Education & Language
The Spanish school year 2026/27: calendar, holidays and enrolment
Official 2026/27 school dates for Málaga province, holidays and Semana Blanca, the school day, and how and when to enrol your child in Andalucía.
Updated: October 2026
Moving to Spain with children means learning a new rhythm: a long summer break, a cluster of bank holidays in autumn and spring, and a fixed window each year to apply for a school place. This guide explains how the Spanish school year works, lists the official 2026/27 dates for Málaga province, and shows when and how to enrol your child in a public or concertada school in Andalucía.
How the school year works in Spain
The Spanish school year (curso escolar) runs from September to June. The national government sets the minimum number of teaching days, but each region decides its own calendar, and in Andalucía each of the eight provinces publishes its own version through the provincial education office (Delegación Territorial de Educación). That is why start dates and holidays can differ slightly between Málaga, Sevilla or Granada, and between Andalucía and Madrid or Valencia.
The year is divided into three terms (trimestres): September to Christmas, January to Easter, and Easter to late June. Pupils get a written report (boletín de notas) at the end of each term. Younger children start a few days earlier in September than secondary pupils, and the last day of term is usually the same for all stages except the final year of Bachillerato, which finishes earlier because of the university entrance exam.
If you are still choosing between a public, concertada, private or international school, start with our overview of the types of schools in Spain.
School calendar 2026/27 in Málaga province
The dates below come from the official resolution of the Málaga education office, signed on 20 May 2026. They apply to all publicly funded schools in the province, which covers the whole Costa del Sol from Nerja to Manilva. Private and international schools set their own calendars, although many follow similar dates.
| Stage | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Infantil (ages 3–6), Primaria and special education | Thursday 10 September 2026 | Thursday 24 June 2027 |
| ESO, 1st year of Bachillerato and FP | Tuesday 15 September 2026 | Thursday 24 June 2027 |
| 2nd year of Bachillerato | Tuesday 15 September 2026 | Monday 24 May 2027 |
| Official language schools (EOI) | Monday 21 September 2026 | Thursday 24 June 2027 |
| Public nursery (0–3, first cycle of infantil) | Thursday 3 September 2026 | Thursday 29 July 2027 |
Infantil and primary pupils have 178 teaching days in the year. Nurseries (escuelas infantiles) work on a different model, open almost all year round because they also serve as childcare. Read more in our guide to nurseries and kindergartens in Spain.
Holidays and days off in 2026/27
Spanish schools have no half-term in October. Instead, the year is broken up by national and regional holidays and three longer breaks. These are the non-teaching days for publicly funded schools in Málaga province:
| Break or holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Fiesta Nacional de España | Monday 12 October 2026 |
| All Saints’ Day (moved from Sunday) | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| Constitution Day (moved) and Immaculate Conception | Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December 2026 |
| Christmas holidays | 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, inclusive |
| Semana Blanca, including Día de la Comunidad Educativa (26 February) | Week of Monday 22 to Friday 26 February 2027 |
| Día de Andalucía (moved from Sunday 28 February) | Monday 1 March 2027 |
| Easter holidays (Semana Santa) | 22 to 28 March 2027, inclusive |
| Local holidays | Up to two days set by each town hall |
Semana Blanca (“white week”) is an Andalucía-specific break around Día de Andalucía. In 2026/27 it joins up with the bank holiday on Monday 1 March, so most children will be off from Saturday 20 February to Monday 1 March.
Local holidays and extra days
Each town has up to two local holidays, often tied to its patron saint or feria, and schools close on those days. If a town’s local holidays fall outside the school term (for example in summer), the calendar adds replacement days off: Monday 29 March (Easter Monday) and Monday 3 May 2027 if neither falls on a school day, or only 3 May if one of them does. Ask your school or check your town hall’s holiday list in September, because these days differ from Marbella to Fuengirola to Málaga city.
The school day
Most public infantil and primary schools in Andalucía use a continuous timetable (jornada continua) with lessons in the morning and no long lunch break, typically finishing in the early afternoon. Secondary schools (institutos) usually start earlier and finish around mid-afternoon. Check your school’s exact hours, as they vary.
For working parents, many public schools in Andalucía take part in the region’s school opening plan, which can include:
- Aula matinal: supervised early drop-off before lessons start.
- Comedor: the school canteen after lessons.
- Actividades extraescolares: afternoon activities such as sport, music or languages.
These services usually have a monthly fee, with discounts depending on family income. Places are limited, so ask about them when you enrol. Factor them into your budget alongside books and uniforms – see our family living costs in Spain guide.
How enrolment works in Andalucía
Getting a place at a public or concertada school is a two-step process: first you apply for a place (solicitud de admisión or escolarización), then you confirm it by enrolling (matrícula).
- Register on the padrón. Your registered address decides your catchment area and earns admission points. See our guide to registering on the padrón.
- Apply in March. In Andalucía the ordinary application window for the next school year runs from 1 to 31 March. You submit one application listing your preferred schools in order, online through the Junta’s Secretaría Virtual or at your first-choice school.
- Check the lists. Provisional and final lists follow in spring. If a school has more applicants than places, points for distance, siblings, income and other criteria decide, and ties are settled by a public draw.
- Enrol in summer. Once you have a place, you complete the matrícula: usually in early June for infantil and primary, and in early July for ESO and Bachillerato. Pupils already at a school also re-enrol each year.
You will normally need the child’s passport or NIE, the parents’ ID, a padrón certificate and, for older children, previous school reports. Children starting infantil at age three apply in March of the year they turn three, as children are placed by calendar year of birth.
Arriving in the middle of the year
You do not have to wait for March. Children who arrive outside the ordinary window can apply at any time of year. Contact the school you prefer or the Málaga education office: they will offer a place at a school in your area with free places, which may not be your first choice. You can then apply for your preferred school in the next March window. Every child living in Spain has the right to education, regardless of residence status.
Planning for the long summer
From late June to early or mid September, children are off school for around eleven weeks. Town halls, sports clubs and private providers run summer camps (campamentos de verano or escuelas de verano), and many fill up by May, so book early. Public nurseries stay open until the end of July. Keep children safe in the July and August heat with our guides to heatwave safety and beach and sea safety.
Useful links
- Official 2026/27 school calendar for Málaga province (PDF, Spanish)
- Junta de Andalucía – school admission (escolarización)
- Málaga provincial education office (Delegación Territorial)
- Types of schools in Spain
- Nurseries and kindergartens in Spain
- How to register on the padrón
FAQ: the Spanish school year
When does the 2026/27 school year end in Málaga?
The last day of lessons is Thursday 24 June 2027 for infantil, primary, ESO, FP and the first year of Bachillerato. Second-year Bachillerato students finish on 24 May 2027.
What is Semana Blanca?
A school break in late February used in Andalucía, linked to Día de Andalucía on 28 February. In 2026/27 it runs from 22 to 26 February, followed by the bank holiday on Monday 1 March.
When do I apply for a school place in Andalucía?
The ordinary window is 1 to 31 March for the following school year. Families who arrive at another time can apply outside that window, and the education office will offer a school with free places.
Do international schools follow the same calendar?
Not necessarily. Private and international schools set their own term dates, and British schools often start a little earlier and may have a half-term break. Check each school’s own calendar.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only. School calendars, local holidays and admission dates are set each year by the education authorities and can change – always check the official calendar, your town hall and your child’s school before you make plans.
