Edinburgh School Holidays follow the Scottish academic calendar, with 38 weeks of teaching and 14 weeks of holiday across the year. All dates come directly from Edinburgh City Council, so you can trust every autumn term start, February mid-term, and summer finish.
You’ll find term dates, bank holidays, in-service days, and those important Scottish closures like Victoria Day and May Day. Each table tells you exactly when pupils return and when the last day of term arrives.
Let’s make holiday planning for Edinburgh parents simple, certain, and stress-free.
Edinburgh School Holidays 2025/2026
Here are the confirmed Edinburgh School Holidays and Term Dates for the 2025-2026 academic calendar.
2025-2026 Term Dates
| Term | Starting Date | Ending Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Monday 11 August 2025 | Friday 19 December 2025 |
| Spring Term | Tuesday 6 January 2026 | Friday 27 March 2026 |
| Summer Term | Monday 13 April 2026 | Tuesday 30 June 2026 |
Mid-term breaks:
- Autumn mid-term: Monday 13 – Friday 17 October 2025
- Spring mid-term: Monday 16 – Friday 20 February 2026
- May Day: Monday 4 May 2026 (school closed)
- Victoria Day: Monday 25 May 2026 (school closed)
2025-2026 Bank Holidays
| Bank Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 |
| May Day | Monday 4 May 2026 |
| Victoria Day | Monday 25 May 2026 |
Edinburgh School Holidays 2026/2027
Here are the Edinburgh School Holidays and Term Dates for the 2026-2027 academic calendar.
2026-2027 Term Dates
| Term | Starting Date | Ending Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Wednesday 12 August 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 |
| Spring Term | Wednesday 6 January 2027 | Friday 2 April 2027 |
| Summer Term | Tuesday 20 April 2027 | Tuesday 29 June 2027 |
Mid-term breaks:
- Autumn mid-term: Monday 14 September 2026 & Monday 12 – Monday 19 October 2026
- Spring mid-term: Monday 15 – Friday 19 February 2027
- May Day: Monday 3 May 2027 (school closed)
- Victoria Day: Monday 24 May 2027 (school closed)
- Staff only day: Tuesday 4 May 2027
2026-2027 Bank Holidays
| Bank Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 26 March 2027 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 29 March 2027 |
| May Day | Monday 3 May 2027 |
| Victoria Day | Monday 24 May 2027 |
Edinburgh School Holidays 2027/2028
2027-2028 Term Dates
| Term | Starting Date | Ending Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Wednesday 11 August 2027 | Wednesday 22 December 2027 |
| Spring Term | Thursday 6 January 2028 | Friday 31 March 2028 |
| Summer Term | Monday 17 April 2028 | Friday 30 June 2028 |
Mid-term breaks:
- Autumn mid-term: Monday 11 – Friday 15 October 2027
- Spring mid-term: Monday 14 – Friday 18 February 2028
- May Day: Monday 1 May 2028 (school closed)
- Victoria Day: Monday 22 May 2028 (school closed)
2027-2028 Bank Holidays
| Bank Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 14 April 2028 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 17 April 2028 |
| May Day | Monday 1 May 2028 |
| Victoria Day | Monday 22 May 2028 |
Have a Question About School Holiday Dates?
If you’ve spotted an issue, need clarification, or have a question about UK school holidays or term dates, feel free to get in touch with us.
Detailed Edinburgh School Holidays Explained
Autumn Term
The academic year in Edinburgh kicks off mid-August—earlier than English schools. Pupils return around the second week of August and break up just before Christmas. The October mid term break usually falls in the second or third week of October, giving families a full week off. Edinburgh public holidays like Victoria Day don’t fall in autumn, but council school holidays remain consistent across all Edinburgh state schools.
Spring Term
Spring term start date is always the first week of January, usually the Wednesday after the New Year public holiday. The February mid term offers a week-long break in mid-February. Easter holidays dates shift slightly each year, but Edinburgh schools typically close for two weeks over Easter, including Good Friday school holiday and Easter Monday.
Summer Term
Summer term end date is consistently the last week of June. The May Day school holiday and Victoria Day Edinburgh schools closures provide two additional long weekends. Edinburgh secondary school holidays mirror primary schools exactly—there’s no difference in term dates across Edinburgh council school closures. Holiday planning for Edinburgh parents is straightforward once you know the resume dates.
In-Service Days & Staff Training Days
In-service days (sometimes called staff only days or teacher training days Edinburgh) vary by school. Edinburgh City Council term dates include five compulsory in-service days per academic year, but individual schools set specific dates.
Typical in-service patterns:
- First week of August (before pupils return)
- Late September
- Late November
- Late February
- Early June
Always check your specific school’s website for exact Edinburgh staff only day dates, as holiday entitlement doesn’t cover these—childcare arrangements are essential on these pupil-free days.
More School Holidays
- Scotland School Holidays
- Glasgow School Holidays
- Fife School Holidays
- Dundee School Holidays
- Aberdeen School Holidays
- Renfrewshire School Holidays
- South Ayrshire School Holidays
Bookmark this page—we keep it updated with official Edinburgh City Council confirmations.
Useful Resources
Edinburgh City Council: Official term dates and school closure information.
FAQs
Are Edinburgh secondary school holidays different from primary?
No. Edinburgh secondary school holidays match Edinburgh primary school holidays exactly across all council school holidays.
What’s an inclusive date?
Inclusive dates mean the holiday includes that day. If it says “12 to 19 October,” pupils return on the 20th.
Does Edinburgh have a half-term in October?
Yes. The mid term break October is a full week, not a half-term. It’s one of the main Scottish term dates.
Is May Day a school holiday in Edinburgh?
Yes. The May Day school holiday is a statutory Edinburgh public holiday. Schools are closed.
What is Victoria Day Edinburgh schools?
Victoria Day (24/25 May) is a local Edinburgh public holiday. All Edinburgh council school closures include this day.
How many in-service days do Edinburgh schools have?
Five per year. Teacher training days Edinburgh are set individually by each school.
Do pupils return on a Monday after Easter?
Usually Tuesday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday, so pupils resume the following day.
Are Scottish term dates different from England?
Yes. Scottish school holiday calendar starts mid-August; English schools start September. UK school holidays comparison shows Edinburgh finishes June; England finishes July.