Planning your academic year around the UK College Holidays 2026 schedule is essential. Whether you need the College Calendar for College Dates like the September Holiday, October Break, Winter Break, February Break, Easter Holiday, Spring Break, or May Day Public Holiday, this guide covers Semester Dates, staff training, Inset Day, Half term, Autumn term, Spring term, Summer term, and the full Holidays 2026 Session for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Use it to plan Family Trip Places, a festive break, or check Government UK updates.
UK College Holiday Dates 2026 at a Glance
For 2026, most UK colleges follow a similar pattern: Autumn term runs September to December, Spring term January to March, and Summer term April to June. Half term breaks occur in October, February, and May/June. The long summer break typically starts in late June and runs through August. Inset Day (staff training) dates vary by college but usually add 3–5 extra closure days per term.
UK College Holidays 2026 Dates by Country
Note: These are standardised dates. Always confirm with your specific college for exact Inset Day closures.
England College Term Dates 2026
| Term/Event | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Mon 7 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| October Half Term | Mon 26 Oct 2026 | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Spring Term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Fri 26 Mar 2027 |
| February Half Term | Mon 16 Feb 2026 | Fri 20 Feb 2026 |
| Summer Term | Mon 13 Apr 2026 | Fri 26 Jun 2026 |
| Summer Break (start) | Mon 29 Jun 2026 | N/A |
Scotland College Term Dates 2026
| Term/Event | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Mon 17 Aug 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| October Half Term | Mon 12 Oct 2026 | Fri 16 Oct 2026 |
| Spring Term | Tue 5 Jan 2026 | Fri 2 Apr 2026 |
| February Half Term | Mon 9 Feb 2026 | Fri 13 Feb 2026 |
| Summer Term | Mon 19 Apr 2026 | Fri 25 Jun 2026 |
| Summer Break (start) | Mon 28 Jun 2026 | N/A |
Wales College Term Dates 2026
| Term/Event | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Tue 1 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| October Half Term | Mon 26 Oct 2026 | Fri 30 Oct 2026 |
| Spring Term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Fri 26 Mar 2027 |
| February Half Term | Mon 16 Feb 2026 | Fri 20 Feb 2026 |
| Summer Term | Tue 13 Apr 2026 | Fri 17 Jul 2026 |
| Summer Break (start) | Mon 20 Jul 2026 | N/A |
Northern Ireland College Term Dates 2026
| Term/Event | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Tue 1 Sep 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| October Half Term | Mon 19 Oct 2026 | Fri 23 Oct 2026 |
| Spring Term | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Fri 26 Mar 2027 |
| February Half Term | Mon 16 Feb 2026 | Fri 20 Feb 2026 |
| Summer Term | Mon 13 Apr 2026 | Fri 26 Jun 2026 |
| Summer Break (start) | Mon 29 Jun 2026 | N/A |
Detailed UK College Holidays 2026 Session by Session
September Holiday & Autumn Term 2026
- Start of Autumn term: First week of September (varies by country)
- September Holiday: Usually none – term starts after summer break
- Inset Day (staff training): 1–2 days before term starts
- October Break (Half term): Last week of October (Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct for most)
- End of Autumn term: Mid-December (around 18th)
Winter Break & Christmas Holiday Period 2026
- UK Christmas holiday period starts: Mon 21 Dec 2026
- UK Christmas holiday period ends: Fri 1 Jan 2027
- Christmas Day: Fri 25 Dec (college closed)
- Boxing Day: Sat 26 Dec (observed Monday 28 Dec)
- New Year’s Day: Fri 1 Jan (college closed)
- Term resumes: Mon 4 Jan 2027
February Break & Spring Term 2026
- Spring term starts: Early January (usually 5th or 6th)
- February Break (Half term): Third week of February (Mon 16 Feb – Fri 20 Feb)
- Easter Holiday: Two weeks around Good Friday & Easter Monday
- Good Friday: Fri 3 Apr 2026
- Easter Monday: Mon 6 Apr 2026
- Spring Break (alternative name): Same as Easter holiday
- Term resumes after Easter: Mid-April (around 13th–20th)
May Day Public Holiday & Late Spring Term
- May Day Public Holiday: Mon 4 May 2026 (college closed)
- Early May bank holiday: Same date – Mon 4 May
- Spring bank holiday (late May): Mon 25 May 2026
- Late Spring term continues: No half term in May (some colleges take a short break after bank holidays)
College Summer Holidays 2026 UK (Summer Term & Break)
- Summer term ends: Late June (England, Scotland, NI) or mid-July (Wales)
- UK college holidays 2026 June: Start from last week of June
- UK college holidays 2026 July: Full month – most colleges closed
- UK college holidays 2026 August: Full month – summer break continues
- College Summer Holidays 2026 UK length: 6–8 weeks
- Term resumes for new academic year: Early September 2026
Read More: England College Term Dates
UK College Bank Holidays 2026 (All Colleges Closed)
All colleges in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland close on these UK Bank Holidays:
| Bank Holiday | 2026 Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Thursday |
| Good Friday | 3 April | Friday |
| Easter Monday | 6 April | Monday |
| Early May bank holiday | 4 May | Monday |
| Spring bank holiday | 25 May | Monday |
| Summer bank holiday | 31 August | Monday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Friday |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | 28 December | Monday |
Note: Scotland has an additional 2 January holiday (observed 5 Jan 2026 if a weekend).
