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Because Bangkok is one of Asia's largest international school hubs, the calendar a family follows depends almost entirely on the school chosen. Our Bangkok city guide maps the sector; this page sets out the 2026 dates that drive the year. The single fixed point shared by every school in the city is Songkran in mid-April.
Bangkok public holidays 2026
All Bangkok schools close on Thai national public holidays. Several Buddhist holy days move each year with the lunar calendar, so the dates below combine fixed national days with the confirmed 2026 placements where published.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day (plus special holiday) | Thursday 1 and Friday 2 January |
| Makha Bucha Day | early March (lunar; confirm locally) |
| Chakri Memorial Day | Monday 6 April |
| Songkran (Thai New Year) | Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April |
| National Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| Coronation Day | Monday 4 May |
| Visakha Bucha Day | late May to early June (lunar) |
| HM the King's Birthday | Tuesday 28 July |
| HM the Queen Mother's Birthday | Wednesday 12 August |
| King Bhumibol Memorial Day | Tuesday 13 October |
| Chulalongkorn Day | Friday 23 October |
| HM King Bhumibol's Birthday (Father's Day) | Saturday 5 December |
| Constitution Day | Thursday 10 December |
Songkran is Thailand's biggest holiday and falls on a Monday to Wednesday in 2026, creating a natural five-day window with the surrounding weekend. Buddhist holy days such as Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha shift each year; the government confirms exact 2026 dates and any replacement days in advance, so treat the lunar entries above as indicative until your school publishes them.
Term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
The Thai Ministry of Education sets a two-semester year for state schools. Semester 1 runs from mid-May to late September or early October, and Semester 2 from early November to late February or March, with the long hot-season break in between. International schools, which most expatriate families choose, instead follow the northern-hemisphere pattern shown below, based on the published 2025-26 calendars of major Bangkok international schools.
| Period (typical international school) | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 begins | late August 2025 |
| Term 1 half-term break | mid-October 2025 (around 13 to 17 October) |
| Term 1 ends / winter break | mid-December 2025 to early January 2026 |
| Term 2 | early January to late March 2026 |
| Songkran break | Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026 (often a full week) |
| Term 3 ends / summer break | mid-to-late June 2026 |
| Thai state schools: long hot-season break | March to mid-May 2026 |
Exact dates vary by school within a window of a few days, so the international school rows are indicative of the common shape rather than a single calendar. Confirm against your school's published dates. Thai state-school dates for 2026 follow the Ministry framework and can shift regionally.
Building your Bangkok school shortlist?
Bangkok's international schools range from large British and American campuses to smaller IB schools. Our school finder filters by curriculum, fee tier and location across the city.
International school term dates
International schools dominate the expatriate market in Bangkok and almost all run an August to June northern-hemisphere year regardless of curriculum. British schools such as those in the Wellington and Harrow families keep three terms with an October half-term; American and IB schools run two semesters with shorter mid-semester breaks. The shared anchors are the December winter break and the Songkran pause in mid-April. The clearest divergence from the Thai state calendar is the summer: international schools break from mid-to-late June into August, while Thai schools take their long break in the hot season from March to May. If you are weighing curricula, our curriculum guide explains how each shapes assessment seasons and the calendar.
Planning the year
Two practical notes for Bangkok families. First, the Songkran break in mid-April is both the hottest point of the year and the busiest domestic travel window, so regional flights and island resorts book out months ahead; reserve by January. Second, fee instalments at international schools are usually billed three times a year to match the terms, so set your Bangkok international school fees against the calendar. For the national context behind these dates, see our Thailand country guide, and build a shortlist from the Bangkok city hub.
Common questions
When do schools break up for summer in Bangkok? International schools in Bangkok break for summer in mid-to-late June 2026 and return in late August. Thai state schools instead take their long break in the hot season from March to mid-May.
How long is the summer holiday in Bangkok? International schools take roughly seven to eight weeks from late June. Thai state schools have their longest break, around six to eight weeks, in March to May rather than mid-year.
When does the 2026 school year start in Bangkok? International schools start the 2026-27 year in late August 2026. Thai state schools begin their academic year in mid-May 2026.
When is the Songkran school break in Bangkok 2026? Songkran runs from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026. Most international schools extend it to a full week around those dates.
Do Bangkok schools close for Thai public holidays? Yes. All schools close for national public holidays, including the moveable Buddhist holy days such as Makha Bucha and Visakha Bucha, whose 2026 dates are confirmed by the government in advance.