2026-2027 planning guideStates and DC

US School Holidays 2026-2027

Thanksgiving: late November 2026. Winter break: late December 2026–early January 2027. Spring break: March–April 2027. Exact dates below apply only to the named districts, not entire states.

Fall break 2026 by district ↓Find Spring Break 2027 by state →Use printable planning tools →Check official sources →

Page content updated: 2026-10-04. Source-check dates are listed with each calendar.

Compare all states Read planning notes

Winter Break

Late Dec 2026 – Early Jan 2027

Most districts schedule winter break around Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Spring Break

March – April 2027

Spring break timing varies widely by district, especially in large states.

Thanksgiving Recess

Late November 2026

Check your district’s calendar for the full recess and student return date.

What this school holiday guide covers

The 2026-2027 school year does not follow one national calendar. Each state sets broad instructional requirements, while local school districts publish their own final calendars. This page gives families a quick way to compare common holiday windows before checking district-specific dates.

Use the table below to find winter district examples, spring planning windows, and district-calendar lookups for Thanksgiving and school-year dates. Each state name links to a calendar guide with more holiday details and source information.

Important note for travel planning

School holidays can vary by district, weather make-up days, board approvals, and local observances. Always confirm final dates with your school district before booking travel, camps, or childcare.

Popular state holiday calendars

Start with popular states, then browse the state and DC index below.

Browse all school calendars →

AZView dates

Arizona

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Chandler Unified School District only; not statewide

CAView dates

California

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 8, 2027

Los Angeles Unified School District only; not statewide

FLView dates

Florida

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Broward County Public Schools only; not statewide

GAView dates

Georgia

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Atlanta Public Schools only; not statewide

ILView dates

Illinois

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Chicago Public Schools only; not statewide

NYView dates

New York

Dec 24, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

New York City Public Schools only; not statewide

NCView dates

North Carolina

Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Wake County Public School System only; not statewide

OHView dates

Ohio

Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Cincinnati Public Schools only; not statewide

PAView dates

Pennsylvania

Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

School District of Philadelphia only; not statewide

TXView dates

Texas

Dec 21, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Houston Independent School District only; not statewide

State and DC comparison table

School holidays by state, 2026-2027

Winter entries open named-district examples below; spring entries are planning windows, not exact dates. Directory links support school-year and Thanksgiving lookups, not statewide holiday dates.

See named-district Spring Break 2027 dates →

School year / Thanksgiving: district lookupIndigo: winterGreen: spring

Compare travel windows

Open winter examples for named districts; use the Spring Break guide for exact spring dates.

Open state details

Each state links to a full calendar page with holidays, FAQs, and district verification notes.

Verify before booking

Official source links help families confirm final dates before travel, camps, or childcare.

State and DC index of district-calendar lookups, winter example links, spring planning windows, and official calendar directories.
State	School year	Thanksgiving	Winter break	Spring break	District calendar directory
Arizona AZDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Chandler Unified School District calendar Education / calendar directory
California CADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Los Angeles Unified School District calendar Education / calendar directory
Florida FLDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Broward County Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
Georgia GADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Atlanta Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
Illinois ILDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Chicago Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
New York NYDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	New York City Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
North Carolina NCDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Wake County Public School System calendar Education / calendar directory
Ohio OHDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Cincinnati Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
Pennsylvania PADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	School District of Philadelphia calendar Education / calendar directory
Texas TXDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Houston Independent School District calendar Austin Independent School District calendar Dallas Independent School District calendar Education / calendar directory
Alabama ALDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Colorado CODistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Connecticut CTDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Indiana INDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Iowa IADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Kentucky KYDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Louisiana LADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Maryland MDDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Michigan MIDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Minnesota MNDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Missouri MODistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
New Jersey NJDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Oklahoma OKDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Oregon ORDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
South Carolina SCDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Tennessee TNDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Utah UTDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Virginia VADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Washington WADistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	Seattle Public Schools calendar Education / calendar directory
Washington DC DCDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	See district winter examples	March–April 2027	District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) calendar Education / calendar directory
Wisconsin WIDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Alaska AKDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Arkansas ARDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Delaware DEDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Hawaii HIDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Idaho IDDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Kansas KSDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Maine MEDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Mississippi MSDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Montana MTDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Nebraska NEDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Nevada NVDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
New Hampshire NHDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
New Mexico NMDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
North Dakota NDDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Rhode Island RIDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
South Dakota SDDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Vermont VTDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
West Virginia WVDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory
Wyoming WYDistricts vary	Check your district	Check your district	Browse district examples	March–April 2027	Education / calendar directory

