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Irish school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28: booking a break

Official Irish school holiday dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, why prices rise, and simple ways to get better value on a family break.

Updated Saturday 17 October 2026

If you have children in school, your holiday dates are mostly decided for you. So are everyone else’s. That is why prices rise. This guide gives the official dates and some practical ways to get better value.

The official dates

These dates come from the Department of Education’s Circular 0018/2026. It sets standard mid-term, Christmas and Easter breaks for all primary and post-primary schools for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.

School year 2026/27

  • October mid-term: all schools closed Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026.
  • Christmas: Tuesday 22 December 2026 is the last day of term. All schools reopen Wednesday 6 January 2027.
  • February mid-term: post-primary schools closed Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Primary schools must close Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February. They may use discretionary days to close for the full week, 15 to 19 February.
  • Easter: Friday 19 March 2027 is the last day of term. All schools reopen Monday 5 April 2027.

School year 2027/28

  • October mid-term: all schools closed Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027.
  • Christmas: Wednesday 22 December 2027 is the last day of term. All schools reopen Thursday 6 January 2028.
  • February mid-term: post-primary schools closed Monday 21 to Friday 25 February 2028. Primary schools must close Thursday 24 and Friday 25 February. They may close for the full week, 21 to 25 February.
  • Easter: Friday 7 April 2028 is the last day of term. All schools reopen Monday 24 April 2028.

Check with your school before you book

The circular allows some changes if a school has to make up days lost to unforeseen closures, such as storms. A school can shorten the February break by staying open up to the Wednesday. A primary school can also stay open for part of the first Easter week, up to Wednesday 24 March 2027 or Wednesday 12 April 2028.

Primary schools also differ on whether they take the full February week. Ask for your school’s calendar before you pay for anything. Schools must publish it on their website.

If you have children in both primary and post-primary, check both calendars. The February break may not match.

Why prices go up

It is simple supply and demand. Thousands of Irish families want to fly on the same few days. Airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing, so prices rise as seats and rooms fill.

Expect the first weekend of a break, and the last weekend before schools reopen, to be in high demand. Easter and the October mid-term are short, so demand is packed into a small window.

UK school holidays can overlap with ours, which adds to demand for the same resorts. Check UK term dates if you are flying from Belfast.

Tactics that can help

Fly on the Friday evening, or the Saturday morning. If your school finishes on the Friday, an evening flight gives you an extra night away. If everyone else is flying Saturday, compare Friday and Sunday too.

Compare Saturday and Sunday departures. The cheapest day can change week to week. Always check the days either side of your first choice.

Take a shorter trip. Four or five nights instead of seven can cut the cost a lot. For the October and February mid-terms, a short city break or a few nights in the Canaries often works well.

Use the “second half” of the break. Coming home on the last possible day costs more. Flying out mid-week and coming home a day or two early can be cheaper.

Try a different airport. Check Dublin, your nearest regional airport and, from the border counties, Belfast. A different airport can mean different airlines and different prices. Count the drive and parking in the total.

Choose places with year-round sun for the winter breaks. For October, Christmas and February, the Canary Islands are the main sun option on a short flight. Mainland Spain and Portugal are cooler but good for city breaks.

Look at all inclusive for the busy weeks. With prices high, a fixed cost for food and drink can make the budget easier to manage.

Book early or stay very flexible. School holidays rarely get cheaper at the last minute. If your dates are fixed, booking well ahead is often safer. True late deals are more common outside school holidays.

Taking children out of school

Avoid booking around school days unless you have checked with the school first. The circular requires schools to be open on the weekday just before and just after each break. Those days count towards the minimum number of school days.

Quick planner

  • Get your school’s calendar and confirm the dates.
  • Check both Friday and Saturday departures.
  • Compare at least two Irish airports.
  • Price a shorter stay against a full week.
  • Compare a package with flight and hotel booked separately.

Sources

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