Barcelona school holidays and term dates 2026

The school year in 2026

Schools in Barcelona, both the Catalan state schools and the international schools, run a northern-hemisphere year rather than the southern-hemisphere pattern, which makes the city simpler to plan around than many international destinations. The year starts in mid-September and finishes in mid to late June, with a long summer break of roughly ten to eleven weeks across July, August and into early September. Within it, schools take about two weeks off at Christmas, around two weeks at Easter, known locally as Setmana Santa, and various shorter breaks. International schools broadly follow this shape, sometimes starting a little earlier in late August or early September. The Generalitat de Catalunya approves the calendar framework and each school sets its own term dates within it, so for the wider picture of schools and stages see our international schools in Barcelona directory, and for the detailed term tables our full Barcelona school holidays 2026 calendar.

Public holidays that affect schools

Whichever calendar a school follows, Catalonia's public holidays shape the school year, combining national Spanish dates, Catalan regional days and two local Barcelona holidays. The list below is the city council's confirmed set of 14 public holidays for 2026, and schools fold these into their own term calendars.

These public holidays are firm, but they are not the same as school term breaks: a school closes for the holiday itself and builds its longer breaks, such as Setmana Santa and the summer, around the wider calendar. Always check the specific break windows on your own school's calendar rather than assuming them from the public-holiday list.

International and local calendars

Unlike cities where international schools run an opposite-hemisphere year, Barcelona's international and Catalan state schools are broadly aligned on a September to June calendar, which makes mixed-school families easier to coordinate. The main differences are at the edges: some international schools start slightly earlier, structure half-terms differently, or add staggered breaks that the state sector does not. Both observe Barcelona's public holidays. The detailed 2026 to 2027 dates had not all been published at the time of writing, so treat term windows as indicative until each school confirms them. Our full Barcelona school holidays 2026 guide carries the consolidated tables.

Planning the 2026 year

Three practical points for families planning the school year in Barcelona. First, the long summer break from late June into early September is the natural window for a home visit or relocation, and it is also when the new year's larger invoice usually falls, so plan both together; our guide to international school fees in Barcelona covers the tiers and timing. Second, the autumn cluster of Catalan National Day on 11 September and La Merce on 24 September lands right at the start of term, so factor the early disruption into a September move. 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 Barcelona primary schools guide.

Barcelona school holidays 2026: FAQ

Related reading

• Barcelona school holidays 2026: full term dates calendar
• International schools in Barcelona: the directory
• International school fees in Barcelona
• Barcelona primary schools