Much to the dismay of some and the delight of others, the end of summer vacation is just around the corner. The heat continues to take its toll, but stationery stores are already stocking their shelves with school supplies in anticipation of the return to school.
The 2026–2027 school year will begin on Tuesday, September 8, in Catalonia for almost all grade levels. Students in preschool, elementary school, ESO, high school, and vocational training will return to school on the same day, although some arts programs and introductory vocational training programs will begin on Monday, September 14. Classes will end on Monday, June 21, 2027, for most programs.
The calendar allows each school to choose four days off, which many will use to create long weekends. However, the holidays for the Diada ( September 11) and the Virgin of the Pillar ( October 12) fall on a Friday and Monday, respectively, extending the weekends.
When does the school year begin in Catalonia?
The start of the school year will coincide for most educational levels, but varies in some cases:
- Preschool, elementary school, ESO, high school, and basic vocational training will begin on Tuesday, September 8.
- Initial vocational training (Intermediate Level, Advanced Level, Training and Integration Program, Specific Training Pathway, and preparatory courses), sports programs, and special-track arts programs will begin on Monday, September 14.
- Adult Education and Official Language Schools will begin on Monday, September 21.
Christmas and Easter Breaks
The Christmas break will begin on Tuesday, December 22, and end on Thursday, January 7, 2027, both days included. That’s seventeen days off—the longest break of the entire school year. Students will not return to class until Friday, January 8.
The second major break of the school year will be in March. The Holy Week break will run from Saturday, March 20, through Monday, March 29. Classes will resume on Tuesday, March 30.
Holidays and long weekends
This year, most individual holidays fall during the first quarter of the school year, although officially no long weekend will last more than 3 days:
- Friday, September 11: Catalonia Day.
- Monday, October 12, 2026: Our Lady of the Pillar / Spain’s National Holiday.
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026: Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Local holidays, which are determined by each municipality’s city council, must also be factored into this schedule. In Barcelona, these will be May 17 ( the second day of Easter) and September 24 (La Mercè).
Each school will be able to schedule four additional days off based on its needs and preferences, though these days cannot coincide with the start or end of the Christmas and Easter breaks. In Barcelona, the Consell d’Educació has proposed the following dates: October 30, December 7, February 8, and May 14.
However, the final decision rests with the schools, which will inform students and parents at the start of the school year. If approved, there will be a 3-day long weekend in October ( the 30th, 31st, and 1st), a 4-day long weekend in December ( the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th), a 3-day long weekend in February (the 6th, 7th, and 8th), and another 3-day long weekend in May ( the 14th, 15th, and 16th).
