Manila School Holidays 2026

Philippine public holidays 2026

Every school in Manila closes on the regular holidays declared by the national government. There are also special non-working days that most schools observe. The 2026 list, set by presidential proclamation, is below. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are declared separately once the lunar dates are confirmed.

Holy Week in early April is the most significant break in the Philippine calendar and falls during the DepEd April to May break in 2026. Christmas is also a long celebration in Manila, and international schools take their winter break across late December and early January around the Christmas and Rizal Day holidays.

Manila term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

DepEd public schools work to a school year that has returned to a June start. The 2025-26 year is confirmed, and the 2026-27 opening date has been announced as part of the continued move toward the traditional calendar.

The 2025-26 year ran to 197 class days. DepEd schools take a semester or term break during the year and the long April to May break, which coincides with the hottest, driest months. There is no half-term break in the British sense. As the calendar continues to shift, exact within-year break dates vary, so confirm against your own school's published calendar before booking travel.

International school term dates in Manila

Manila has a strong international school market, with American, British and IB schools concentrated in Taguig (Bonifacio Global City), Makati and the wider Metro Manila area. These schools follow a northern-hemisphere August to June year rather than the DepEd June to March cycle. American and IB schools run two semesters with a winter break around Christmas and a spring break, often aligned with Holy Week. British schools keep three terms with October and February half terms and an Easter break.

The effect is that an international school family and a DepEd family in Manila are almost entirely out of sync: while public schools take their long break in April and May, international schools are finishing their year in June. All schools close for the Philippine regular holidays, so Holy Week, Independence Day and Christmas are common to every system. To compare programmes read our curriculum guides, and for the cost of each pathway see international school fees in Manila.

Planning the Manila school year

Three planning notes for Manila families. First, Holy Week in early April is the country's biggest travel week, when Manila empties and resorts in Palawan, Cebu and Boracay fill, so book domestic trips well ahead. Second, the international school summer in June to August overlaps the start of the rainy season, and many expat families travel home, so long-haul fares rise; book by spring. Third, international school fees are billed by term or semester, so budget for the first invoice around the August start. For the wider relocation picture see our Manila city guide.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Manila in 2026? DepEd public schools finished on 31 March 2026 and take the April to May break. International schools break up in mid-June for the summer.

How long is the summer holiday in Manila? DepEd schools break across April and May. International schools take a northern-hemisphere summer of roughly eight to ten weeks from mid-June to mid-August.

When does the 2026 school year start in Manila? DepEd set 2026-27 to open on 8 June 2026. International schools begin in August 2026.

Does Manila have a half term break? DepEd schools do not. British international schools in Manila add October and February half terms of their own.

Do international schools follow the DepEd calendar? No. They keep an August to June year, though all schools close for Philippine public holidays.

Related guides

• Manila city guide
• International school fees in Manila
• Curriculum guides