Athens school holidays 2026: term dates calendar

Term dates for Greek state schools are set nationally by the Ministry of Education, and they apply across the country including Athens, while international schools layer their own calendar on top. Our Athens city guide covers the sector; this page sets out the 2026 dates. The two fixed long breaks are Christmas and Orthodox Easter, with Clean Monday providing a third, shorter pause.

Athens public holidays 2026

Athens schools close on Greek national public holidays. Several move with the Orthodox calendar; the 2026 dates are below.

Clean Monday marks the start of Orthodox Lent and the end of the Apokries carnival, and it usually gives schools a long weekend. Ohi Day on 28 October is a national holiday with student and military parades across the city.

Term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

The table shows the Greek Ministry calendar for 2025-26. The Greek system runs a long autumn from mid-September to the Christmas break, then a long spring to Orthodox Easter, then a final stretch to mid-June. There is no February half-term in the UK sense, only the Clean Monday long weekend.

These are the national dates; private and international schools can add up to a couple of extra days. Secondary schools wind down earlier than primary in June as exams conclude. The Orthodox Easter break dates above are indicative until the Ministry publishes the exact 2026 window, so confirm against your school's calendar before booking travel.

International school term dates

Athens's international schools follow a northern-hemisphere September to June year but diverge from the Greek state calendar in two notable ways. Most British and American international schools add an October half-term week that Greek state schools do not have, and many schedule their spring break around Western Easter or a fixed April week rather than tracking the later Orthodox date, though some align with the local Orthodox holiday. British international schools keep three terms with that October break; IB and American schools run two semesters with the IB Diploma exam season in May. The shared anchors with the local calendar are the Christmas fortnight and a spring break in April. If curriculum is still open, our curriculum guide explains how each system shapes the year and its assessment seasons.

Planning the year

Two practical notes for Athens families. First, Orthodox Easter is the prime spring-travel week across Greece, with ferries to the islands and domestic flights filling fast, so book the April window early. Second, the gap between Western and Orthodox Easter in 2026 means families with children in different school systems may face different spring-break weeks, so check both calendars before planning a joint trip. See the national framework in our Greece country guide and compare systems in our curriculum guide. Start a shortlist from the Athens city hub.

Common questions

When do schools break up for summer in Athens? Greek state schools in Athens finish in mid-June 2026, with primary schools typically closing around 15 June and secondary schools earlier as exams conclude. International schools usually break in mid to late June.

How long is the summer holiday in Athens? The Greek summer holiday is long, around 11 to 12 weeks from mid-June to early September. International schools take a broadly similar break.

When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Athens? Greek state schools restart in mid-September 2026, around 11 September. International schools generally restart in late August or early September.

When is the Easter break for Athens schools in 2026? Greek schools follow the Orthodox calendar, and Orthodox Easter Sunday is 12 April 2026. The school Easter holiday runs for about two weeks around that date, roughly 6 to 19 April 2026, which is indicative until the Ministry confirms it.

Do Athens schools close for Clean Monday? Yes. Clean Monday, the start of Orthodox Lent, falls on 23 February 2026 and is a public holiday, giving schools a long weekend at the end of the carnival season.

Related guides

• Athens city guide
• Greece schools country guide
• Compare curricula