Need Accurate UK College Holiday Information?
Semester Dates vs Term Dates for UK Colleges
Is 1 year 2 semester?
Yes. Most UK colleges divide the academic year into two semesters (Autumn and Spring) or three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). A semester is roughly 15 weeks, while a term is 10–12 weeks.
How long are college breaks in the UK?
- Autumn half term: 1 week (October)
- Winter/Christmas break: 2 weeks (late Dec – early Jan)
- February half term: 1 week
- Easter/Spring break: 2 weeks
- Summer break: 6–8 weeks (late June to early September)
Semester Dates vs Term Dates
- Semester Dates include exams and assignment periods.
- Term Dates only cover teaching weeks.
- Your UK college holiday schedule is based on term dates, but exams often fall just after breaks.
Regional Focus: UK College Holidays 2026 London
UK College Holidays 2026 London generally follow England dates, with two key differences:
- October Break in London colleges often starts one week earlier (mid-October) due to local half-term alignment.
- Inset Day (staff training) – London colleges average 5 inset days per year (national average is 4).
| Holiday | Typical London Dates 2026 |
|---|---|
| September Holiday | None (term starts 7 Sep) |
| October Break | 19–23 Oct (some colleges) |
| Winter Break | 21 Dec – 1 Jan |
| February Break | 16–20 Feb |
| Easter Holiday | 3–17 Apr |
| Summer Break | 29 Jun – early Sep |
Always check your specific London college’s College Calendar for exact staff training closures.
Key Dates and Calendar: Important Deadlines for 2026
| Deadline Type | Typical Date |
|---|---|
| College enrolment for 2026/27 | August – September 2026 |
| Exam period (winter) | 5–16 January 2026 |
| Exam period (summer) | 11–26 May 2026 |
| Final submission for coursework | 2 June 2026 |
| Results day (further education) | 19 August 2026 |
| Inset Day (staff training – common dates) | 1 Sep, 2 Sep, 4 Jan, 13 Apr, 1 Jun |
Keep your Key Dates and Calendar handy – missing a deadline can delay your entire academic year.
Family Holiday Activities During College Breaks 2026
Use your college breaks for amazing Family holiday activities:
- October Break: Visit historic castles (Wales/NI), Halloween events (London), or autumn walks (Scotland).
- February Break: Indoor water parks, museums (free entry in London and Wales), or a Family Trip to the Lake District.
- Easter Holiday / Spring Break: Zoo visits, chocolate-making workshops, or Places like Cornwall or the Scottish Highlands.
- May Day Public Holiday: Beach trips (Brighton, Bournemouth), picnic in Royal Parks (London), or cycling in Snowdonia.
- Summer break: Theme parks (Alton Towers, Legoland), camping, or an international festive break (if travelling abroad).
- UK Christmas holiday period: Ice skating, Christmas markets (Edinburgh, Manchester, Belfast), and panto shows.
Conclusion
Planning your year around the UK College Holidays 2026 schedule helps you balance study, work, and family time. If you’re looking for UK college holiday dates, UK College Term Dates, or holiday Calendar, this guide gives you everything you need.
Bookmark this page and check your local college’s exact Inset Day closures before booking Family Trip Places or a festive break.
Check our guide: How UK College Holidays Work
FAQs
What are the UK school holidays for 2026?
Most UK school holidays in 2026 run for one week in October, two weeks at Christmas, one week in February, two weeks at Easter, and six weeks in summer. Exact dates vary by region.
How long are college breaks in the UK?
College breaks typically last 1 week (half terms), 2 weeks (Christmas/Easter), and 6–8 weeks (summer). Bank holidays add extra days off.
What are the UK university holidays for 2026?
University holidays are longer: 3–4 weeks at Christmas, 3–4 weeks at Easter, and 12–14 weeks in summer. Terms are shorter than college terms.
What month do you leave college in the UK?
Most students finish their final year of college in June (England, Scotland, NI) or July (Wales) after summer term ends.
How long is summer break in the UK?
Summer break for colleges is 6 to 8 weeks – from late June to early September.
Is 1 year 2 semester?
Yes, most UK colleges use two semesters per academic year. Some use three terms instead, but semesters are more common for higher education courses.
Official Resources
For legally confirmed bank holidays and any emergency changes to term dates, always refer to the official source.
