Rome school holidays 2026

Italian public holidays 2026

Every Rome school closes on Italian national public holidays. Rome also closes on its patron saint day, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June, when it falls on a school day.

Ferragosto in mid August falls inside the summer break, when Rome itself empties as residents head to the coast and the mountains. The 8 December feast often anchors a long weekend just before the Christmas break begins.

Lazio term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

The Lazio region sets a single calendar that all state schools in Rome follow, with individual schools allowed minor local adjustments. The headline 2025-26 dates are below.

Italian state schools do not have the week-long autumn and February half terms common in the UK. Instead the year is built around two long breaks at Christmas and Easter, with single closure days on the national holidays above. The 2026-27 Lazio calendar had not been published at the time of writing. Expect lessons to resume in mid September 2026 on the same pattern; treat any 2026-27 figure as indicative until the region confirms it.

International school term dates

Rome's international schools (St George's British International School, the American Overseas School of Rome, Rome International School, Marymount International and Ambrit among them) set their own term dates aligned to their home curriculum rather than the Lazio calendar. British schools run three terms with two half terms, American schools a two-semester model, and the IB schools a calendar close to the British pattern.

The biggest practical difference is the autumn. International schools take a one-week half term in late October that state schools do not, and they tend to start the year in late August or early September rather than mid September. All of them still close on the Italian national public holidays in the table above. For the cost picture across the market see our international school fees in Rome guide, and to weigh the curricula read the curriculum guide.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for Rome families. First, the long summer from early June is the defining feature of the Italian year; with no spring half term, families often plan a single big trip in July or August and a shorter Easter break. Second, August is genuinely quiet in the city as Romans leave for Ferragosto, which makes it a cheaper time to settle in but a hard time to arrange services. Third, the Italian state exam season, including the esame di maturita, runs through June, so keep travel out of that window if you have a child in an exam year. For the cost of living and visa context behind a move read the Italy country guide, and to compare neighbourhoods return to the Rome city guide.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Rome for summer 2026? State schools in Lazio finish lessons on 8 June 2026, with state kindergartens running to 30 June. International schools generally finish in mid June.

How long is the summer holiday in Rome? Italy has one of Europe's longest school summers. State schools close from early June to mid September, around 13 weeks. International schools take a shorter break of nine to ten weeks.

When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Rome? State schools usually return in the second or third week of September, so expect mid September 2026. International schools open a little earlier.

What are the main school holidays in Rome? The two long mid-year breaks are Christmas, from 23 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, and Easter, from 2 to 7 April 2026, plus national public holidays.

Do international schools in Rome follow the Italian calendar? No. They set their own term dates aligned to their home curriculum but still close on Italian national public holidays.

Related guides

• International school fees in Rome 2026
• Rome city guide
• London school holidays 2026