School Holidays Calendar 2026: Guide for Parents in Portugal
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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.
Complete School Holidays Calendar 2026
Christmas Holidays (December 2025 — January 2026)
- Period: 19 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
- Duration: Approximately two and a half weeks
- Back to school: 5 January 2026 (Monday)
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.
Carnival Break (February 2026)
- Period: 16 to 18 February 2026 (Monday to Ash Wednesday)
- Duration: 3 school days (5 days including the previous weekend)
- Back to school: 19 February 2026 (Thursday)
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.
Easter Holidays (March — April 2026)
- Period: 30 March to 13 April 2026
- Duration: Two weeks
- Back to school: 14 April 2026 (Tuesday)
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 (June — September 2026)
- Period: 19 June to 14 September 2026 (approximate dates)
- Duration: Approximately three months
- Back to school: 15 September 2026 (Tuesday)
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.
Public Holidays in 2026
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.
Planning Ahead: A Strategy by Term
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.
First term (September — December)
- September: Set the annual budget for extracurricular activities and holiday camps
- October: Start researching options for the Christmas break
- November: Enrol children in Christmas programmes and confirm childcare arrangements for the period between Christmas and New Year
Second term (January — March)
- January: Plan Carnival activities (it is quick — just three days)
- February: Research Easter holiday camps and compare options
- March: Sign up for Easter programmes and start thinking about summer
Third term (April — June)
- April: Register for summer camps (the earlier, the better the selection)
- May: Confirm the full summer plan: camps, parents' leave, time with grandparents
- June: Final adjustments and preparation of gear for summer activities
Activity Suggestions by School Break
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.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Create a shared calendar: Use Google Calendar or another shared tool between parents to mark all school dates, public holidays and children's activities.
- Talk to other parents in the class: Organising activities as a group is often cheaper and more fun for the children.
- Do not overload the schedule: Children also need unplanned days. Boredom is healthy and stimulates creativity.
- Consider after-school clubs (ATL): School-based leisure-time activities are an affordable and convenient option for many breaks.
- Keep receipts: Many expenses on educational activities and holiday camps are tax-deductible in Portugal. Keep your receipts organised.
Plan Your Children's Holidays on KidsToGo
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.
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