In this article
Chinese public holidays 2026
Every school in Shenzhen closes on China's statutory public holidays. Several of these are moveable because they follow the lunar calendar, and the State Council publishes the exact bridging days each year, so treat the spans below as indicative until confirmed.
| Holiday | Expected date(s) 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) | Around Monday 16 February to Sunday 22 February |
| Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) | Early April (lunar) |
| Labour Day | Friday 1 May to early May |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Mid June (lunar) |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Late September (lunar) |
| National Day (Golden Week) | Thursday 1 October to around Wednesday 7 October |
Chinese New Year falls on 17 February 2026, the Year of the Horse, and the Spring Festival is the anchor of the whole school year. National Day in early October, the second Golden Week, is the other long public-holiday block.
Public school term dates 2025-26 and 2026-27
The Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau sets term dates for public schools and publishes them shortly before each year, so the dates below are the standard pattern and should be treated as indicative until the bureau confirms them.
| Period | Indicative dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn semester begins | Mon 1 September 2025 |
| National Day holiday | Early October 2025 |
| Autumn semester ends | Mid to late January 2026 |
| Spring Festival winter break | Late January to late February 2026 |
| Spring semester begins | Around late February 2026 |
| Spring semester ends | Early to mid July 2026 |
| Summer break | Early July to end of August 2026 |
The defining feature of the Chinese calendar is the four to five week winter break around Spring Festival, which is far longer than the winter break in Western systems and shorter only than the eight-week summer. The 2026-27 bureau calendar had not been published at the time of writing; expect the autumn semester to open on or around 1 September 2026.
Choosing a Shenzhen school from abroad?
Our school finder lists Shenzhen international and bilingual schools by curriculum, district and fee tier.
International school term dates
Shenzhen's international schools (QSI International School of Shenzhen, Shekou International School, the International School of Nanshan Shenzhen, Shenzhen College of International Education and others) run their own semester dates aligned to their home curriculum. The typical international calendar opens in mid to late August, takes a winter break around the Western Christmas, and finishes in mid June. As an illustration, the QSI calendar for 2025-26 runs three terms from 21 August 2025 to 17 June 2026, with a winter break from 15 December to 2 January, a Lunar New Year break of 16 to 20 February, and breaks for National Week and Qingming.
Two features of the local year still pull every school into line. First, all schools close for the Spring Festival, although international schools take one to two weeks against the four to five weeks in the public system. Second, the National Day Golden Week in early October closes everyone. For the cost picture across the market see our international school fees in Shenzhen guide, and to weigh the curricula read the curriculum guide.
Planning the year
Three practical notes for Shenzhen families. First, the Spring Festival is the hardest travel window in the world; domestic flights and trains sell out weeks ahead and prices spike, so book very early or stay put and enjoy a quieter city. Second, the proximity to Hong Kong gives families a second calendar to work around if siblings cross the border for school, and the two systems do not align on Lunar New Year length. Third, the gap between the spring break and summer is the main external exam window for international schools, including IGCSE and the IB Diploma in May, so keep travel out of that period. For the cost of living and visa context behind a move read the China country guide, and to compare districts return to the Shenzhen city guide.
Common questions
When do schools break up in Shenzhen for summer 2026? Public schools finish the spring semester in early to mid July 2026. International schools generally finish a little earlier, around mid June.
How long is the summer holiday in Shenzhen? Public schools take about eight weeks of summer, from early July to the end of August. The other long break is the four to five week Spring Festival winter holiday.
When is Chinese New Year in 2026 and how does it affect schools? Chinese New Year falls on 17 February 2026. Public schools build their longest break around it, closing for roughly four to five weeks. International schools take one to two weeks.
When does the 2026 to 2027 school year start in Shenzhen? Public schools start the autumn semester on or around 1 September 2026. International schools open in late August.
Do international schools in Shenzhen follow the Chinese calendar? Partly. They run their own semester dates but observe Chinese public holidays, including Spring Festival, National Day, Qingming and Labour Day.