School holidays in Portugal 2026/27, and who looks after the children

If you have children at school in Portugal, the holidays shape your year. Here are the official dates for 2026/27, how they differ from private and international schools, and the main options for childcare when school is closed.

The official calendar for 2026/27

The Ministry of Education sets one calendar for public pre-schools and schools. It is published in the Diário da República as Despacho n.º 8368/2024, which covers four school years. For 2026/27 it was changed once, by Despacho n.º 10430/2026, to move the start date for general-track secondary courses.

Holidays (interrupções letivas)

When the summer holidays start

The last day of the year depends on your child’s year group:

• Friday 4 June 2027 for 9.º, 11.º and 12.º ano
• Friday 11 June 2027 for 5.º, 6.º, 7.º, 8.º and 10.º ano
• Wednesday 30 June 2027 for pré-escolar and 1.º ciclo (1.º to 4.º ano)

The next school year, 2027/28, starts between Monday 13 and Wednesday 15 September 2027, according to the same despacho. It has been changed before, so check again closer to the time.

For the full term dates and how school years match ages, see our school year and age-to-grade guide.

Your school’s dates may be different

Private and international schools set their own calendars. Their dates often differ from the public calendar, and some have half-term breaks that public schools don’t have.

For example, St Julian’s School in Carcavelos publishes a half-term from 26 to 30 October 2026, and its spring term runs until 25 March 2027. That is a different pattern from the public calendar.

Some public schools also organise the year in semesters, with slightly different breaks. The Câmara de Cascais publishes its own 2026/27 school calendar (PDF) with semester dates. Ask your school which calendar it follows.

These schools publish their 2026/27 calendars on their own websites:

• St Julian’s School: term dates (our St Julian’s profile)
• TASIS Portugal: calendar and important dates (our TASIS profile)
• Oeiras International School: school calendar (our OIS profile)

For any other school, look on its own website or ask the office. Our school profiles link to each school’s official site.

Childcare when school is closed

If you work, you need a plan for every break. These are the main options in Cascais.

If your child is at a public school

The Câmara de Cascais runs the Programa Crescer a Tempo Inteiro, with support before and after school and during the breaks:

• Pre-school (ages 3 to 6): AAAF. The Atividades de Animação e Apoio à Família cover the time after lessons and the Christmas, Easter and June–July holidays.
• 1.º and 2.º ciclo: CAF. The Componente de Apoio à Família covers the time outside lessons and the school breaks. For 2.º ciclo, the Câmara says the holiday hours are 8h30 to 18h30, Monday to Friday.

These programmes close in August. Families pay a share of the cost, and you apply through your child’s school group (Agrupamento de Escolas).

Holiday programmes

• Cascais em Férias. The Câmara and Cascais Ambiente run holiday programmes for ages 6 to 15, with outdoor activities, sport and art. In summer 2026 there were five, including Campos Sioux and Férias Desportivas.
• ULisboa Férias Desportivas (Lisbon). The University of Lisbon ran sports holiday programmes at Easter 2026 (ages 6 to 12) and in summer 2026 (ages 6 to 15).

Dates for 2027 are not out yet, so check the sites before each holiday.

For the long summer break, see our guide to summer camps in Cascais and Lisbon.

If your child is at a private or international school

Ask the school first. Some run their own holiday clubs or after-school programmes for their pupils. You can also use the holiday programmes above. Our guide to kids’ activities in Cascais lists clubs and schools that run classes all year.

Before you book flights

Put your own school’s calendar next to the public one, then plan:

1. Check the exact last day of term and first day back with your school.
2. Note any half-terms or extra days off that only your school has.
3. Book holiday childcare as soon as registration opens.

Holidays here are a good time to slow down too. Long summer days, the beach after school, and a few quieter weeks at home are part of family life in Portugal.