📚 School Holidays Singapore 2026 & 2027

Singapore School Holidays 2026 — MOE Calendar

Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) structures the academic year into four terms, each separated by a school holiday break. The pattern is consistent year on year: a short March break of nine days, the main mid-year June holiday spanning four weeks, a short September break of nine days, and the long year-end holiday from mid-November through to New Year's Day. This predictable structure allows families, working parents, and students to plan activities, enrichment programmes, and travel well in advance.

For 2026, the academic year opens on 2 January for primary and secondary schools, with junior college students returning slightly later in some instances. All four school terms follow the same schedule for primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges (JC), and Millennia Institute, though individual schools may have internal events — such as examination periods, teachers' conferences, and co-curricular activity competitions — that create minor variations.

Important disclaimer: The dates below are based on confirmed MOE scheduling for 2026 and historical MOE patterns. Always verify the precise dates for your child's school at moe.gov.sg before making bookings or non-refundable travel arrangements.

The June school holiday is the most popular window for overseas family travel. With four consecutive weeks off school, families have sufficient time for long-haul destinations such as Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, or Europe. The trade-off is cost — airlines and hotels across the region see peak demand from late May through June, and prices reflect this. Booking three to six months ahead for June 2026 travel is strongly recommended.

The year-end holiday — seven weeks from mid-November to New Year's Day — is the second major travel window. It encompasses Christmas and New Year, which adds to the festive appeal but also drives prices sharply upward in the final two weeks of December. Families who can travel in the first half of the year-end holiday, before the Christmas rush, typically find meaningfully better deals on flights and accommodation.

Singapore School Holidays 2027 — MOE Calendar (Tentative)

Planning two years ahead gives families with young children a significant advantage when it comes to booking early-bird international flights, coordinating annual leave with employers, and aligning family commitments. The 2027 Singapore school calendar has not yet been officially published by MOE, but the dates below are reliable estimates based on the well-established MOE scheduling pattern. MOE typically releases confirmed academic calendars in the second half of the preceding year — watch moe.gov.sg from mid-2026 for official 2027 confirmation.

The 2027 calendar follows the same four-term structure as previous years. For families with children who will be sitting the PSLE in 2027 (current Primary 5 students), or O-Levels and A-Levels, the September to November period will be intensive. Travel plans during Term 4 of 2027 should account for examination timetables. As always, verify the confirmed 2027 school calendar at moe.gov.sg once it is officially published.

Public Holidays During School Holidays 2026

Several Singapore public holidays overlap with the 2026 school holiday windows, creating extended breaks and adding extra value to the time off. Knowing these overlaps helps families squeeze more travel or rest time from the available calendar.

• Hari Raya Puasa — 20 March 2026 (during March break): Hari Raya Puasa falls on a Friday within the March school holiday window. This is especially meaningful for Malay Muslim families who mark the Eid celebration with extended family gatherings. For all families, the overlap means that the March school holiday is effectively padded by a public holiday, and any associated Monday-off-in-lieu arrangement would extend the break further.
• Vesak Day — 31 May 2026 (start of June break — Monday): Vesak Day falls on the Sunday immediately before the June school holiday begins. Under Singapore public holiday rules, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a substitute holiday. This means Monday 1 June 2026 is a public holiday, giving the June school holiday a bonus public holiday day at the very start of the break.
• National Day — 9 August 2026 (Sunday → Monday off-in-lieu, during Term 3): National Day falls on a Sunday in 2026. The substitute holiday on Monday 10 August gives students and families a long weekend within School Term 3. While this is technically during a school term rather than a school holiday, the Monday off is a welcome mid-term respite.
• Christmas — 25 December 2026 (during year-end break): Christmas falls comfortably within the seven-week year-end school holiday. Families planning Christmas travel — domestically or internationally — can do so without worrying about school commitments. The combination of Christmas and New Year within the year-end break makes this the most festive school holiday window of the year.