Verified district examples: winter break

These 14 district examples across 12 state and DC entries cover the December–January recess, not statewide dates. Austin and Dallas are additional Texas examples beyond the Houston example used in the state index. Each calendar scope and source is listed separately below. February breaks and adjacent staff-only days are not merged into the recess.

California district winter break examples

Los Angeles Unified School District

Calendar scope: District instructional calendar; school-specific pupil-free days are separate.

Los Angeles Unified School District winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 8, 2027

The winter recess is separate from any school-specific January 11 pupil-free day.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Approved on 2025-03-11

Source document: 2026-27 Instructional Cal_Eng_Graph.pdf. 2026-2027 instructional calendar; Board approved March 11, 2025.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: 2026-27 Instructional Cal_Eng_Graph.pdf View the state calendar →

New York district winter break examples

New York City Public Schools

Calendar scope: New York City Public Schools district calendar, not all New York schools.

New York City Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 24, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

This is the December–January winter recess; the separate midwinter recess is not included.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-2027 School Year Calendar (official web page). 2026-2027 school-year edition.

Check this district’s official calendar View the state calendar →

Florida district winter break examples

Broward County Public Schools

Calendar scope: Standard 2026/27 district calendar; confirm any separate year-round school schedule.

Broward County Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

These dates apply to the calendar identified in the district announcement, not every school in Florida.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: BCPS Announces School Calendars Have Been Approved (official announcement). Published December 18, 2025; 2026/27 calendar highlights.

Check this district’s official calendar View the state calendar →

Georgia district winter break examples

Atlanta Public Schools

Calendar scope: District student calendar; December–January semester break.

Atlanta Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

The district calls this Semester Break. The separately named February winter break is not included.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: Student/Parent Device Handbook — 2026–2027 Student Key Dates (official web page). 2026-2027 student key dates section.

Check this district’s official calendar View the state calendar →

Illinois district winter break examples

Chicago Public Schools

Calendar scope: Family calendar for elementary and high schools; not Cincinnati Public Schools.

Chicago Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Winter vacation is separate from the January 4 professional development day.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: EDUC_District_Calendar_626857_Calend_Fam_SY26-27_D_EN_SP_02222026. 2026–2027 Family Calendar, English and Spanish; linked from the district calendar page.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: EDUC_District_Calendar_626857_Calend_Fam_SY26-27_D_EN_SP_02222026 View the state calendar →

Texas district winter break examples

Houston Independent School District

Calendar scope: District academic calendar for Houston ISD, not other Texas districts.

Houston Independent School District winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

The named recess ends December 31. New Year’s Day and the January 4 staff development day are separate; students return January 5.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-2027YearlyCalendarRev4_6_26.pdf. Updated April 6, 2026, as printed in the calendar.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: 2026-2027YearlyCalendarRev4_6_26.pdf View the state calendar →

Austin Independent School District

Calendar scope: Standard calendar only; ADSY campuses use a separate calendar.

Austin Independent School District winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

The calendar lists December 21–January 4 as Winter Break and separately marks January 4 as staff development / student holiday.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-2027_Calendar_Revised_0.pdf. Revised & Final 2026–2027 calendar; workbook title dated May 21, 2026.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: 2026-2027_Calendar_Revised_0.pdf View the state calendar →

Dallas Independent School District

Calendar scope: Traditional calendar only; eligible ADSY campuses follow a separate calendar.

