School holidays in Cyprus 2026/27: all the dates

Public holidays in Cyprus Checked: 23 October 2026 no change to the rule has been established since the check

In short

Who it applies to: Children in public kindergartens, primary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums and technical schools. A private school sets its holidays in its own rules: they must be in line with the public ones, but the dates may differ.
What it costs: There is no fee, but on holidays and school days off the school is closed entirely, the all-day programme included: the family arranges childcare on those days itself.
How long it takes: Lessons began on 7 September 2026 in secondary school and 14 September in primary. The Christmas break runs to 6 January inclusive, the Easter break from 26 April, and everyone is back at school on 10 May 2027.
Where to apply: Primary schools and kindergartens take one more local day off — the feast of their parish saint; each school picks the date itself, so ask the school. Maronite schools may take 9 February.
If your case differs: Secondary school lessons end earlier than primary ones, because exams follow. Lyceum lessons end on 10 May, gymnasium on 21 May, primary school on 16 June 2027.

Your case

If your child is in kindergarten or primary school

The Christmas break starts a day earlier — on 23 December — and the Easter break ends on Friday, 7 May. Besides the common days off there is Ascension Day, 10 June, and the local saint’s day. School runs until 16 June.

If your child is at a gymnasium

The Christmas break starts on 24 December, plus two teacher days with no lessons. Lessons end on 21 May, then exams until 2 June; resits are on 23–25 June.

If your child is at a lyceum or technical school

Lessons end as early as 10 May — straight after the Easter break — and exams run from 11 May. The final state exams (Παγκύπριες) follow a separate timetable.

If your child is at a private school

Holidays and breaks are set by the school’s internal rules, approved by the ministry. They must be in line with the public ones, but the exact dates come from the school.

Deadlines and conditions

gymnasiums, lyceums and technical schools began lessons on Monday, 7 September 2026ΥΠΑΝ circular of 18.08.2026, Annex item 2; the rule is Κ.Δ.Π. 60/2017 reg. 7(3): «πέμπτη εργάσιμη ημέρα του Σεπτεμβρίου».
primary schools and kindergartens began lessons on Monday, 14 September 2026Κ.Δ.Π. 168/2024 reg. 10(3): «τη δεύτερη Δευτέρα του Σεπτεμβρίου»; the pupils’ 2026 summer holiday ran to 11.09 (DDE page).
Christmas break: primary from 23 December, secondary from 24 December 2026, for everyone until 6 January 2027 inclusiveDDE page «Σχολικές αργίες 2026-2027»: 23.12.2026–06.01.2027; ΥΠΑΝ circular item 8: 24.12.2026–06.01.2027.
the Easter break starts on Monday, 26 April 2027, for two weeks; everyone is back at school on Monday, 10 MayDDE page: 26.04–07.05.2027; ΥΠΑΝ circular item 8: 26.04–09.05.2027, «από τη Μεγάλη Δευτέρα μέχρι και την Κυριακή του Θωμά».
single days off in all schools: 1 and 28 October 2026, 15 March (Καθαρά Δευτέρα), 25 March, 1 April and 11 June 2027DDE page «Σχολικές αργίες 2026-2027» and ΥΠΑΝ circular of 18.08.2026, item 8 — the dates match.
Ascension Day, 10 June 2027, is a day off only in primary school and kindergartenDDE page: «10η Ιουνίου 2027 (Αναλήψεως)»; the ΥΠΑΝ circular’s table for secondary schools does not have this day.
gymnasiums and lyceums have two “teacher days” with no lessons: 8 December 2026 and 10 February 2027ΥΠΑΝ circular of 18.08.2026, Annex item 2: «Ημέρα Εκπαιδευτικού» on 08.12.2026 and 10.02.2027 — for gymnasiums and lyceums.
in lyceums and technical schools lessons end on 10 May 2027, with exams from 11 to 24 MayΥΠΑΝ circular of 18.08.2026, Annex item 2(Β): «Λήξη μαθημάτων — Δευτέρα, 10 Μαΐου 2027», exams 11–24 May.

Show all conditions (11)

in gymnasiums lessons end on 21 May 2027, with exams from 24 May to 2 JuneΥΠΑΝ circular of 18.08.2026, Annex item 2(Α): «Λήξη μαθημάτων — Παρασκευή, 21 Μαΐου 2027», exams 24 May — 2 June.
in primary school and kindergarten the last school day is Wednesday, 16 June 2027, and the summer holiday lasts until 10 SeptemberΚ.Δ.Π. 168/2024 reg. 10(3): «την Τετάρτη που προηγείται της προτελευταίας Παρασκευής του Ιουνίου»; pupils’ summer holiday 17.06–10.09.2027 (DDE page).
the next school year in primary starts on Monday, 13 September 2027; the secondary date will be announced in the summerDDE page: pupils’ summer holiday «17η Ιουνίου - 10η Σεπτεμβρίου 2027»; the second Monday of September 2027 is the 13th (reg. 10(3)).

The local saint’s day and the all-day programme

The school reports the date it has chosen as its local saint’s day to the district education office and to parents — ask the class teacher or the school office. Ask there too whether the school runs any summer or holiday programmes: there is no general rule for them.

Sources

Primary Education Directorate: school holidayswww.moec.gov.cyDays off and breaks for primary schools and kindergartens for 2026–27 and 2025–26, the summer holiday, the local saint’s day rule.
ΥΠΑΝ circular on planning 2026–27 for gymnasiums, lyceums and ΤΕΣΕΚenimerosi.moec.gov.cyAnnex: item 2 — start and end of lessons, teacher days, exams; item 8 — the table of days off.
Regulations on public primary schools, Κ.Δ.Π. 168/2024www.moec.gov.cyRegulation 10 — when lessons start and end; regulation 27 — the standing list of days off.