05.08.2026

10 minutes to read

In Spain, the school calendar is not the same across the whole country. Each autonomous community approves its own dates, and schools then add their own organizational details: adaptation days, parent meetings, holidays, and days without lessons.
Classes usually begin in the first half of September. The youngest children and primary school students — Infantil and Primaria — are often the first to return. Teenagers in ESO, Bachillerato, and vocational programs often start a few days later.
The school year ends in June. In some places, children study almost until the end of the month; in others, they start holidays a little earlier. That is why parents should not rely on rumors in school chats, but check the calendar of their own school directly.

In Andalusia, children usually return to school in September. But even within the region, the dates may differ slightly: Málaga, Seville, Granada, or Cádiz do not always follow exactly the same school rhythm.
Younger students often start earlier, while older students begin a little later. In addition, the calendar includes local holidays, which parents sometimes notice only at the last moment when the school sends a reminder.

In Aragon, the school year also starts in September. Here, it is important to check the dates by educational level. One child in the family may have already started classes, while another may still be at home for a few more days.
This happens quite often in Spain, so in September parents may end up having not one “first day of school,” but several.

In Asturias, the school year usually follows a clear pattern: September is the start, and June is the finish. But the details of the calendar still need to be checked separately.
This is especially important before trips. In Spain, prices for tickets and accommodation rise quickly around holidays, so knowing the school holiday dates in advance is not just convenient, but very practical.

In the Balearic Islands, the school year begins in September, but because of local holidays and island life, the calendar may differ from mainland Spain.
Parents should pay special attention to spring dates. Easter holidays do not always coincide with other regions, and if the family plans a flight or a trip to the mainland, it is better to take this into account in advance.

In the Canary Islands, the school calendar is approved separately. Classes usually begin in the first half of September and continue until June.
There are also regional holidays and days without classes. They may not coincide with the calendars of Madrid, Catalonia, or Andalusia, so it is better to check the official school schedule.

Cantabria is noticeably different from many other regions in its approach to the school year. Here, breaks may be distributed more evenly throughout the year, not only around the major holidays.
For families who have recently moved, this can sometimes be a surprise. It may seem that the term has only just started, and there is already another short break in the calendar. That is why it is better to keep the full list of dates close at hand.

In Madrid, the school year usually begins at the start of September. Younger children and primary school students are often the first to return, while ESO, Bachillerato, and FP start a little later.
Besides the general dates, there are holidays for Madrid itself and for individual municipalities. That is why the calendar of a child studying in the city center and the calendar of a child in the suburbs may differ slightly.

In Catalonia, the school year begins in September. But the dates are approved again every year, so last year’s calendar should not be used as an exact guide.
Schools usually send parents the important dates in advance: when classes begin, when meetings take place, when excursions are planned, when grades are issued, and when children simply do not have school.

When people say “Castile,” they most often mean Castile and León or Castile-La Mancha. In both regions, the school year usually runs from September to June.
But holidays, long weekends, and local days off may differ. So it is better to check not simply “Castile,” but the specific city and school.

In Navarre, children usually begin classes in the first half of September. During the year, there are main holidays, regional holidays, and individual days without lessons.
Private schools and colegios concertados may have their own internal details: a shorter first day, adaptation for younger children, and a separate schedule of events.

In Galicia, the school year is organized in a fairly familiar way: it starts in September, ends in June, and includes holidays at Christmas, Easter, and in summer.
But local holidays add their own days off. So even if a family has lived in Spain for more than a year, it is still better to update the calendar every September.

In the Basque Country, children also study from September to June. At the same time, the region has its own holidays and schedule features.
Families should check the calendar of their specific school in advance, especially if the child studies in a private or concertado school, where there may be additional internal dates.

The main school holidays in Spain are summer holidays, Christmas holidays, and Easter holidays. In addition, the school year includes national holidays, regional days off, and so-called “bridges,” when a public holiday is connected with a weekend.

Summer holidays in Spain are long. They usually begin at the end of June and last almost until September. For children, this sounds wonderful. For parents, it often means: “So, what are we going to do all summer?”
Many families look for campamentos de verano in advance — summer camps. They can be sports camps, language camps, creative camps, city camps, camps with swimming pools, excursions, or simply full-day supervision.
For working parents, this is often not a luxury but a real rescue. School is closed, the child is at home, and adults usually have a much shorter vacation than the school summer break.
Some schools give assignments for the holidays. In some cases, it is a reading list; in others, math revision or a small project. But the amount depends on the child’s age and the school itself.

Winter holidays are connected with Christmas and the Day of the Three Kings. Children usually have a break from the end of December and return to school after January 6.
In Spain, this period is very family-oriented. For children, not only Navidad is important, but also Día de los Reyes Magos. In many families, the main gifts are given on January 6.
After such a break, children do not always return to the school rhythm quickly. That is why the first days after the holidays are often calmer: teachers give students time to get back into learning.

Easter holidays are called Semana Santa. Their dates change every year because they depend on the church calendar. Children usually have about a week off.
For schoolchildren, this is a very necessary pause. By spring, tiredness is already noticeable, especially among older children who have tests, projects, and exam preparation.
Many families travel during Semana Santa, visit relatives, or stay in the city. In some regions of Spain, Easter processions are an important part of local culture.

There is no single mandatory school uniform for all schools in Spain. In public schools, children usually wear regular clothes. The main thing is that the clothing should be comfortable and suitable for school.
In private schools and many colegios concertados, uniforms are much more common. Usually, this includes a polo shirt or shirt, jumper, trousers or skirt, and a sports kit for physical education. Sometimes a jacket, vest, school shoes, or accessories with the school logo are also added.
Parents buy the uniform. The school usually provides a list and explains where everything can be ordered. If the child grows quickly, one purchase in September may not be enough: sometimes parents have to buy additional items in the middle of the year.

Many schools have a comedor escolar — a school cafeteria. For families where parents work until the evening, this is very convenient. The child stays at school for lunch and continues the day without an extra trip home.
Meals are paid for separately. The menu is often published a month in advance, and parents can check what the child will eat: soups, vegetables, meat, fish, pasta, rice, fruit, and yogurts.
If a child has an allergy, food intolerance, or medical restrictions, the school must be informed in advance. Usually, a doctor’s note is required so that a separate menu can be prepared.
Children sometimes bring a snack with them. Most often it is fruit, a small sandwich, yogurt, or cookies. But the rules depend on the school. Some schools strictly monitor healthy eating, while others are more relaxed about it.

Most school supplies in Spain are paid for by parents. At the beginning of the year, the school usually gives a list: notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, a pencil case, a backpack, craft materials, and sportswear.
Textbooks are a separate story. In some regions, there are support programs, book exchange systems, or free textbook loan programs. But families often still have to buy some materials themselves.
The total amount depends on the child’s age, the region, and the type of school. In younger grades, children often need many materials for drawing, crafts, and projects. In secondary school, expenses increase because of textbooks, workbooks, calculators, dictionaries, and digital platforms.
In the end, preparing for the school year can cost from a few dozen to several hundred euros. And if you add uniform, cafeteria, school bus, clubs, and extra lessons, September becomes quite an expensive month.
Overall, the school year in Spain is quite easy to understand: classes run from September to June, and the main holidays fall in summer, at Christmas, and at Easter. But the main detail is that the calendar depends on the region. So it is better to check the dates for your autonomous community, city, and school in advance. This makes it easier to buy everything calmly, plan holidays, and avoid packing the backpack on the last evening before the first day of school.