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The international school year in 2026
Most expat families in Bangalore choose international schools, and the established IB schools such as The International School Bangalore, Stonehill International School and the Canadian International School run a northern-hemisphere style year rather than the local Indian academic calendar. That year typically starts in late July or August 2026 and finishes in late May or June 2027, with a long summer break over June and July. Within it, schools usually take a short autumn break around the October and November festivals, a winter break of around two weeks at the end of December, and a spring break early in the year. Exact dates differ by school, so for the wider picture of schools and stages see our international schools in Bangalore directory, and for the detailed term tables our full Bangalore school holidays 2026 calendar.
Public holidays that affect schools
Whichever calendar a school follows, India's public holidays shape the school year, and in Karnataka a mix of national and state holidays applies. The fixed national dates are firm, while the festival dates move each year and are confirmed by official notification, so treat the festival rows below as provisional until the Karnataka government list is published.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| Republic Day | Monday 26 January |
| Ugadi (provisional) | Thursday 19 March |
| Bakrid / Id-ul-Zuha (provisional) | Thursday 28 May |
| Independence Day | Saturday 15 August |
| Gandhi Jayanti | Friday 2 October |
| Karnataka Rajyotsava | Sunday 1 November |
| Deepavali / Diwali (provisional) | Around 8 to 10 November |
International schools fold these public holidays into their own term calendars and usually cluster a short break around the autumn festivals. Because several festival dates depend on the lunar calendar and official confirmation, always check the specific holiday window on your school's own calendar rather than assuming a date.
How the local calendar differs
If you are comparing an international place with a local or bilingual school, the calendars diverge sharply. Local CBSE and ICSE schools in Bangalore run the Indian academic year from April to March, with a long summer break across April and May, a short Dussehra and Deepavali break in the autumn, and a brief winter break. International schools instead finish in late May or June and restart in late July or August. The detailed 2026 to 2027 dates had not all been published at the time of writing, so treat the local term windows as indicative. Our full Bangalore school holidays 2026 guide carries the local term tables alongside the international patterns.
Choosing a school in Bangalore?
Local and international schools in Bangalore keep very different calendars. The school finder filters Bangalore schools by curriculum, area and stage.
Use the school finderPlanning the 2026 year
Three practical points for families planning the international school year in Bangalore. First, the long summer break over June and July is the natural window for a home visit or relocation, and it is also when the new school year's larger invoice usually falls, so plan both together; our guide to international school fees in Bangalore covers the tiers and timing. Second, the autumn festival cluster of Dussehra, Karnataka Rajyotsava and Deepavali brings a busy domestic travel and family period in October and November, so book early. Third, IB Diploma examinations run through May, overlapping the end of the year, so senior families should check the exam timetable before booking any travel. Families with younger children can also see stage-specific timing in our Bangalore primary schools guide.
Bangalore school holidays 2026: FAQ
Most Bangalore international schools run a northern-hemisphere style year, starting in late July or August 2026 and finishing in late May or June 2027, with an autumn break around the October and November festivals, a winter break around the end of December, and a spring break early in the year. This differs from local CBSE and ICSE schools, which run the Indian academic year from April to March. Confirm exact dates on each school's own calendar.
Fixed national holidays in 2026 are Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October, with Karnataka Rajyotsava on 1 November. Movable festival dates including Ugadi, Bakrid, Dussehra and Deepavali shift each year and are confirmed by official notification, so treat festival dates as provisional until the Karnataka government list is published.
International schools in Bangalore follow a roughly August to June year with a long summer break, while local CBSE and ICSE schools run the Indian academic year from April to March with a long summer break in April and May and a shorter winter break. Both observe India's public holidays, but the term structure around them is different.
Deepavali, or Diwali, falls in early to mid November 2026, with Karnataka sources indicating around 8 to 10 November, and most Bangalore schools build a short autumn break around it together with Karnataka Rajyotsava on 1 November. The exact festival date is set by official notification, so confirm the holiday window on your school's calendar before booking travel.
Exact term dates are set by each school and published on its own calendar, and the detailed 2026 to 2027 dates were not all available at the time of writing. Confirm dates on the school's website, and see our Bangalore school holidays 2026 guide for the consolidated public-holiday and term framework.