In this article
Kuwait public holidays 2026
Every school in Kuwait City closes on the country's official public holidays. National Day and Liberation Day fall back to back in late February, and the religious dates move with the lunar calendar. The headline 2026 dates are below.
| Holiday | Expected date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Mid-January (subject to moon sighting) |
| National Day | Wednesday 25 February |
| Liberation Day | Thursday 26 February |
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March (subject to moon sighting) |
| Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha | Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May (subject to moon sighting) |
| Islamic New Year | Wednesday 17 June (subject to moon sighting) |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Late August (subject to moon sighting) |
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha dates depend on the moon sighting and are confirmed by the Kuwaiti authorities one to two days ahead, so schools announce the practical closure dates close to the holiday. National Day and Liberation Day on 25 and 26 February fall during Ramadan in 2026, which begins in mid-February, so the school day is shortened across that period.
Kuwait City term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
Kuwait's Ministry of Education sets a two-term year for government schools, and many private Arabic-system schools follow it. The 2025-26 framework is confirmed at the edges; the 2026-27 dates are indicative until the Ministry publishes them.
| Term or break | Dates |
|---|---|
| First term 2025-26 | Sun 31 August 2025 to Wed 17 December 2025 |
| Winter break | Mid-December 2025 to early January 2026 |
| Second term 2025-26 | Early January 2026 to around Thu 21 May 2026 (students) |
| Mid-term and Eid breaks | Around National Day in late February and Eid al-Fitr in March |
| Summer holidays | From late May 2026 to late August 2026 |
| First term 2026-27 (indicative) | Begins late August 2026 |
There is no half-term break in the Ministry system in the British sense; the winter break and the breaks around National Day and Eid serve the same purpose. Exact dates for the second term and the Eid breaks depend on moon sightings and Ministry decisions, so they are confirmed closer to the day. Confirm against your own school's published calendar before booking travel.
Choosing a school in Kuwait City?
Calendar fit matters when siblings attend different systems. Our school finder filters Kuwait City schools by curriculum, stage and fee tier.
International school term dates in Kuwait City
Kuwait City has a well-established international school market, with British, American, Indian and IB schools across the city and its suburbs. These schools follow a northern-hemisphere year rather than the Ministry two-term calendar. British schools keep three terms with October and February half terms and an Easter break; American and IB schools run two semesters with a winter break around Christmas and a spring break. Both typically start in late August or early September and finish in mid to late June, later than the Ministry schools' May end.
All international schools in Kuwait still close for the national public holidays and for Eid, and most shorten the school day through Ramadan. The biggest difference from the Ministry calendar is the winter break at Christmas, which government schools do not observe in the same way. To compare programmes read our curriculum guides, and for the cost of each pathway see international school fees in Kuwait City.
Planning the Kuwait City school year
Three planning notes for Kuwait families. First, summer is extreme, with temperatures well above 45 degrees, so the long break from late May to late August is when most expat families travel home; book flights early because fares peak from June. Second, the late-February National Day and Liberation Day holidays combine with any mid-term break to make a useful window for a regional trip, though it overlaps Ramadan in 2026. Third, international school fees are billed by term or semester, so budget for the first invoice around the late-August start. For the wider relocation picture see our Kuwait City guide.
Common questions
When do schools break up in Kuwait City in 2026? Ministry schools finish for students around 21 May 2026. International schools usually break up in mid to late June.
How long is the summer holiday? Ministry schools close from late May to late August, around three months. International schools run a slightly shorter summer of roughly ten weeks.
When does the 2026 school year start? Ministry schools are expected to start in late August 2026, mirroring the 31 August 2025 opening. International schools begin in late August or early September.
When are National Day and Liberation Day in 2026? National Day is Wednesday 25 February and Liberation Day is Thursday 26 February. Schools close for both.
Do international schools follow the Ministry calendar? Not exactly. They keep an August to June year with their own half terms, though all schools close for Kuwait's public holidays and Eid.