Education Ministry releases the 2026-2027 academic term dates for all schools
The Ministry of Education has released the official 2026-2027 academic term dates for all schools across the country.
The calendar shows term dates for Pre-Primary, Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools plus Teacher Training Colleges, TTCs.
The calendar the term durations, holiday breaks, and national examination dates.
Continue reading: 2025/2026 School Academic Calendar, Term Dates
Key Term dates for the 2026-2027 School Calendar
Key dates for the 2026-2027 School Calendar are as follows;
Term one 2026 Term dates
Term 1: Opens on 5th January 2026 and runs for 13 weeks, ending on 2nd April 2026. A mid-term break is scheduled from 25th February to 1st March 2026, lasting five days.
April holiday: A three-week holiday will follow Term 1, from 7th April to 24th April 2026.
Term two 2026 Term dates
Term 2: Commences on 27th April 2026 and spans 14 weeks, concluding on 31st July 2026.
Students will enjoy a five-day half-term from 24th June to 28th June 2026.
August holiday 2026
Schools will close for three weeks, from 3rd August to 21st August 2026.
Term three 2026
Term 3: Begins on 25th August 2025 and lasts for nine weeks, ending on 24th October 2025.
December holiday 2026
The academic year will officially end on 26th October 2026 for most learners, ushering in a 10-week December holiday running until 1st January 2027.
2026 Knec National examinations schedule
The 2026 calendar also highlights crucial dates for national assessments.
Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will run from 26th to 29th October 2026 while the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will commence on 26th and end on 30th of October 2026.
Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) & Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will begin on 26th October and run through to 5th November 2026.
On the other hand, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will start on 2nd November and end on 20th November 2026.
Opening Date for Term One 2027
Schools will open for first term of 2027 on Monday 4th January, 2027.
PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY, JUNIOR, SENIOR AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TERM DATES 2026
| OPENING | CLOSING | DURATION | |
| Term I | 6th January, 2026 | 2nd April, 2026 | 13 Weeks |
| Half term | 25th February, 2026 | 1st March, 2026 | 5 Days |
| April Holiday | 7th April, 2026 | 24th April, 2026 | 3 Weeks |
| Term II | 27th April, 2026 | 31st July, 2026 | 14 Weeks |
| Half term | 24th June, 2026 | 28th June, 2026 | 5 Days |
| August Holiday | 3rd August, 2026 | 21st August, 2026 | 3 Weeks |
| Term III | 24th August, 2026 | 23rd October, 2026 | 9 Weeks |
| KPSEA | 26th October, 2026 | 29th October, 2026 | 4 Days |
| KILEA | 26th October, 2026 | 30th October, 2026 | 5 Days |
| KJSEA & KPLEA | 26th October, 2026 | 5th November, 2026 | 7 Days |
| KCSE | 2nd November, 2026 | 20th November, 2026 | 3 Weeks |
| December Holiday | 26th October, 2026 | 1st January, 2027 | 10 Weeks |
- KPSEA — Kenya Primary Education Assessment.
- KILEA — Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment.
- KJSEA -Kenya Junior School Education Assessment.
- KPLEA — Kenya Pre-Vocational Izvcl Educaüon Assessment
DIPLOMA TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGES ACADEMIC CALENDAR, 2026
| OPENING | CLOSING | DURATION | |
| Term I | 6th January, 2026 | 2nd April, 2026 | 13 Weeks |
| April Holiday | 7th April, 2026 | 24th April, 2026 | 3 Weeks |
| Term II | 27th April, 2026 | 31st July, 2026 | 14 Weeks |
| August Holiday | 3rd August, 2026 | 21st August, 2026 | 3 Weeks |
| Term III | 24th August, 2026 | 6th November, 2026 | 11 Weeks |
| December Holiday | 9th November, 2026 | 1st January, 2027 | 8 Weeks |
1. This circular should be distributed to all the institutions of Basic Education under your jurisdiction.
2. Activities and visits to Secondary Schools in third term 2026 remain banned as per the earlier circulars.
Amb. (Prof) Julius K. Bitok, CBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
