Summer holidays 2026: when schoolchildren can go on holiday
This is set out in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1003 of 20 August 2025 and in the Ministry of Education and Science’s guidance.
There is no single date in Ukraine when all schoolchildren are due to start their summer holidays in 2026.
According to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1003 of 20 August 2025, the 2025/2026 academic year in schools began on 1 September 2025 and is due to end on 30 June 2026.
However, 30 June is the deadline for the end of the academic year, not a mandatory date for the last lessons for all schoolchildren.
The actual structure of the academic year, the date of the end of lessons, the last bell and the start of the summer holidays are determined by the teaching council of each educational institution.
The Ministry of Education and Science explained that this matter falls within the remit of the schools themselves.
When making a decision, the school must take into account the academic workload, the security situation in the region, the needs and condition of the pupils, as well as the readiness of the teaching staff.
Is it compulsory to attend school in June?
June is not a compulsory month of study for all pupils.
A school may end the academic year in May, continue lessons in June, or organise consultations, individual lessons, project days or educational excursions during this period.
Such formats can help to overcome learning losses, but their implementation is a right, not an obligation, of the educational institution.
A letter from the Ministry of Education and Science regarding the organisation of the 2025/2026 academic year also states that the school’s teaching council approves the structure and duration of the academic year, the school week, the school day, lessons and breaks between them.
When might the 2026 summer holidays begin?
According to the indicative calendar previously provided by the Cabinet of Ministers, the summer holidays may begin on 1 June 2026 and last until the start of the new academic year.
However, this is not a fixed date for all schools.
For example, some schools may finish the second term on 29 May 2026, provided the teaching council approves this and the school has completed the curriculum.
At the same time, other schools may schedule lessons, consultations or other educational activities for June.
This is why the dates of the summer holidays may vary not only between regions but also between individual schools within the same city.
How long should the holidays last?
The Law of Ukraine “On Complete General Secondary Education” stipulates that the duration of school holidays during the academic year must not be less than 30 calendar days.
For the 2025/2026 academic year, the indicative holiday schedule was as follows:
autumn holidays – from 27 October to 2 November 2025;
winter holidays – from 27 December 2025 to 11 January 2026;
spring holidays – from 23 to 29 March 2026;
summer holidays – approximately from 1 June until the start of the new academic year.
What parents need to know
Parents should not rely solely on the general date of 30 June. This marks the end of the academic year, not a universal date for the last day of school.
You should check the exact timetable with your school, as it is the school itself that decides when lessons end, whether there will be lessons in June, and when the summer holidays actually begin.
The school’s decision may be influenced not only by the curriculum but also by the security situation, the format of teaching, the condition of pupils and teachers, as well as the need for additional lessons to make up for lost learning.
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