Polish school year 2026/2027 calendar released, detailing holidays and breaks

Poland's Ministry of Education has released the official calendar for the 2026/2027 school year, setting key dates for students and educators. The academic year is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, following the summer break, and will officially end on Friday, June 25, 2027. The following day marks the beginning of the summer holidays.

Key breaks during the school year include a winter holiday period from December 23 to December 31, 2026, coinciding with Christmas. This break is often extended by weekends and public holidays like New Year's Day and Epiphany, with schools potentially designating additional 'director's days' off. Following this, a spring break is planned from March 25 to March 30, 2027, encompassing the Easter period.

Winter holidays in 2027 will be staggered across different regions to alleviate congestion. The first shift, from January 18 to January 31, will include students from dolnośląskie, łódzkie, opolskie, podkarpackie, podlaskie, and śląskie voivodeships. The second shift, from February 1 to February 14, covers lubelskie, mazowieckie, pomorskie, and świętokrzyskie. The final shift, from February 15 to February 28, includes kujawsko-pomorskie, lubuskie, małopolskie, warmińsko-mazurskie, wielkopolskie, and zachodniopomorskie.

This staggered approach to winter holidays, implemented for years, aims to reduce road traffic, enhance travel safety, ensure more even hotel occupancy, and lessen queues at ski resorts. Beyond scheduled breaks, the academic year also includes several public holidays, such as National Independence Day (November 11), New Year's Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Easter, May 1st and 3rd, and Corpus Christi. Schools also have the discretion to designate additional days off.