When are the next school holidays? In Belgium, the answer depends on your child’s school: French-speaking education (Wallonia-Brussels Federation) and Dutch-speaking education (Flanders and the Flemish schools in Brussels) follow two different calendars. Here are the official holiday dates for the 2026-2027 school year, followed by a few pointers to plan the year with your child.
School calendar 2026-2027 in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
These dates apply to compulsory French-speaking education, from nursery school to the end of secondary school, in Wallonia and in Brussels. The school year started on Monday 24 August 2026.
- Autumn holidays (All Saints): from Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. Monday 2 November (All Souls’ Day) is also a day off: classes resume on Tuesday 3 November.
- Armistice Day: Wednesday 11 November 2026.
- Winter holidays (Christmas): from Monday 21 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
- Carnival holidays: from Monday 22 February to Sunday 7 March 2027.
- Easter Monday: Monday 29 March 2027.
- Spring holidays: from Monday 26 April to Sunday 9 May 2027. They do not coincide with Easter, and Ascension Day (Thursday 6 May) falls during this break.
- Whit Monday: Monday 17 May 2027.
- Summer holidays: from Saturday 3 July 2027.
Since the 2022 reform of the school calendar, the French-speaking year is organised in periods of about seven weeks of classes, separated by two-week breaks. The autumn and Carnival holidays therefore last two weeks, and the summer is a little shorter than before.
Source: official calendar published by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation on enseignement.be.
School calendar 2026-2027 in Flanders (Dutch-speaking education)
These dates apply to the schools of the Flemish Community, in Flanders and in Brussels: nursery, primary and secondary. The school year started on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
- Autumn holidays (herfstvakantie): from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 November 2026.
- Armistice Day (Wapenstilstand): Wednesday 11 November 2026.
- Christmas holidays (kerstvakantie): from Monday 21 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
- Carnival break (krokusvakantie): from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 February 2027.
- Easter holidays (paasvakantie): from Monday 29 March to Sunday 11 April 2027.
- Ascension (Hemelvaart): Thursday 6 and Friday 7 May 2027.
- Whit Monday (Pinkstermaandag): Monday 17 May 2027.
- Summer holidays (zomervakantie): from Thursday 1 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027.
Source: official calendar of the Flemish Community, on vlaanderen.be. Universities and university colleges set their own calendars, in both communities.
Two calendars: what it means for families
Only the Christmas holidays fall on the same dates. The other breaks are offset, sometimes by several weeks:
- autumn: two weeks at the end of October in French-speaking schools, one week in early November in Flanders;
- Carnival: one week in early February in Flanders, two weeks from late February to early March in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation;
- spring: around Easter in Flanders (late March, early April), late April and early May in French-speaking schools;
- summer: Flanders keeps July and August in full, while the Wallonia-Brussels Federation starts the summer on 3 July and goes back to school at the end of August.
These differences mainly affect Brussels families, many of whom have a child in each system, and parents who plan camps, childcare or trips. Note both calendars now to avoid surprises.
Making the most of each period of the year
A holiday is not meant for non-stop revision. Rest matters as much as work. Still, each break can be used to take stock, and a few hours are enough.
The autumn break: a first review
After seven or eight weeks of classes, it is a good time to look at the first marks with your child. Which subjects are going well? Where is your child struggling? A concept misunderstood in October is easy to catch up on; in June, it is much harder.
The Christmas holidays: rest, then prepare for January
In many secondary schools, there is an exam session in December or January. The winter holidays are first a time to recover. After that, a few hours of regular work are often enough to refresh the basics for the second term.
The Carnival break: consolidate
In the middle of the year, this break is a chance to go back over a difficult chapter, without exam pressure. It is also a good time for camps and activities that make learning appealing in a different way.
Spring: preparing for the end of the year
In French-speaking schools, the spring holidays end on 9 May 2027, about six weeks before the external exams. The June 2027 exams take place between Friday 18 and Friday 25 June. This is the time to draw up a realistic revision plan, subject by subject.
- in the 6th year of primary school, the CEB (certificate of basic education): see preparing your child for the CEB ;
- in the 2nd year of secondary school, the CE1D, for example in French ;
- in the 6th year of secondary school, the CESS (upper secondary certificate): see preparing for the CESS.
Summer: rest, then prepare for the new school year
The first weeks of summer are for rest. If there is a resit or a gap to close, it is better to ease back into work two or three weeks before school starts, rather than the day before.
Planning the year with your child
A calendar only helps if it is used. A few simple habits make all the difference:
- put up the holiday and exam dates somewhere visible at home;
- take stock with your child at the end of each period, before the break;
- set fixed times in the diary for homework and study;
- spot early a difficulty that is settling in, rather than on the eve of the exams.
If your child finds it hard to get organised, support with study skills helps them plan their work and become more independent. And for a specific subject, our private tutoring for secondary school adapts to the rhythm of the school year.
At My Sherpa, an educational advisor chooses the coach who suits your child. Lessons take place at home, anywhere in Belgium, or online. Our team welcomes you in French, Dutch or English.
