European school vacation 2026-2027 calendar
Planning a boating vacation around the school vacation or choosing quieter times can help you get the best deals and avoid the most crowded periods at popular European destinations. By aligning your travel plans with key dates from September 2026 to September 2027, you can ensure everyone in the family can join in, making it a memorable trip for all.
If you are planning for a vacation in Europe in 2026 or 2027, this guide will help you identify the best times to go on vacation by showing you when popular tourist areas might be the busiest.
Our detailed school vacation calendar includes all school breaks for major European countries such as France, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, helping you plan your perfect getaway.
You can also discover our top boating recommendations for family fun or find Inspiration for your canal boat rental with a wide range of experiences from exploring serene waterways to enjoying exquisite countryside backdrops and engaging in exciting activities.
In this article:
European School Vacation 2026-2027 calendar
Autumn school vacation 2026 calendar
Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school vacation zones at the bottom of the article.
| Dates | France | UK | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week from 31/08 to 06/09 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | Spain, Italy | ||||
| Week from 07/09 to 13/09 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | Italy | ||||
| Week from 14/09 to 20/09 | ||||||
| Week from 21/09 to 27/09 | ||||||
| Week from 28/09 to 04/10 | ||||||
| Week from 05/10 to 11/10 | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland | |||||
| Week from 12/10 to 18/10 | Scotland | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (from 15th) | North region | |||
| Week from 19/10 to 25/10 | All zones | Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW), Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt | Central & South regions | Wallonia | ||
| Week from 26/10 to 01/11 | All zones | England, Wales, Northern Ireland | NRW, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg | Wallonia | Ireland | |
| Week from 02/11 to 08/11 | Bavaria | Flanders | ||||
| Week from 09/11 to 15/11 | ||||||
| Week from 16/11 to 22/11 | ||||||
| Week from 23/11 to 29/11 | ||||||
| Week from 30/11 to 06/12 |
Winter school vacation dates 2026 – 2027
Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school vacation zones at the bottom of the article.
| Dates | France | UK | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week from 07/12 to 13/12 | ||||||
| Week from 14/12 to 20/12 | ||||||
| Week from 21/12 to 27/12 | All zones | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland |
All 16 Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony & Thuringia from 23rd. Bavaria from 24th |
All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Spain, Italy |
| Week from 28/12 to 03/01 | All zones | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | All 16 Bundesländer | All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Spain, Italy |
| Week from 04/01 to 10/01 | Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Bavaria (to 8th), Bremen, Lower Saxony, NRW (to 6th), Rhineland-Palatinate (to 8th), Schleswig-Holstein (to 6th) | |||||
| Week from 11/01 to 17/01 | Hesse (to 12th) | |||||
| Week from 18/01 to 24/01 | ||||||
| Week from 25/01 to 31/01 | ||||||
| Week from 01/02 to 07/02 | Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Bremen (to 2nd), Lower Saxony (to 2nd) | |||||
| Week from 08/02 to 14/02 | Zones C | Bavaria, Saarland, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Flanders | |||
| Week from 15/02 to 21/02 | Zones A & C | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | South region | Ireland | |
| Week from 22/02 to 28/02 | Zones A & B | Central & North regions | Wallonia | Ireland (primary) | ||
| Week from 01/03 to 07/03 | Zone B | Hamburg | Wallonia | |||
| Week from 08/03 to 14/03 | Hamburg |
Spring school vacation dates 2027
Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school vacation zones at the bottom of the article.
| Dates | France | UK | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week from 15/03 to 21/03 | ||||||
| Week from 22/03 to 28/03 | Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, NRW, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (from 24th), Baden-Württemberg (from 25th) | Ireland | ||||
| Week from 29/03 to 04/04 | England, Wales, Northern Ireland | Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, NRW, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein | Flanders | Ireland, Spain, Italy | ||
| Week from 05/04 to 11/04 | Zone C | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein | Flanders | Ireland, Spain, Italy | |
| Week from 12/04 to 18/04 | Zones A & C | |||||
| Week from 19/04 to 25/04 | Zones A & B | |||||
| Week from 26/04 to 02/05 | Zone B | All regions | Wallonia | Ireland | ||
| Week from 03/05 to 09/05 | Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony | Wallonia, Flanders (6–7 May Ascension) | ||||
| Week from 10/05 to 16/05 | Hamburg | |||||
| Week from 17/05 to 23/05 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, NRW, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (to 18th), Saxony (to 18th) | |||||
| Week from 24/05 to 30/05 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria. | Ireland | ||||
| Week from 31/05 to 06/06 | England, Wales (half-term) | |||||
| Week from 07/06 to 13/06 |
Summer school vacation dates 2027
Scroll across to view more countries. See more details about the French school vacation zones at the bottom of the article.
