Scotland school holidays 2026/27

32 councils · compiled from each council's published calendar · latest check 12 September 2026

The October holiday varies across Scotland: the most common dates are Monday 12 October 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026, taken by 11 of the 32 Scottish councils we cover. The summer holiday starts anywhere from 26 June 2027 in Clackmannanshire to 3 July 2027 in Shetland. The table compares all 32 Scottish councils for 2026/27, and each council name links to its full term dates, school-day counts and the council's own notes.

Scotland school holidays 2026/27 by council
CouncilOctober holidayChristmasFebruary holidayEasterSummer starts
Aberdeen12 Oct – 23 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
Aberdeenshire12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr2 July 2027
Angus5 Oct – 16 Oct24 Dec – 6 Jan11 Feb – 15 Feb29 Mar – 9 Apr2 July 2027
Argyll and Bute5 Oct – 16 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb – 15 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr3 July 2027
Clackmannanshire12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb – 12 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Dumfries and Galloway12 Oct – 23 Oct21 Dec – 5 Jan18 Feb – 19 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
Dundee12 Oct – 23 Oct24 Dec – 6 Jan12 Feb – 16 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
East Ayrshire12 Oct – 19 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan12 Feb – 16 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr30 June 2027
East Dunbartonshire9 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 17 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr1 July 2027
East Lothian12 Oct – 19 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 22 Feb5 Apr – 19 Apr30 June 2027
East Renfrewshire9 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 17 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Edinburgh9 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 5 Jan12 Feb – 19 Feb5 Apr – 19 Apr30 June 2027
Falkirk12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan12 Feb – 15 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Fife12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan11 Feb – 12 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
Glasgow12 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 16 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Highland12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan15 Feb – 17 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr2 July 2027
Inverclyde12 Oct – 19 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan15 Feb – 17 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr1 July 2027
Midlothian9 Oct – 19 Oct23 Dec – 6 Jan12 Feb – 19 Feb5 Apr – 19 Apr30 June 2027
Moray12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan11 Feb – 15 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
North Ayrshire12 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 16 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr1 July 2027
North Lanarkshire12 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 16 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Orkney12 Oct – 27 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan11 Feb – 16 Feb29 Mar – 9 Apr3 July 2027
Perth and Kinross12 Oct – 23 Oct24 Dec – 6 Jan10 Feb – 12 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr2 July 2027
Renfrewshire12 Oct – 16 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan15 Feb – 16 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr1 July 2027
Scottish Borders12 Oct – 19 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan8 Feb – 15 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr2 July 2027
Shetland12 Oct – 27 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan12 Feb – 16 Feb25 Mar – 6 Apr3 July 2027
South Ayrshire12 Oct – 19 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan12 Feb – 16 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr1 July 2027
South Lanarkshire12 Oct – 16 Oct23 Dec – 5 Jan15 Feb – 16 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
Stirling12 Oct – 23 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb – 12 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr26 June 2027
West Dunbartonshire12 Oct – 16 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan15 Feb – 17 Feb5 Apr – 16 Apr1 July 2027
West Lothian19 Oct – 26 Oct21 Dec – 4 Jan8 Feb – 15 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr26 June 2027
Western Isles9 Oct – 21 Oct23 Dec – 4 Jan12 Feb – 17 Feb26 Mar – 9 Apr26 June 2027

Term dates by council in Scotland

Reading the table: dates are the days off school as each council publishes them, trimmed to the school week. A dash means the council presents that period differently and its own page explains. Independent schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own in-service days.

Common questions

When is the October holiday in Scotland in 2026?

The most common dates are: Monday 12 October 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026, taken by 11 of the 32 Scottish councils we cover. The other 21 councils take different weeks, so check the council page for the school your children attend.

When do schools in Scotland break up for summer 2027?

It depends on the council. Clackmannanshire starts the summer holiday first, on 26 June 2027, and Shetland last, on 3 July 2027. The table on this page lists every council's date.

Do all Scottish councils have the same school holidays?

No. Each council sets its own calendar. In 2026/27, 11 of the 32 Scottish councils share the most common October holiday, but the summer holiday starts anywhere from 26 June 2027 to 3 July 2027. Families with children at schools under two councils should check both pages. Independent schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own in-service days.

Other regions

East Midlands · East of England · London · North East · North West · South East · South West · Wales · West Midlands · Yorkshire and the Humber

Comparing across the whole country? See every UK council's school holidays side by side, or read how we compile term dates.