The Community of Madrid has confirmed its 2026-2027 school calendar. It brings an early start, a dense cluster of public holidays in the first term and an earlier end to the academic year. Most students in the region will return to classrooms on Monday, 7 September, making Madrid the first in Spain to begin the new school year. This applies to pupils in the second cycle of Educación Infantil, Primary, Special Education and related integrated arts programs. Secondary, Bachillerato, Vocational Training, professional conservatories and Official Language Schools will follow on 8 September, while students in Higher Artistic Education start on 9 September. Adult Education centres and first-year students in Arts and Design will begin later, on 21 September.
Public universities in Madrid will also stagger their start dates. Universidad Politécnica opens on 2 September; Universidad de Alcalá, Autónoma and Carlos III on 7 September; Rey Juan Carlos on 10 September; and Complutense on 14 September. These early dates set the tone for a year that will end sooner than usual for most educational stages. For most students, the last day of classes will be 18 June 2027. This includes pupils in Infantil, Basic and Special Education, along with ESO, first-year Bachillerato, Vocational Training, arts schools and Adult Education. Official Language Schools will continue until 25 June, while nursery schools and first-cycle Infantil units will remain open until 30 July. The end date for second-year Bachillerato students will depend on university entrance exams and admission processes.
The first trimester brings a series of long weekends. The national holiday on 12 October falls on a Monday, creating the first bridge. The All Saints' Day holiday is observed on 2 November, since 1 November is a Sunday, forming a second bridge. Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception on 7 and 8 December will combine for a four-day break. In Madrid city, 9 November is also a holiday for La Almudena, adding a fourth bridge to the term. These concentrated breaks will affect school routines and family plans throughout the autumn.
Christmas holidays will start later than in previous years but will run longer, from 23 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. With 7 and 8 January designated as non-school days, students will return on Monday, 11 January. The second term brings another extended break: 12 and 15 February are non-teaching days, creating a four-day 'Carnival' or 'Semana Blanca' bridge with the weekend. In March, 19 and 29 March are also non-teaching days, framing the Easter holidays from 20 to 28 March. The arrangement gives students 11 consecutive days off, the longest break outside summer.
Each municipality may add its own local holidays, further shaping the school year for families. With its early start and multiple bridges, the calendar is likely to affect travel and childcare, as well as work schedules across the region. Madrid's cultural life also intersects with the school calendar and public holidays. Recent events, including the city's free end-of-summer festivals, have shown how local traditions and school schedules can overlap. See the coverage of Madrid's cultural week at this report on local festivities.
Madrid's approach to the 2026-2027 school year reflects broader trends in Spanish education, where regional governments set their own calendars within national guidelines. The early start and dense holiday schedule may affect family routines and tourism, along with local business activity. Parents and teachers will need to plan around the many bridges and extended breaks. Local adjustments and any changes in public health or education policy could also affect the final calendar.
