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Academic year 2026/27

Dumfries and Galloway School Holidays

The full 2026/27 school calendar for Dumfries and Galloway schools. The new term starts 20 August 2026 and the year ends 2 July 2027. The summer holiday runs from 3 July 2027 to 18 August 2027 — 47 days. Dumfries and Galloway has 2 in-service days when schools are closed to pupils for staff training.

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Dumfries and Galloway school holidays 2026/27 — at a glance

October break
12 Oct – 23 Oct
Christmas
21 Dec – 5 Jan
Spring
26 Mar – 9 Apr
Summer
3 Jul – 18 Aug

Dumfries and Galloway term dates 2026/27: how the school year runs

Dumfries and Galloway Council sets the school term dates and holiday dates for every council-run primary and secondary school in the area. For 2026/27, term starts on 20 August 2026 — the back-to-school date after the summer break — and the school year ends on 2 July 2027, with 5 school holidays and 2 in-service days in between.

The October week — the autumn mid-term break — runs from 12 October 2026 to 23 October 2026.

Schools break up for Christmas on 21 December 2026 and the Christmas holiday runs to 5 January 2027. The spring holiday runs from 26 March 2027 to 9 April 2027.

The summer holidays begin on 3 July 2027 — 47 days off before the new school year. Pupils are expected back for 2027/28 on 16 August 2027 — provisional until Dumfries and Galloway confirms.

When do schools go back in Dumfries and Galloway?

Pupil return dates after each 2026/27 break, with weekends and in-service days already accounted for — the day your child is actually back in class.

After the October Holiday
26 October 2026
After the Christmas Holiday
6 January 2027
After the Spring Holiday
12 April 2027
After the May Day
4 May 2027

Academic year at a glance

Term time
Holiday
In-service day

Term dates summary

Autumn term

20 Aug – 11 Oct

37 school days

Winter term

24 Oct – 20 Dec

40 school days

Spring term

6 Jan – 25 Mar

55 school days

Summer term

10 Apr – 2 Jul

58 school days

PeriodStartsEndsDaysTypevs England
October Holiday12 October 202623 October 202612HolidayAligns with English half-term
Christmas Holiday21 December 20265 January 202716HolidaySimilar dates to England
February In-Service Days18 February 202719 February 20272In-service—
Spring Holiday26 March 20279 April 202715HolidayRoughly aligns with English Easter
May Day3 May 20273 May 20271HolidaySame across UK
May In-Service Day28 May 202728 May 20271In-service—
Summer Holiday3 July 202718 August 202747HolidayStarts 3–4 weeks earlier than England

Money & school admin for Dumfries and Galloway parents

While you have the calendar open, three things worth sorting for the year ahead.

School clothing grant

£134–£150 per child

Dumfries and Galloway pays a school clothing grant — check if you qualify and how to claim it.

Clothing grant guide
Catchment checker

Which school is yours?

Enter your postcode to find your catchment school and confirm your council.

Open the checker
Scottish Child Payment

£28.20/week per child

A weekly payment for every child under 16 in families on qualifying benefits.

Check eligibility

Looking ahead: Dumfries and Galloway school holidays 2027/28

Term is expected to start 16 August 2027 and end 23 June 2028.

PeriodStartsEndsType
Autumn In-Service13 September 202714 September 2027In-service
October Holiday11 October 202715 October 2027Holiday
Christmas Holiday20 December 20275 January 2028Holiday
February Holiday14 February 202815 February 2028Holiday
February In-Service16 February 202816 February 2028In-service
Easter Holiday3 April 202814 April 2028Holiday
May Day1 May 20281 May 2028Holiday
May In-Service4 May 20284 May 2028In-service
Summer Holiday26 June 202811 August 2028Holiday

Clothing grant

£134 – £150

Primary: £134 · Secondary: £150

Apply at Dumfries and Galloway

Council links

Nearby councils

Need childcare during the holidays? Holiday clubs, childminders, costs — and what the 1,140 funded hours cover outside term time.
See options Nurseries in Dumfries and Galloway
Filling the holiday weeks? Our sister site TripSCOT covers family days out and free museums across Scotland — with train fares and honest costs.
Family days out Free museums

Frequently asked questions

When do schools go back in Dumfries and Galloway for 2026/27?

Schools in Dumfries and Galloway return for the 2026/27 academic year on 20 August 2026. This is the official term-start date used by council-managed primary and secondary schools across Dumfries and Galloway.

When is the October break in Dumfries and Galloway 2026/27?

The October break in Dumfries and Galloway — the October week — runs from 12 October 2026 to 23 October 2026 inclusive. Pupils go back to school on 26 October 2026.

When are the Christmas school holidays in Dumfries and Galloway?

Dumfries and Galloway schools close for the Christmas holiday from 21 December 2026, and pupils go back to school on 6 January 2027.

When is the spring holiday in Dumfries and Galloway 2026/27?

The spring holiday in Dumfries and Galloway runs from 26 March 2027 to 9 April 2027 inclusive. Pupils go back to school on 12 April 2027.

When does the summer holiday start in Dumfries and Galloway?

Dumfries and Galloway schools break up for the summer on 3 July 2027. The holiday runs to 18 August 2027, and pupils are expected back for 2027/28 on 16 August 2027 — provisional until Dumfries and Galloway confirms.

How many in-service days does Dumfries and Galloway have in 2026/27?

Dumfries and Galloway has 2 published in-service days in the 2026/27 academic year. On an in-service day schools are closed to pupils but staff are in for training and planning.

Related guides

Dumfries and Galloway schools & grantsBack to school checklistSchool clothing grantsFree school mealsP7 to S1 transitionSummer holiday childcareFunded childcare (1,140 hours)Early years & childcare hub

Places to stay in Dumfries and Galloway

Book a break around the school holidays.

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Dates last checked April 2026.

Dates follow the typical Dumfries and Galloway regional pattern. Always confirm with Dumfries and Galloway before booking holidays, flights or childcare. See our editorial policy for how we source this data.