The first school break of the 2026/2027 school year starts on Monday, 26 October, and lasts until 1 November. The Ministry of Education and Research changed the length of school breaks back in spring 2025: the Christmas break was shortened from three weeks to two, and the summer break starts earlier.
All breaks this school year
- 1st break: 26 October – 1 November 2026
- 2nd break: 21 December 2026 – 3 January 2027 (previously until 10 January)
- 3rd break: 22–28 February 2027
- 4th break: 12–18 April 2027 (except year 12)
- 5th break: 9 June – 31 August 2027 (except graduating classes; previously started on 14 June)
Why it changed
According to the ministry, the breaks had to be aligned with raising the age of compulsory education and the vocational education reform. The timing of basic school final exams, spring studies and admissions was also taken into account. Deputy Secretary General Liina Põld noted at the time that pupils and teachers are tired in June and the weather makes organising lessons difficult.
The change was agreed with the Association of Estonian Cities and Rural Municipalities, the school heads' association, the school student councils' union and the teachers' associations' cooperation council. School owners can still adjust breaks where the law allows, so it is worth checking exact dates with your school.
