Hampshire school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28

Compiled from Hampshire County Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Hampshire County Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.

Hampshire term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termTuesday 1 September 2026Friday 18 December 202674 school days
October half term holidayMonday 26 October 2026Friday 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday 19 December 2026Sunday 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday 4 January 2027Thursday 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday 15 February 2027Friday 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday 26 March 2027Sunday 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday 12 April 2027Wednesday 21 July 202768 school days
May half term holidayMonday 31 May 2027Friday 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Holidays as stated: Christmas holiday 21 December 2026-1 January 2027; Easter holiday 26 March-9 April 2027; summer holiday 22 July-31 August 2027.
  • 'These dates are for Hampshire Community and Controlled schools only. Voluntary Aided Schools, Foundation schools and some Hampshire Academies may also use these dates.'
  • 'Five days are available for professional day closures (including inset days) during term time. These are specified by the headteacher and governors of each school.'
  • 'Every effort is made to ensure that these dates are accurate. There are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes.'

Hampshire term dates 2027/28

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2027 termWednesday 1 September 2027Friday 17 December 202773 school days
October half term holidayMonday 25 October 2027Friday 29 October 2027
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday 18 December 2027Monday 3 January 2028
Spring term 2028 termTuesday 4 January 2028Friday 31 March 202859 school days
February half term holidayMonday 14 February 2028Friday 18 February 2028
Easter holiday holidaySaturday 1 April 2028Monday 17 April 2028
Summer term 2028 termTuesday 18 April 2028Friday 21 July 202864 school days
May half term holidayMonday 29 May 2028Friday 2 June 2028
Council notes for 2027/28:
  • Holidays as stated: Christmas holiday 20 December 2027-3 January 2028; Easter holiday 3-17 April 2028; summer holiday 24 July-3 September 2028.
  • 'These dates are for Hampshire Community and Controlled schools only. Voluntary Aided Schools, Foundation schools and some Hampshire Academies may also use these dates.'
  • 'Five days are available for professional day closures (including inset days) during term time.'
Source: these dates come from Hampshire County Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 7 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Hampshire?

October half term in Hampshire runs from Monday 26 October 2026 to Friday 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Hampshire schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Hampshire ends on Friday 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Hampshire schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Hampshire's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Partly. Of the 18 other South East councils we cover, 15 share Hampshire's October half term week in 2026/27, while Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Berkshire differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.

Do all schools in Hampshire follow these dates?

No. These are Hampshire County Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.

Nearby councils

All South East councils' school holidays compared