun 18 Oct15d earlier, 1d longer
HighlandSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
InverclydeSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
Isle of WightSat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
LeicesterSat 17 OctSun 25 Oct7d earlier
LeicestershireSat 17 OctSun 25 Oct7d earlier
MidlothianSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
MoraySat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
NorfolkFri 23 OctSun 1 Nov1d earlier, 1d longer
North AyrshireSat 10 OctSun 18 Oct14d earlier
North LanarkshireSat 10 OctSun 18 Oct14d earlier
North YorkshireFri 23 OctSun 1 Nov1d earlier, 1d longer
NottinghamSat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
NottinghamshireSat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
Orkney IslandsSat 10 OctTue 27 Oct14d earlier, 9d longer
Perth and KinrossSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
RenfrewshireSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
RutlandSat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
Scottish BordersSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
Shetland IslandsSat 10 OctTue 27 Oct14d earlier, 9d longer
South AyrshireSat 10 OctMon 19 Oct14d earlier, 1d longer
South LanarkshireSat 10 OctSun 18 Oct14d earlier
StirlingSat 10 OctSun 25 Oct14d earlier, 7d longer
SurreySat 17 OctSun 1 Nov7d earlier, 7d longer
SwindonThu 22 OctSun 1 Nov2d earlier, 2d longer
West BerkshireFri 23 OctSun 1 Nov1d earlier, 1d longer
West DunbartonshireSat 10 OctSun 18 Oct14d earlier
West LothianSat 17 OctMon 26 Oct7d earlier, 1d longer
WiltshireThu 22 OctSun 1 Nov2d earlier, 2d 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

Every council we hold