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The international school year in 2026
Most expat families in Bangkok choose international schools, and the majority run a northern hemisphere year rather than the local Thai calendar. The 2026 to 2027 year starts in mid to late August 2026 and finishes in mid June 2027, giving a long summer break of roughly ten weeks. Within that year the British schools, such as Bangkok Patana School, Shrewsbury and Harrow Bangkok, use a three term structure with an October half term, a winter break around the New Year and a spring or Easter break, while the American schools, such as International School Bangkok, use two semesters with a fall break and a winter break. A small number of schools follow a southern hemisphere calendar instead: the Australian International School Bangkok starts its year in January. For the wider picture of schools and stages, see our international schools in Bangkok directory, and for the detailed term and holiday tables our full Bangkok school holidays 2026 calendar.
Public holidays that close schools
Whichever calendar a school follows, Thailand's public holidays close schools across the city, and Buddhist observances shift slightly each year with the lunar calendar. The dates that matter most for families in 2026 are below. Treat the lunar dated holidays as indicative until each is confirmed.
| Holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| Makha Bucha Day | Tuesday 3 March |
| Chakri Memorial Day | Monday 6 April |
| Songkran (Thai New Year) | Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April |
| National Labour Day | Friday 1 May |
| Coronation Day | Monday 4 May |
| Visakha Bucha Day | Sunday 31 May (substitution Monday 1 June) |
| Asalha Bucha Day | Wednesday 29 July |
| King Bhumibol Memorial Day | Substitution Monday 7 December (for 5 December) |
Songkran, on 13 to 15 April, is the single biggest holiday in Thailand, a nationwide water festival and the busiest domestic travel period of the year, and for international schools it usually sits within the spring or Easter break. The long Songkran window and the early May cluster of Labour Day and Coronation Day are the points where family travel and term breaks most often line up.
How the Thai calendar differs
If you are comparing an international place with a local or bilingual school, the calendars diverge sharply. Thai national schools run a two semester year: a first semester from around mid May to early October, a break, then a second semester from early November to early April, with the long summer holiday falling in April and May around Songkran. International schools instead finish in mid June and restart in late August, so their long break is the European and North American summer rather than the Thai hot season. Detailed 2026 to 2027 dates had not all been published at the time of writing, so treat the local figures as indicative. Our full Bangkok school holidays 2026 guide carries the consolidated framework alongside the international patterns.
Choosing a school in Bangkok?
International and Thai schools keep very different calendars. The school finder filters Bangkok schools by curriculum, district and stage.
Use the school finderPlanning the 2026 year
Three practical points for families planning the international school year in Bangkok. First, the Songkran week in April is the busiest travel period in Thailand and much of the city closes down, so book flights months ahead or plan around the festival rather than against it. Second, international school fees are usually billed by term or semester, and the August restart is when the larger invoice falls; our guide to international school fees in Bangkok covers the tiers and timing. Third, IB and A Level examinations run through May, overlapping the Labour Day and Coronation Day holidays, so families with senior students should check for any clash before booking travel. Families with younger children can also see stage specific timing in our Bangkok primary schools guide.
Bangkok school holidays 2026: FAQ
Most Bangkok international schools run a northern hemisphere year, starting in mid to late August 2026 and finishing in mid June, with British schools using three terms and an October half term and American schools two semesters. A few schools, such as the Australian International School Bangkok, follow a southern hemisphere calendar that starts in January. Exact term dates are set by each school, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, falls on 13 to 15 April 2026 and is the country's biggest holiday. With the surrounding weekend it creates a long break, and every school in Bangkok closes. For international schools this usually sits within the spring or Easter break, so check whether your school extends the holiday around it.
Thai national schools run two semesters, roughly mid May to early October and early November to early April, with a long break in April around Songkran. International schools instead follow an August to June northern hemisphere year, or in a few cases a January to December southern hemisphere year. Both build in Thailand's public holidays.
Thailand has around 19 public holidays in 2026, and the ones that matter most for families include Makha Bucha in March, Chakri Memorial Day on 6 April, Songkran on 13 to 15 April, Labour Day on 1 May, Coronation Day on 4 May, Visakha Bucha in late May and the King's birthday in late July. Some Buddhist dates shift with the lunar calendar, so confirm them each year.
Exact term dates are set by each school and were not all published in full at the time of writing. Confirm dates on the school's own calendar page, and see our Bangkok school holidays 2026 guide for the consolidated public holiday and term framework.