School holidays in Belgium can be confusing because the dates are not the same everywhere. Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels can follow different school calendars depending on the language community and the education system.
For parents planning vacations, childcare or family trips, knowing the exact school holiday dates can make a big difference. Here is what families need to know about the Belgium school holidays for the 2026–2027 school year.
School Holidays in Flanders
Schools in Flanders follow the calendar set by the Flemish Community. The school year started on September 1, 2026, and the first major break will be the autumn holiday in November.
The autumn holiday in Flanders runs from November 2 through November 8, 2026. Students will also have a day off on November 11 for Armistice Day.
The Christmas holiday will run from December 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Students will return to school on January 4.
The next break is the spring holiday, which runs from February 8 through February 14, 2027.
Flemish students will then have their Easter holiday from March 29 through April 11, 2027. Other days off during the school year include May 6 and 7 for Ascension and May 17 for Whit Monday.
The summer holiday in Flanders begins on July 1, 2027, and runs through August 31.
School Holidays in Wallonia
French-speaking schools in Wallonia follow the school calendar of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. This calendar is different from the one used by Flemish schools.
The first major break will be the autumn holiday, from October 19 through October 30, 2026. Students will return to school on November 2.
The Christmas holiday will run from December 21, 2026, through January 1, 2027.
The Carnival holiday, also known as the February break, will take place from February 22 through March 5, 2027.
The spring holiday will run from April 26 through May 7, 2027. Although it is commonly associated with Easter, the spring break does not always coincide directly with the Easter holiday itself.
The school year will officially end on July 2, 2027, with the summer vacation beginning afterward.
School Holidays in Brussels
Brussels is different because the city has both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking schools.
If a child attends a Flemish-speaking school in Brussels, the school generally follows the Flemish Community calendar. If the child attends a French-speaking school, the school follows the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles calendar.
This means that families living in the same neighborhood can have different school holiday dates depending on which school their children attend.
For example, the autumn break will take place from November 2 to November 8 for Flemish schools, while French-speaking schools will have their autumn holiday from October 19 to October 30.
The difference also continues later in the school year. Flemish schools have their spring break from February 8 to February 14, while French-speaking schools have their Carnival break from February 22 to March 5.
What Parents Should Know
The different calendars are important when planning family holidays, travel and childcare in Belgium. A holiday period shown on a general Belgian calendar may not apply to every school.
Parents in Brussels should pay particular attention to the language community of their child’s school. The same applies to families who move between Flanders and Wallonia, as the school holiday dates can change.
It is also worth checking the individual school’s calendar because schools can have additional school-specific days, such as pedagogical study days or other scheduled days without classes.
For most families, the key dates to remember are the autumn, Christmas, spring or Carnival, Easter or spring, and summer holidays. Checking the correct regional calendar before booking a trip can help avoid unexpected school days.
The Flemish government confirms that the 2026–2027 Flemish school calendar includes the autumn holiday from November 2 to 8, Christmas holidays from December 21 to January 3, spring holiday from February 8 to 14, Easter holidays from March 29 to April 11, and summer vacation from July 1 through August 31.
For French-speaking schools, the 2026–2027 calendar includes the autumn holiday from October 19 to 30, Christmas holidays from December 21 to January 1, Carnival holidays from February 22 to March 5, spring holidays from April 26 to May 7, and the end of the school year on July 2, 2027.
