In this article
Barcelona public holidays 2026
Schools in Barcelona close on Spanish national holidays, the Catalan regional holidays and two local Barcelona holidays set by the city council. In 2026 there are fourteen official public holidays in the city. The headline dates are below; some fall during term and others land inside the longer breaks.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Epiphany (Reis) | Tuesday 6 January |
| Good Friday (Divendres Sant) | Friday 3 April |
| Easter Monday (Dilluns de Pasqua) | Monday 6 April |
| Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| Whit Monday (Segona Pasqua) | Monday 25 May |
| Sant Joan | Wednesday 24 June |
| Assumption | Saturday 15 August |
| Catalan National Day (Diada) | Friday 11 September |
| La Mercè (Barcelona local) | Thursday 24 September |
| National Day of Spain | Monday 12 October |
| Immaculate Conception | Tuesday 8 December |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
| Sant Esteve (Boxing Day) | Saturday 26 December |
La Mercè on 24 September is Barcelona's main local festival and a school holiday across the city. Sant Joan on 24 June falls just after the school year ends, so it does not cost teaching days. Where a public holiday lands on a Tuesday or Thursday, schools and families often bridge to the weekend, a long weekend the Spanish call a puente.
Barcelona term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
Catalan state and concertada (state-subsidised) schools work to three terms across a September to June year. The Generalitat fixes the framework and individual schools add a small number of free-choice days. The table shows the confirmed 2025-26 dates and the indicative shape of 2026-27.
| Term or break | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn term 2025 | Mon 8 September 2025 to Fri 19 December 2025 |
| Christmas break | Mon 22 December 2025 to Wed 7 January 2026 |
| Spring term 2026 | Thu 8 January 2026 to Fri 27 March 2026 |
| Setmana Santa (Easter) break | Mon 30 March to Mon 6 April 2026 |
| Summer term 2026 | Tue 7 April 2026 to Fri 19 June 2026 |
| Summer holidays | Sat 20 June 2026 to early September 2026 |
| Autumn term 2026 (indicative) | Begins second week of September 2026 |
The 2026-27 calendar had not been formally published by the Generalitat at the time of writing, so the September 2026 start is indicative and will be updated once confirmed. As a guide, the 2025-26 year opened on 8 September, and the Catalan school year has consistently started in the first or second week of the month. Exact free-choice days vary by school, so confirm against your own school's published calendar before booking travel.
Choosing a school in Barcelona?
Calendar fit matters most when you are deciding between a Spanish-system school and an international one. Our school finder filters Barcelona schools by curriculum, stage and fee tier.
International school term dates in Barcelona
Barcelona has a strong cluster of international schools, and their calendars diverge from the Catalan state system in two ways. British schools such as those following the English national curriculum keep a September to July year split into three terms, each with a one-week half term in late October and mid-February that Spanish state schools do not have. Their summer break is shorter, often starting in early July rather than late June. American and IB schools run a two-semester year with a winter break around Christmas and a spring break that may or may not line up with Setmana Santa.
The practical effect is that families with children in both a Spanish school and an international school can find their holidays out of sync, particularly around the October and February half terms. International schools still close for the main Catalan and Barcelona public holidays such as La Mercè and the Diada. To weigh up the options, read our curriculum guides, and for the cost of each pathway see international school fees in Barcelona.
Planning the Barcelona school year
Three planning notes for Barcelona families. First, the long summer break from late June to September is the busiest and most expensive travel window, so book early if you plan to leave the city; many local families decamp to the coast or to family elsewhere in Spain for much of August. Second, the Setmana Santa break in late March and early April is a popular time for short European trips, and fares rise quickly, so plan by January. Third, most international schools bill fees by term or semester, so the three-term structure typically means three invoices a year; budget for the first around the September start. For the bigger relocation picture see our Barcelona city guide and the Spain country guide.
Common questions
When do schools break up in Barcelona in 2026? Catalan state and concertada schools finish the 2025-26 year on Friday 19 June 2026, with the summer break running through July and August.
How long is the summer holiday in Barcelona? About eleven weeks, from 19 June 2026 to the second week of September, one of the longest in Europe.
When does the 2026 school year start in Barcelona? The 2026-27 year is expected to begin in the second week of September 2026, mirroring the 8 September 2025 start. Treat it as indicative until the Generalitat confirms.
Does Barcelona have a half term break? Catalan state schools do not. British and many international schools in Barcelona add October and February half terms of their own.
When is Setmana Santa 2026? The Easter break runs from Monday 30 March to Monday 6 April 2026, covering Holy Week and Easter Monday.