Summer vacation is coming to an end, and with it comes the return to school— an extremely important—and very stressful—date for many families.
September isusually synonymous with logistical and financial planning, so any help in getting your daily schedule more or less in order is always welcome. And that’s exactly what we want to do with this article: help you organize the school calendar for 2026–2027.
We’ll help you schedule your next vacation from work, as well as plan your children’s routine for this school year.
When does school start?
Due to the controversy over delays in grading national exams, the big news this year concerns secondary education, with 10th, 11th, and 12th graders entitled to a few extra days off, starting school a week later than students in other grade levels.
Here, therefore, are the official dates provided by the Ministry of Education:
- 1st Term
- 2nd Term
- 3rd Term
School breaks: the most eagerly awaited breaks
There’s no way to talk about the new school year without mentioning school breaks. Whether it’s to visit family out of town or to plan a few days off with the kids, save these dates and mark your calendar now for your next getaway in Portugal:
- Christmas Break
- Carnival Break
- Easter Break
Weekday holidays and strategic “long weekends”
In addition to the usual breaks during the school year, there are also “long weekends,” which you can use to enjoy a few extra days of well-deserved rest:
- October 1, 2026 (Monday)
- December 1, 2026 (Tuesday)
- December 8, 2026 (Tuesday)
- March 26, 2027 (Friday)
- May 27, 2027 (Thursday)
- June 10, 2027 (Thursday)
One final note: if your children attend private schools, schools with contractual autonomy, or school clusters that have adopted a semester-based system, please confirm the dates directly with the school administration, as there may be slight adjustments to the calendar.
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