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

Compiled from Manchester City Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Manchester City 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.

Manchester 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 2027Friday, 2 April 202760 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidaySaturday, 3 April 2027Sunday, 18 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 19 April 2027Thursday, 22 July 202764 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • Council publishes 'school opens' and 'school closes' dates; half-term ranges here are the school days between those dates.
  • Bank holidays stated by the council: school closed Friday 26 March 2027, Monday 29 March 2027 (during the spring term) and Monday 3 May 2027 (during the summer term).
  • Most Manchester schools share these holiday dates, but some voluntary-aided, foundation or academy schools may differ; contact the school if in doubt.

Manchester 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, 21 February 2028Friday, 25 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:
  • Council publishes 'school opens' and 'school closes' dates; half-term ranges here are the school days between those dates.
  • Bank holiday stated by the council: school closed Monday 1 May 2028 (during the summer term).
  • Most Manchester schools share these holiday dates, but some voluntary-aided, foundation or academy schools may differ; contact the school if in doubt.
Source: these dates come from Manchester City 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 Manchester?

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

When do Manchester schools break up for Christmas?

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

When do Manchester schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Thursday, 22 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

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

Yes. All 22 of the other North West councils we cover share the same October half term week as Manchester in 2026/27, so crossing a council border won't change your dates.

Do all schools in Manchester follow these dates?

No. These are Manchester 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.
Student in the family? University terms run differently: Manchester term dates · Manchester Met term dates

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