Back to school and school holidays in Fribourg 2026-2027: all the dates

Start of the school year in Fribourg: Thursday 27 August 2026. Autumn holidays: from 12 to 23 October 2026.

Here is the full calendar of the 2026-2027 school year for the French-speaking part of the canton of Fribourg, followed by our family outing ideas for each holiday period.

Fribourg school calendar 2026-2027

These dates concern the French-speaking part of the canton and follow the cantonal calendar relayed by the CIIP. One Fribourg quirk: it is the canton in French-speaking Switzerland that goes back latest (27 August) and finishes latest (9 July). Always check your school’s official calendar before booking.

When does the 2026 school year start in Fribourg?

The 2026-2027 school year starts on Thursday 27 August 2026. That is ten days after Vaud, Geneva, Neuchâtel and the Jura (17 August) and a week after Valais (20 August). Good news for Fribourg families: you have almost the whole of August, just as the beaches and outdoor pools are emptying of children from neighbouring cantons. It is also the best window of the year for mountain lakes and adventure parks.

Autumn holidays: forests, farms and La Gruyère

From 12 to 23 October 2026, with school resuming on Monday 26 October. Two full weeks just as La Gruyère and the Fribourg countryside are at their finest. It is the season for farms open to children, themed nature trails and visits to castles — Gruyères first among them. When the weather turns, you move to interactive museums, indoor play parks and our ideas for rainy days.

Christmas holidays: the shortest in French-speaking Switzerland

From 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, back to school on Monday 4 January. Fribourg goes back to school in the very first week of January: it is best to concentrate outings around Christmas itself. Ice rinks, Christmas markets, museums and sports and leisure activities in the warm.

Carnival holidays: a week in the depths of winter

From 8 to 12 February 2027, back to school on Monday 15 February. A short week, right in the heart of the cold season: skiing and sledging in the Fribourg Prealps, ice rinks, or outings in the warm. The Fribourg carnival also brings several towns to life at this time.

Easter holidays: nature wakes up

From 26 March to 9 April 2027, back to school on Monday 12 April. Two weeks just as everything turns green again: playgrounds reopening, gorges and waterfalls, and the first stroller walks around Lake Gruyère and Lake Morat.

Summer holidays: lakes, mountains and wide open spaces

Classes end on Friday 9 July 2027 — the last canton in French-speaking Switzerland to break up. On the programme: the beaches of Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat, the outdoor pools, the water parks and the summer toboggan runs of the Prealps.

And in the other cantons?

Dates change from one canton to another. Find the school holidays for Vaud, Geneva, Valais, Neuchâtel and Jura too. To compare all the dates at a glance, see our overview: all the school holidays in French-speaking Switzerland.

And after the holidays?

Whatever the period, find all our outing ideas sorted by age, season and region on Kidora, including all the activities in the canton of Fribourg. And so you are never short of ideas, join the 1000+ families subscribed to our weekly newsletter.