School Holidays Calendar 2026: Guide for Parents in Portugal
kidstogo
·7 min read
kidstogo
Planning around school holidays is a logistical exercise that every parent in Portugal knows well. Between coordinating work schedules, booking holiday camps and organising activities, having the right dates at hand is essential. This guide brings together the full school calendar for 2026, including term breaks, public holidays and practical tips for making the most of every pause.
Bookmark this page — you will need it throughout the year.
Christmas holidays are filled with festive spirit, but for many parents the real challenge is filling the days between Christmas and New Year, when most camps and regular activities are closed. This is a good time for family outings, visiting relatives and outdoor activities when the weather cooperates.
The Carnival break is short, but it falls at a point when children are already tired from the second term. Many schools organise Carnival parties on the Friday before, and local councils often put on parades and free activities.
The Easter holidays are the longest after summer and coincide with the arrival of spring. They are an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities, themed holiday camps and family getaways. Demand for Easter camps is high — book well in advance.
Summer holidays are, without question, the biggest logistical challenge of the year for working parents. Three months of school closure require a solid plan combining holiday camps, time with grandparents, parents' own leave and a variety of activities. The good news is that the offer across Lisbon during summer is vast.
Important tip: The best summer camps open registrations between March and April. Do not leave it until June — by then, the most sought-after options will already be full.
Beyond term breaks, public holidays create opportunities for long weekends and family activities. Here is the complete calendar:
| Date | Holiday | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | Thursday |
| 17 February | Carnival (tolerance day) | Tuesday |
| 3 April | Good Friday | Friday |
| 5 April | Easter Sunday | Sunday |
| 25 April | Freedom Day | Saturday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Friday |
| 4 June | Corpus Christi | Thursday |
| 10 June | Portugal Day | Wednesday |
| 15 August | Assumption of Mary | Saturday |
| 5 October | Republic Day | Monday |
| 1 November | All Saints' Day | Sunday |
| 1 December | Restoration of Independence | Tuesday |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Tuesday |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Friday |
Long weekends in 2026: The year is generous with bridge days. Highlights include 1 May (Friday), 4 June (Thursday, with a possible bridge on Friday) and 5 October (Monday). Take advantage of these moments for short family trips.
The key to managing school holidays without stress is planning well in advance — not the day before the break starts, but weeks or months beforehand.
Not all holidays are the same, and activities should suit both the season and the length of the break.
Christmas: Indoor activities such as theatre, music, Christmas cooking workshops, visits to nativity scenes and ice skating. Family programmes at Lisbon's Christmas markets.
Carnival: Parades, costume parties, mask-making and costume workshops. It is a short break — ideal for one-off activities and quality family time.
Easter: One-to-two-week holiday camps, outdoor activities (the weather finally allows it), creative workshops, egg hunts and visits to educational farms.
Summer: The variety is endless — sports camps, arts camps, science camps, nature camps. Residential programmes outside Lisbon, intensive courses, sports clinics. This is the ideal time to try new and longer activities.
Having the calendar is step one. Finding the right activities is step two. On KidsToGo you can search for holiday camps, extracurricular activities and workshops by age, location and time of year. Start planning now — your children (and your sanity) will thank you.
KidsToGo is the leading platform for discovering kids activities in Portugal. We help families find the best experiences — from creative workshops and sports to outdoor adventures — so every child can learn, play, and grow.