Dallas Independent School District winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027

The January 5 professional development day is separate from Traditional winter break. Do not combine this interval with ADSY dates.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: District-Calendar.pdf. 2026-2027 Traditional calendar, linked through the district’s Approved Calendars page.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: District-Calendar.pdf View this district’s dates and calendar scope →View the state calendar →

Arizona district winter break examples

Chandler Unified School District

Calendar scope: Modified year-round calendar; second intersession only.

Chandler Unified School District winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

The second intersession runs through January 1. The January 4 teacher inservice / workday is separate.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Approved on 2023-09-27

Source document: CALENDAR2026-27Approved.pdf. Revised December 17, 2025 for conference dates; Board approved September 27, 2023.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: CALENDAR2026-27Approved.pdf View the state calendar →

North Carolina district winter break examples

Wake County Public School System

Calendar scope: Traditional calendar only; year-round tracks, including Track 4, are separate.

Wake County Public School System winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

The displayed interval combines the December vacation days and holidays through New Year’s Day; December 21–22 teacher workdays are separate.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 26-27TRADupdated5-6-26.pdf. 2026-2027 Traditional calendar; file version tag updated5-6-26.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: 26-27TRADupdated5-6-26.pdf View the state calendar →

Pennsylvania district winter break examples

School District of Philadelphia

Calendar scope: District academic calendar for Philadelphia public schools.

School District of Philadelphia winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Winter recess is December 23–31; the displayed interval also includes the separate New Year’s Day holiday.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-2027 Academic Calendar (official web page). 2026-2027 academic-calendar edition, December and January entries.

Check this district’s official calendar View the state calendar →

Washington district winter break examples

Seattle Public Schools

Calendar scope: Seattle Public Schools 2026–2027 school-year dates, not all Washington schools.

Seattle Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

The December–January winter break is separate from the February mid-winter break.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-27 School Year Dates (official web page). 2026-2027 school-year section.

Check this district’s official calendar View the state calendar →

Washington DC district winter break examples

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)

Calendar scope: DCPS school-year calendar; not every school in Washington, DC.

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 22, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

December 21 staff professional development is separate from the December 22–January 1 recess.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: SY 26-27 Calendar_English_061126.pdf. Official annual publication page dated July 27, 2026; filename tag 061126 is not an approval date.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: SY 26-27 Calendar_English_061126.pdf View the state calendar →

Ohio district winter break examples

Cincinnati Public Schools

Calendar scope: Cincinnati Public Schools 12-month student calendar; not Chicago Public Schools.

Cincinnati Public Schools winter break dates
Winter break	Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

The January 4 staff professional development day is separate from winter recess; students return January 5.

Checked on 2026-10-02

Source document: 2026-27_calendarupdate.pdf. Printed update September 11, 2026.

Check this district’s official calendar Calendar attachment: 2026-27_calendarupdate.pdf View the state calendar →

When is fall break 2026?

Fall break is a district decision, and many districts do not have one. In the 8 named district calendars below, fall break 2026 starts between Oct 5, 2026 and Oct 26, 2026. Each date applies only to the listed district.

