Leicester school term dates & holidays 2026/27

Compiled from Leicester City Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Leicester City Council for the 2026/27 academic year: 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.

Leicester term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termMonday, 24 August 2026Friday, 18 December 202680 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 19 October 2026Friday, 23 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 19 December 2026Sunday, 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday, 4 January 2027Friday, 19 March 202750 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 20 March 2027Sunday, 4 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 5 April 2027Friday, 9 July 202765 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Leicester runs an earlier school year than most of England: schools open in late August and the summer holiday starts from 12 July.
  • Easter holidays: Monday 22 March to Friday 2 April 2027.
  • Bank holiday: Monday 31 August 2026.
  • Academies and free schools can set their own term dates; maintained and voluntary controlled schools follow council dates.
Source: these dates come from Leicester City Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 12 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 Leicester?

October half term in Leicester runs from Monday, 19 October 2026 to Friday, 23 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Leicester schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do Leicester schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Friday, 9 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

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

Partly. Of the 9 other East Midlands councils we cover, 1 share Leicester's October half term week in 2026/27, while Derby, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, West Northamptonshire differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.

Do all schools in Leicester follow these dates?

No. These are Leicester City 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