Best Times to Travel with Family

Not all school holiday windows are equal when it comes to travel planning. Each break has its own character in terms of duration, demand, pricing, and what is realistically achievable. Here is how to think about each of the four Singapore school holiday windows in 2026:

• June holidays (4 weeks, 30 May – 28 Jun 2026) — Best for overseas trips: The June school holiday is the longest mid-year break and the most popular for international travel. Four weeks give families enough time to visit destinations that require longer flights, such as Japan, Australia, Europe, or the United States, without feeling rushed. The downside is price — flights and hotels are at peak rates during this window. Book three to six months in advance. Vesak Day on 31 May and the Monday substitute public holiday on 1 June further extend the effective start of this break.
• Year-end holidays (7 weeks, 14 Nov – 1 Jan 2027) — Plan early for Christmas and New Year: The year-end holiday is the longest school break of the year and overlaps with Christmas and New Year, making it simultaneously the most popular and the most expensive travel window. Families who travel in the first three weeks of November (before the Christmas price surge kicks in around mid-December) can enjoy the extended break at lower cost. Those planning Christmas or New Year travel should aim to book by July or August at the latest.
• March break (9 days, 14–22 Mar 2026) — Good for nearby destinations: With only nine days, the March school holiday is not suited to long-haul travel. However, it is well-matched to short regional trips. Johor Bahru (JB) by road, Batam or Bintan by ferry from Tanah Merah or HarbourFront, and Langkawi or Penang by short-haul flight are all practical for a five to seven day trip within this window. Hari Raya Puasa on 20 March adds a public holiday flavour to the break in 2026.
• September break (9 days, 5–13 Sep 2026) — Least crowded, best value: The September school holiday is the least crowded of the four breaks. Demand for flights and hotels is noticeably lower compared to June and the year-end. This makes September an excellent budget option — families can find good fares to popular short-haul destinations like Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong without paying the premium associated with June or December. For families who are flexible on timing, September consistently offers the best value for money of all four school holiday windows.

Tips for Parents Planning School Holidays

Navigating Singapore's school holiday calendar as a parent requires both forward planning and flexibility. Here are practical tips to make the most of the 2026 and 2027 school holiday windows:

• Book flights 3–6 months ahead for June and year-end: The June school holiday and the November–December year-end break are Singapore's two highest-demand travel windows. Airlines price dynamically, and fares for popular routes (Singapore to Tokyo, Singapore to Sydney, Singapore to London) can double or triple during peak school holiday dates compared to off-peak periods. For June 2026, target booking by January or February 2026. For the year-end break, aim to book by July or August 2026 at the latest.
• JB day trips don't need advance planning and are great for short breaks: Johor Bahru is within easy reach by road across the Causeway or the Second Link, making it one of the most practical options for Singapore families during the shorter March and September school holidays. A day trip or overnight stay in JB requires no flights, no complex logistics, and offers a range of options from theme parks (LEGOLAND Malaysia is a thirty-minute drive from the Causeway) to seafood and shopping. Spontaneous JB trips during school holidays are entirely feasible.
• Check whether your child's school has supplementary classes during holidays: Some Singapore primary and secondary schools schedule supplementary lessons, remedial classes, or enrichment programmes during the school holidays, particularly in the lead-up to examination periods. Check your child's school notices and the school calendar — often distributed at the start of each term — before finalising travel plans.
• Universal Studios Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, and other attractions are more crowded during school holidays: Local attractions see a significant surge in visitors during every school holiday window, particularly on weekends. If you are planning local day activities during the break, consider visiting major attractions on weekdays rather than weekends to avoid the longest queues. Alternatively, look for school holiday programmes offered by the Science Centre, the Singapore Zoo, the National Museum, or community clubs, which provide structured activities in smaller group settings.
• The September break offers the best value for money: The September school holiday is consistently the least crowded and least expensive of the four break windows. Flights and hotels to regional destinations in Southeast Asia are meaningfully cheaper in early to mid-September compared to June or December. Families who can be flexible about which school holiday they prioritise for their main overseas trip will find September a smart choice for budget-conscious travel.
• Align parental annual leave with school holidays at the start of the year: Both parents should review their annual leave entitlements in January and map them against the four school holiday windows before the year fills up with competing work commitments. The June and year-end windows in particular fill up quickly in many workplaces, and colleagues often apply for leave over the same school holiday dates. Planning leave applications early in the year gives the best chance of securing the desired dates.
• For families with students in examination years — plan Term 4 carefully: Students sitting the PSLE (Primary 6), N-Levels or O-Levels (Secondary 4/5), or A-Levels (JC2) in 2026 will have intensive examination preparation during Term 4, from September to November. Avoid scheduling family holidays during this window for examination-year students, or plan activities that can be flexible around exam timetables.