TL;DR: The Portuguese state school year runs from mid-September to late June, divided into three terms (trimestres). Christmas holidays run approximately 2 weeks; Easter approximately 2 weeks; summer holidays from late June to mid-September. There are no half-term holidays in the UK sense — individual Portuguese public holidays and occasional bridge days (pontes) substitute. International schools in Porto follow broadly similar calendars with some variations. The academic year starts significantly later than in the UK and ends later — arriving families with school-age children should plan around this.
The Portuguese State School Year — 2025/26
The Portuguese Ministry of Education sets the national school calendar annually. The structure:
- 1st term (1º período): mid-September to mid-December (approximately 14 weeks)
- Christmas holidays: approximately 17 December – 5 January (2–3 weeks)
- 2nd term (2º período): January to March/April (approximately 11 weeks)
- Easter holidays (férias da Páscoa): approximately 2 weeks — dates vary annually depending on Easter
- 3rd term (3º período): April/May to late June (approximately 8–9 weeks)
- Summer holidays: late June to mid-September (approximately 11 weeks)
The exact start and end dates are announced annually by the Ministry of Education — typically in spring for the following school year. Check the current calendar at dge.mec.pt (Direção-Geral da Educação).
Key Differences From the UK and US School Year
- No half-terms: Portugal does not have the UK’s half-term holiday structure. The terms are long with no mid-term breaks. Portuguese public holidays fall within terms and function as occasional single days off rather than structured breaks.
- Later start: Portuguese schools start in mid-September, not early September as in the UK or late August as in some US states. Families arriving in September may find the first week or two before school starts useful for settling in.
- Later end: the school year ends in late June — later than most UK schools (which finish in mid-late July) but similar to or earlier than some US schools.
- Long summer: the summer holiday is approximately 11 weeks — longer than most UK schools. This is wonderful in year one; in subsequent years, childcare for an 11-week summer requires planning, particularly for working parents.
- Ponte days: when a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, it is common practice for schools (and workplaces) to take the intervening Friday or Monday off too, creating a 4-day weekend. These are not always officially announced in advance — check with the school in the week beforehand.
Portuguese Public Holidays (Feriados Nacionais)
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day (Ano Novo) |
| Moveable | Carnival Tuesday (Terça-feira de Carnaval) — not a national holiday but many schools close |
| Moveable (March/April) | Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa) |
| Moveable (March/April) | Easter Sunday (Páscoa) |
| 25 April | Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade) — commemorates 1974 Carnation Revolution |
| 1 May | Labour Day (Dia do Trabalhador) |
| Moveable (May/June) | Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus) |
| 10 June | Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal) |
| 15 August | Assumption of Mary (Assunção de Nossa Senhora) |
| 5 October | Republic Day (Implantação da República) |
| 1 November | All Saints’ Day (Todos os Santos) |
| 1 December | Restoration of Independence (Restauração da Independência) |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição) |
| 25 December | Christmas Day (Natal) |
Additionally, Porto has its own municipal holiday on 24 June (São João) — the city’s patron saint festival, one of the most important events in Porto’s year. Schools and most businesses close.
International School Calendars
OBS and CLIP in Porto follow broadly similar calendars to the Portuguese state school year, with some variations. Both typically start in early-to-mid September and finish in late June. Both observe Portuguese public holidays plus school-specific INSET days. Both have a Christmas break and Easter break of similar length to state schools.
Key difference from UK parents’ expectations: OBS and CLIP do not follow the UK half-term structure. There is no October half-term or February half-term. Terms are longer than UK school terms. Families arriving from UK schools sometimes find the lack of half-term breaks an adjustment — build in some family travel on Portuguese public holiday ponte days as a substitute rhythm.
Summer Childcare: Planning for 11 Weeks
The long Portuguese summer holiday requires planning for working families. Options:
- School summer camps (campos de férias): most schools, including OBS and CLIP, run summer camp programmes in July. Not all run in August. Check with your school well in advance — popular camps fill up by March.
- Local summer camps: Portuguese municipal summer camps, sports clubs, and activity centres run programmes through July and August. Ask at your local Junta de Freguesia for what’s available in your area.
- Au pair or summer nanny: particularly effective for families needing flexible coverage across the full 11 weeks.
- Extended family visits: many expat families use the long Portuguese summer as an opportunity for grandparents or other family to visit for extended periods — a positive framing of a logistical challenge.
School calendars are set annually. Always verify exact dates with your school and at dge.mec.pt for the current academic year.