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Oman public holidays 2026
Every school in Muscat, government or private, closes on Omani public holidays. The Islamic dates below are expected dates and shift with the moon sighting, which the authorities confirm one to two days ahead. Treat them as indicative until announced.
| Holiday | Expected date(s) 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Accession Day | Sunday 11 January |
| Israa and Miraj | Mid January (lunar) |
| Eid al-Fitr | Thursday 19 March to Sunday 22 March (lunar) |
| Eid al-Adha | Tuesday 26 May to Saturday 30 May (lunar) |
| Islamic New Year | Mid June (lunar) |
| Renaissance Day | Thursday 23 July |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Late September (lunar) |
| National Day | Wednesday 18 November to Thursday 19 November |
Oman observes its National Day in mid November, separate from the Gulf neighbours that mark a December date. The two Eid holidays are the moveable points in the year and the only ones likely to shift the published school breaks, so build flexibility into any travel booked around them.
Ministry term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
The Oman Ministry of Education sets a single national calendar for government schools, and many private and bilingual schools in Muscat follow it closely. The headline 2025-26 dates are below. Islamic breaks are indicative and confirmed nearer the time.
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Academic year begins | Wed 27 August 2025 |
| Autumn mid-term break | Sun 19 October to Thu 23 October 2025 |
| National Day holiday | Wed 18 November to Thu 27 November 2025 |
| Winter break | Sun 21 December 2025 to Thu 1 January 2026 |
| Spring mid-term break | Sun 22 February to Thu 26 February 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr break | Thu 19 March to Sun 22 March 2026 (lunar) |
| Spring break | Mon 23 March to Sun 29 March 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha break | Tue 26 May to Sat 30 May 2026 (lunar) |
| Academic year ends | Tue 23 June 2026 |
The 2026-27 Ministry calendar had not been published at the time of writing. Based on the 2025-26 pattern, expect the new year to open in the last week of August 2026 with the first mid-term break in mid October. We will update this guide once the Ministry releases the dates. Until then treat any 2026-27 figure as indicative.
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International school term dates
Muscat's international schools (British School Muscat, The American British Academy, the American International School of Muscat, the Lycee Francais de Mascate and others) set term dates aligned to their home curriculum rather than the Ministry calendar. Almost all run a northern-hemisphere year that opens in late August or early September and closes in June, so the broad shape matches the Ministry pattern even though the exact dates differ.
British schools deliver three terms with two half terms, a two to three week winter break and a long summer break of around eight weeks. American schools run a two-semester model with a fall break and a longer winter break. The French lycee follows the French national calendar with its fixed Toussaint, winter and spring vacations. All of them overlay the Omani public holidays in the table above, which is where Eid and National Day pull the international and Ministry calendars back into rough alignment. For the fee side of the picture see our international school fees in Muscat guide, and for how the curricula compare read the curriculum guide.
Planning the year
Three practical notes for Muscat families. First, the spring mid-term break in late February sits close to Ramadan in 2026, so shortened school days follow soon after the return; plan exam revision around the calmer autumn term instead. Second, fee instalments at most international schools fall due at the start of each term, so the late-August reopening and the January return are the two dates to diarise for payments. Third, the long gap between the spring break in late March and the summer break is the busiest stretch for external exams, including IGCSE, A level and the IB Diploma in May, so keep family travel out of that window. For the cost of living and visa context behind a move read the Oman country guide, and to compare the capital with other Gulf options return to the Muscat city guide.
Common questions
When do schools break up in Muscat for summer 2026? Ministry schools close after the academic year ends on 23 June 2026. International schools generally finish a little earlier in the second half of June before reopening in late August or early September.
How long is the summer holiday in Muscat? The summer break runs roughly from late June to late August, about nine to ten weeks. International schools on a northern-hemisphere calendar take a similar break.
When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Muscat? The Ministry had not published 2026-27 dates at the time of writing. Based on the 2025-26 pattern the year is expected to open in the last week of August 2026.
Do Eid dates change the Muscat school calendar? Yes. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha depend on the lunar calendar and are confirmed one to two days ahead, so schools adjust the exact break once the announcement is made.
Do international schools in Muscat follow the Ministry calendar? No. They set their own term dates aligned to their home curriculum but still observe Omani public holidays such as Eid and National Day.