In this article
Singapore public holidays 2026
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Chinese New Year | Tuesday 17 to Wednesday 18 February |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April |
| Hari Raya Puasa | Friday 20 March |
| Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| Vesak Day | Sunday 31 May (observed Mon 1 June) |
| Hari Raya Haji | Wednesday 27 May |
| National Day | Sunday 9 August (observed Mon 10 August) |
| Deepavali | Sunday 8 November (observed Mon 9 November) |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
MOE term dates 2026
The Singapore MOE academic year runs from early January to mid-November, with four terms divided by four shorter breaks. Schools observe public holidays as additional closures. The 2026 calendar:
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 2026 | Mon 5 January to Fri 13 March |
| March break (1 week) | Mon 16 March to Fri 20 March |
| Term 2 2026 | Mon 23 March to Fri 29 May |
| June holiday (4 weeks) | Sat 30 May to Sun 28 June |
| Term 3 2026 | Mon 29 June to Fri 4 September |
| September break (1 week) | Mon 7 September to Fri 11 September |
| Term 4 2026 | Mon 14 September to Fri 20 November |
| Year-end holiday (6 weeks) | Sat 21 November to Sun 3 January 2027 |
The MOE calendar gives a longer end-of-year break (six weeks) and a shorter June break (four weeks) than the international school sector. Total instructional days run to around 200, the highest in the region.
Choosing between MOE and international schools?
Singapore's MOE schools are world-class but locally focused; international schools serve mobile expat families. Our school finder filters both with curriculum and fees side by side.
British curriculum schools
UWCSEA, Tanglin Trust School, Dover Court International School, EtonHouse International and Nexus International School follow an August-to-June academic year delivered across three terms. The 2025-26 second half and 2026-27 first half:
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Spring term 2026 | Mon 5 January to Fri 27 March |
| Chinese New Year break | Tue 17 February to Fri 20 February |
| Spring break | Mon 30 March to Mon 13 April |
| Summer term 2026 | Tue 14 April to Fri 26 June |
| Half term | Mon 25 May to Fri 29 May |
| Summer break | Sat 27 June to Wed 12 August |
| Autumn term 2026 | Thu 13 August to Fri 11 December |
| October half term | Mon 19 October to Fri 23 October |
| Winter break | Sat 12 December to Mon 4 January 2027 |
American curriculum schools
Singapore American School (SAS) and Global Indian International School (GIIS) follow a US-aligned semester calendar, with breaks at Thanksgiving and Memorial Day where they align with Singapore public holidays. The first semester runs from mid-August to mid-December with a one-week autumn break in October and the Thanksgiving recess in late November. The second semester runs from early January to mid-June with a spring break in late March or early April, often paired with the Good Friday public holiday. Summer break runs from mid-June to mid-August, slightly shorter than US peers due to Singapore's earlier National Day public holiday. For curriculum context see our British vs American curriculum guide.
IB and other international schools
The Stamford American International School, GEMS World Academy Singapore and SJI International follow IB-aligned calendars close to the British international school pattern, with breaks adjusted to the IB Diploma exam window each May. Stamford in particular concentrates revision sessions in the spring term and reduces non-essential events during the exam fortnight. Lycee Francais de Singapour follows the French national calendar with its distinctive six-week Zone B and Zone C overlay, and shorter summer break. The German European School Singapore follows a Berlin-aligned calendar with longer Easter break and shorter summer. For an overview of curriculum choice and fees in Singapore see our Dubai vs Singapore school costs comparison and our Singapore city guide.
Planning travel around the calendar
Four points for Singapore families. First, Chinese New Year (17 to 18 February 2026) is the single most expensive travel window of the year out of Changi; book by November and treat Sunday 22 February as the natural return window. Second, the June break is the prime family travel window for international school families; flights to Europe and Australia spike from late May. Third, families with siblings split between the international and MOE systems have a calendar mismatch most of the year. Plan family holidays around the four overlapping windows (Chinese New Year, Easter, August or September, December). Fourth, build a list of paid summer programmes early for any working-parent week not covered by family travel. See also our Chinese New Year and schools 2026 piece and our summer school 2026 international guide.