Schools are opening in Portugal: Most students will start classes between 11-15 September, some high school students will start classes on 21 September.

The 2026/2027 academic year begins in Portugal. Lessons in pre-school, basic education and many education programs will start between 11-15 September; However, the start date for science and humanities-oriented cursos científico-humanísticos high school programs has been determined as September 21, 2026, with a special change this year. Diario da Republica

For this reason, it is possible for children in the same family at different educational levels to start school on different dates.

Each school can determine its own starting day between 11-15 September.

According to the general school calendar, the first term will start between September 11-15.

This is not a “all students in Portugal go to school on 9/11” rule.

Since schools can organize their own start dates within a set window, students' first day of classes may vary from school to school. Diario da Republica

Parents must therefore check the exact date communicated by their child's school or agrupamento de escolas management.

Some high school programs will start on September 21

The most important change this year is in secondary education.

Despacho n.º 10430/2026, published in Diário da República on 21 August, changed the start of the first term for cursos científico-humanísticos do ensino secundário to 21 September 2026. Diario da Republica

This group includes science-humanities studies such as Ciências e Tecnologias, Ciências Socioeconómicas, Línguas e Humanidades and Artes Visuais. It mainly covers high school programs.

It should not be thought that the same postponement automatically applies to vocational and other training programs.

Christmas holidays will start on December 16

In the 2026/27 calendar, the first term will end on December 15.

After the Christmas break, the second term will start on January 4, 2027 and end on March 19. Diario da Republica

The third term will start on April 5, after the Easter break.

According to The Portugal News' calendar summary, the Carnival holiday will be between 8-10 February and the Easter holiday will be between 22 March-2 April. The Portugal News

Summer vacation will start on different dates depending on the class

The end date of the academic year varies depending on the student's grade.

9th, 11th and 12th grades: June 4, 2027.

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th grades: June 11, 2027.

Pre-school and 1st grade: June 30, 2027. Diário da República

Especially for students who will take national exams, the end date of courses and the exam calendar should be evaluated separately.

What should new families moving to Portugal check out?

For newly arrived foreign families, just looking at the national calendar is not enough.

The exact opening day of the school where the child is registered, lesson hours, food system, school transportation, course materials and Ação Social Escolar processes, if any, should be checked directly with the school or agrupamento.

Especially if your child is in one of the científico-humanístico high school programs, September 21 change should be taken into consideration.

It is not right to see the general start date of September 11-15 and think that the child is late for school or, on the contrary, to assume that the date of September 21 is valid for all students.

Resources

Diário da República — Despacho n.º 10430/2026, de 21 de agosto — Ministro da Educação, Ciência e Inovação Fernando Alexandre

Diário da República direct amendment text

Diário da República — Despacho n.º 8368/2024 — Calendário escolar 2024-2025 a 2027-2028

Diário da República school calendar

The Portugal News — Quando começa o novo ano letivo em Portugal? — August 28, 2026

The Portugal News direct news