| Dates | France | UK | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week from 14/06 to 20/06 | Italy | |||||
| Week from 21/06 to 27/06 | Italy, Spain (from ~22/06) | |||||
| Week from 28/06 to 04/07 | Northern Ireland (from 1st July) | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg | Wallonia (from 3/07), Flanders (from 1/07) | Ireland, Italy, Spain | ||
| Week from 05/07 to 11/07 | All zones | Scotland, Northern Ireland | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen, Lower Saxony | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain | |
| Week from 12/07 to 18/07 | All zones | Scotland, Northern Ireland | Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia | North region | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 19/07 to 25/07 | All zones | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | + NRW (all above continuing) | North & Central regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 26/07 to 01/08 | All zones | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | + Baden-Württemberg (from 29th) | All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 02/08 to 08/08 | All zones | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | + Bavaria | All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 09/08 to 15/08 | All zones | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Hamburg (to 11th), Berlin, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, NRW, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 16/08 to 22/08 | All zones | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland | Bremen, Lower Saxony (to 18th), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, NRW, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | All regions | Wallonia, Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 23/08 to 29/08 | All zones | England, Wales, Northern Ireland | NRW, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | Central & South regions | Flanders | Ireland, Italy, Spain |
| Week from 30/08 to 05/09 | NRW (to 31st), Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria | South region | Flanders (to 31/08) | Ireland, Spain, Italy | ||
| Week from 06/09 to 12/09 | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria |
Ideal boating season times in Europe
| Period | Ideal Destinations | Why is this the perfect timing? |
|---|---|---|
| Spring break |
|
|
| Summer break |
|
|
| Autumn half-term |
|
European vacation highlights
| Vacations | Date | Destination | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday and Easter Monday | 26th & 29th March 2027 | Shannon and Erne, Ireland |
|
| Labor Day (France, Germany, Italy, Spain) | 1st May 2027 | Brittany, France |
|
| King’s Day (Netherlands) | 27th April 2027 | Amsterdam Canals, Netherlands |
|
| Bastille Day (France) | 14th July 2027 | Canal du Midi, France |
|
To make the most of your boating vacation, it’s a great idea to plan around key dates, such as UK vacation in 2025 and 2026. This way, you can avoid the busiest travel times and enjoy a more relaxing experience. With Le Boat, you can have an unforgettable vacation on the water while also taking advantage of school and public vacation.
Tips for planning your European boating vacation
- Early booking: Secure your dates and get the best availability by booking early, especially around popular periods such as summer vacation in the UK 2025 and UK vacation in April 2026.
- Packing: Ensure you pack essentials for your boat vacation, including suitable clothing, food, and safety gear. Proper preparation for the unique aspects of a boating vacation can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Read our ‘Boating vacation packing list: 7 unexpected tips you’ll thank us for’ to make sure you don’t forget anything from your vacation packing list.
- Preparation: Thoroughly prepare for your vacation by planning your itinerary around quieter periods, if possible, and avoid peak times such as May bank vacation in France and other UK public vacation. This will help you maximise your time on the water.
Discover useful information to help you prepare for your boating vacation with our travel checklist
By following these tips and planning around key vacation dates, you can ensure a fantastic boating experience with Le Boat.
Ready to book your your European boating vacation?
Book a boating vacation with Le Boat today, and let us help you create the perfect vacation experience.
You can also find out more information on the kind of boating adventure that awaits you in our boating vacation for beginners video.
France is divided into three academic zones—A, B and C—for winter and spring school vacation. This regional stagger helps ease the flow of vacation travel and avoid overcrowding (road traffic, ski resorts, accommodation):
- Zone A: Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers.
- Zone B: Aix‑Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy‑Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans‑Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg.
- Zone C: Paris region (Créteil, Paris, Versailles), Montpellier and Toulouse.
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