Blackburn with Darwen school term dates & holidays 2026/27

Compiled from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's published calendar · last checked 12 September 2026

These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council for the 2026/27 academic year: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.

Blackburn with Darwen term dates 2026/27

PeriodStartsEndsLength
Autumn term 2026 termTuesday, 1 September 2026Friday, 18 December 202674 school days
October half term holidayMonday, 26 October 2026Friday, 30 October 2026
Christmas holiday holidaySaturday, 19 December 2026Sunday, 3 January 2027
Spring term 2027 termMonday, 4 January 2027Thursday, 25 March 202754 school days
February half term holidayMonday, 15 February 2027Friday, 19 February 2027
Easter holiday holidayFriday, 26 March 2027Sunday, 11 April 2027
Summer term 2027 termMonday, 12 April 2027Wednesday, 21 July 202768 school days
May half term holidayMonday, 31 May 2027Friday, 4 June 2027
Council notes for 2026/27:
  • The council says these dates apply to community and controlled schools in Blackburn with Darwen; other schools may have different patterns, so check final term dates with the individual school or academy.
  • The page publishes number of openings: 74 autumn, 54 spring, 67 summer, total 195.
  • May Day closure: Monday 3 May 2027.
  • The page states: Edgworth CE/Methodist Primary School and Belmont Community Primary school have traditionally followed the agreed holiday pattern of Bolton LA. This arrangement will continue for 2026 to 2027.
  • Term end dates are closure-after-school dates as published: Friday 18 December 2026, Thursday 25 March 2027 and Wednesday 21 July 2027.
Source: these dates come from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's official term dates page, last checked by us on 12 September 2026. If the council amends its calendar mid-year, its page is the authority; tell us and we'll correct ours. Read how we compile term dates.

Common questions

When is October half term in Blackburn with Darwen?

October half term in Blackburn with Darwen runs from Monday, 26 October 2026 to Friday, 30 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.

When do Blackburn with Darwen schools break up for Christmas?

The autumn term in Blackburn with Darwen ends on Friday, 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.

When do Blackburn with Darwen schools break up for summer?

The summer term ends on Wednesday, 21 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.

Is Blackburn with Darwen's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?

Yes. All 22 of the other North West councils we cover share the same October half term week as Blackburn with Darwen in 2026/27, so crossing a council border won't change your dates.

Do all schools in Blackburn with Darwen follow these dates?

No. These are Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.

Tempted by term-time prices? Taking children out of school during term can mean a penalty notice, and the rules differ across the UK. How school fines work, nation by nation.

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