Full list of school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 for schools across Edinburgh and Lothians

School pupils are preparing to return to the classroom this week as the summer holidays draw to a close.

Whether mums and dad have been counting the days until their little ones head back to school or enjoying time with them in the sun, attention will now be turning to the coming school year.

We’ve put together a handy guide to every school holiday and term dates for school across Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian, and Midlothian.

Find out when pupils will be off during the 2026/27 school year below:

City of Edinburgh Council

Term 1

• Pupils return: Wednesday August 12
• Autumn holiday: Monday, September 14
• Pupils return: Tuesday, September 15
• October break: Monday, October 12 - Monday, October 19
• Pupils return: Tuesday, October 20
• Term ends: Friday, December 18
• Christmas break: Monday, December 21 - Tuesday, January 5

Students react as they receive their exam results at Broughton High School on August 4, 2026 | Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Term 2

• Pupils return: Wednesday, January 6
• Mid-term: Monday, February 15 - Friday, February 19
• Pupils return: Monday, February 22
• Easter weekend: Friday, March 26 - Monday, March 29
• Pupils return: Tuesday, March 30
• Term ends: Friday, April 2
• Spring holidays: Monday April 5 - Monday, April 19

Term 3

• Pupils return: Tuesday, April 20
• May Day: Monday, May 3
• In service: Tuesday, May 4
• Pupils return: Wednesday, May 5
• Victoria Day: Monday, May 24
• Pupils Return: Tuesday, May 25
• School year ends: Tuesday, June 29

East Lothian

Term 1

• Pupils return: Wednesday, August 12
• Autumn holiday: Friday, September 11 - Monday, September 14
• Pupils return - Tuesday, September 15
• October break: Monday, October 12 - Monday, October 19
• Pupils return: Tuesday, October 20
• Term ends: Friday, December 18
• Christmas break: Monday, December 21 - Monday, January 4

Term 2

• Pupils return: Tuesday, January 5
• Mid-term break: Monday, February 15 - Monday, February 22
• Pupils return: Tuesday, February 23
• Easter weekend: Friday, March 26 - Monday, March 29
• Pupils return: Tuesday, March 30
• Term ends: Friday, April 2
• Spring holidays: Monday, April 5 - Monday, April 19

Schools will be returning across Edinburgh and the Lothians this week. | Getty Images

Term 3

• Pupils return: Tuesday, April 20
• May Day: Monday, May 3
• Pupils return: Tuesday, May 4
• In-service day: Monday, May 24
• Pupils return: Tuesday, May 25
• School year ends: Tuesday, June 29

West Lothian

Term 1

• Pupils return: Wednesday, August 12
• Autumn holiday: Monday, September 21
• Pupils return: Tuesday, September 22
• October break: Monday, October 19 - Monday October 26
• Pupils return: Tuesday, October 27
• Term ends: Friday, December 18
• Christmas break: Monday, December 21 - Monday, January 4

Term 2

• Pupils return: Tuesday, January 5
• Mid-term: Monday, February 8 - Monday, February 15
• Pupils return: Tuesday, February 16
• Term ends: Thursday, March 25
• Easter holidays: Friday, March 26 - Friday, April 9

Term 3

• Pupils return: Monday, April 12
• May Day: Monday, May 3
• Pupils return: Tuesday, May 4
• In-service day: Thursday, May 6
• Spring holiday: Monday, May 24 (All schools except Bathgate Academy, Linlithgow Academy, St Mary’s Primary Bathgate, St Columba's Primary, Blackburn Primary, Murrayfield Primary, St Joseph's Primary, and Linlithgow Primary)
• Bathgate local holiday: Monday, June 7 (only Bathgate Academy, St Mary’s Primary, St Columba’s Primary, Blackburn Primary, and Murrayfield Primary)
• Linlithgow marches: Tuesday, June 15 (only Linlithgow Academy, St Joseph’s Primary, and Linlithgow Primary)
• School year ends: Friday, June 25

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Midlothian

Term 1

• Pupils return: Thursday, August 13
• Autumn holiday: Friday September 11 - Monday, September 14 (inclusive)
• Pupils return: Tuesday, September 15
• October break: Monday, October 12 - Monday, October 19
• Pupils return: Tuesday, October 20
• Term ends: Tuesday, December 22
• Christmas break: Wednesday, December 23 - Wednesday, January 6

Term 2

• Pupils return: Thursday, January 7
• Mid-term: Monday, February 15 - Friday, February 19
• Pupils return: Monday, February 22
• Easter break: Friday March 26 - Monday, March 29
• Pupils return: Tuesday, March 30
• Term ends: Friday, April 2
• Spring holiday: Monday, April 5 - Monday, April 19

• Pupils return: Tuesday, April 20
• May Day: Monday, May 3
• Victoria Day: Monday, May 24
• School year ends: Tuesday, June 29