Fall break 2026 in named school districts. Official sources and checked dates are listed per row.
District	State	Fall break 2026	Scope and source
DeSoto County Schools	Mississippi	Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026	DeSoto County Schools district calendar only. Official calendar ↗ 2026-2027 School Calendar (official web page). Checked on 2026-10-04.
Hawaii State Department of Education	Hawaii	Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026	All Hawaii DOE public schools except Holomua Elementary (multi-track) and charter schools. Official calendar ↗ · 2026-27-Official-School-Calendar-amended.pdf Approved June 1, 2023; amended March 30, 2026. Checked on 2026-10-04.
Dallas Independent School District	Texas	Thu, Oct 8 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026	Dallas ISD Traditional calendar; the ADSY calendar lists the same fall break. Official calendar ↗ · District-Calendar.pdf Official 2026-2027 Traditional calendar attachment Checked on 2026-10-01.
Ann Arbor Public Schools	Michigan	Fri, Oct 9 and Mon, Oct 12, 2026	Ann Arbor Public Schools; listed as Early Fall Break (Friday and Monday). Preschools use a separate calendar. Official calendar ↗ 2026-27 Text Calendar, updated 8/11/26 (official web page). Checked on 2026-10-04.
Jefferson Parish Schools	Louisiana	Fri, Oct 9 – Mon, Oct 12, 2026	Jefferson Parish Schools district calendar; some listed holidays may become make-up days. Official calendar ↗ · 26-27_SinglePage_Calendar_2026-04-10-B-9.pdf Version B-09, dated 2026-04-10. Checked on 2026-10-04.
Indianapolis Public Schools	Indiana	Mon, Oct 12 – Fri, Oct 16, 2026	Indianapolis Public Schools district calendar; Innovation Network schools publish separate calendars. Official calendar ↗ · SY26.27 Calendar_English.pdf SY2026-27 Student & Staff School Calendar, linked from the district calendar page. Checked on 2026-10-04.
Metro Nashville Public Schools	Tennessee	Mon, Oct 12 – Fri, Oct 16, 2026	Metro Nashville Public Schools; October 9 is a separate stockpiled PD day with no students. Official calendar ↗ · MNPSDistrictCalendar2026-2027_English_updated02092026.pdf 2026-2027 District Calendar, revised 2/9/26. Checked on 2026-10-04.
Milwaukee Public Schools	Wisconsin	Mon, Oct 26, 2026	Milwaukee Public Schools districtwide calendar; listed as October Break. Individual schools may add non-attendance days. Official calendar ↗ · mps-district-calendar-26-27.pdf 2026–27 Districtwide Calendar, Rev 12/10/2025. Checked on 2026-10-04.

Not listed? Use your district's official calendar; state pages link to district sources. Thanksgiving, winter and spring dates are covered separately on this page and in the Spring Break guide.

Why holidays differ by district

01States set instructional day or hour requirements, but districts choose many local calendar dates.
02Large districts may observe additional local holidays, professional development days, or election days.
03Snow days, hurricanes, emergency closures, and make-up days can shift the final day of school.

Best next steps for parents

✓Open your state page and review the full holiday list and source link.
✓Confirm final dates on your school district website before making commitments.
✓Check back after official district calendars are updated for the 2026-2027 year.

Related guide

Winter Break District Examples →

Related guide

First Day of School 2026 by State →

School holidays FAQ

When are US school holidays for 2026-2027?

US school holidays for 2026-2027 vary by state and local school district. Most schools observe Labor Day, Thanksgiving recess, winter break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, spring break, and Memorial Day, but exact dates depend on district calendars.

When is fall break 2026?

Fall break is set by each district, and many districts have none. Named examples: DeSoto County Schools Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026; Hawaii State Department of Education Mon, Oct 5 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026; Dallas Independent School District Thu, Oct 8 – Fri, Oct 9, 2026; Ann Arbor Public Schools Fri, Oct 9 and Mon, Oct 12, 2026; Jefferson Parish Schools Fri, Oct 9 – Mon, Oct 12, 2026; Indianapolis Public Schools Mon, Oct 12 – Fri, Oct 16, 2026; Metro Nashville Public Schools Mon, Oct 12 – Fri, Oct 16, 2026; Milwaukee Public Schools Mon, Oct 26, 2026. Confirm with your own district calendar.

When is winter break for the 2026-2027 school year?

Winter break usually runs from late December 2026 into early January 2027. Many districts schedule the break around Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but the start and end dates vary locally.

When is spring break 2027?

Spring break 2027 is usually scheduled in March or April. Southern states and large urban districts often choose different weeks than northeastern or midwestern districts, so families should confirm with their local school district.

Are these school holiday dates official?

The exact fall break and winter break examples come from the named districts’ official calendars and apply only to the listed calendar scopes. First and last school days and Thanksgiving recess are district-calendar lookups, not statewide dates. Spring dates are in the separate Spring Break guide.