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

Start of the school year in the canton of Vaud: Monday 17 August 2026. Autumn holidays: from 10 to 25 October 2026.

Here is the full calendar of the 2026-2027 school year in Vaud, followed by our family outing ideas for each holiday period.

Vaud school calendar 2026-2027

These dates are published by the Canton of Vaud (vd.ch). They cover the first and last day off: children go back to school the day after the last date shown. In Vaud there is one small quirk: the February holidays are called the relâches. Always check your school’s official calendar before booking.

When does the 2026 school year start in the canton of Vaud?

The 2026-2027 school year starts on Monday 17 August 2026 for compulsory schooling in Vaud. Geneva, Neuchâtel and the Jura go back on the same day; Valais starts on 20 August and Fribourg on 27 August. If you are planning one last outing before term starts, you still have the first three weeks of August: it is still peak season for the beaches of Lake Geneva and the outdoor swimming pools.

Autumn holidays: forests, museums and the last fine days

From 10 to 25 October 2026, with school resuming on Monday 26 October. Two full weeks, and weather that swings: it is the most versatile period of the year. In October the forests turn colour, and themed nature trails and farms open to children come into their own. It is also the last window for visiting the castles of French-speaking Switzerland in good conditions.

When the rain sets in, you move under cover: museums, interactive museums, indoor play parks and culture and shows outings. Our ideas for rainy days cover the essentials.

Christmas holidays: ice rinks and winter magic

From 24 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Between Christmas and New Year, you make the most of ice rinks, Christmas markets and the lights. Under cover, museums and sports and leisure activities offer lovely warm interludes, ideal for channelling children’s energy across two weeks off.

February holidays: our ideas for when it’s cold

From 6 to 14 February 2027. The relâches fall in the middle of winter: it is the time for warm outings and snow fun. Indoors, go for museums, escape games and sports and leisure outings: indoor pools, trampolining or climbing halls. For fresh air outside, head for the region’s snow toboggan runs and ice rinks.

Easter holidays: nature wakes up

From 26 March to 11 April 2027. In spring, out come the trainers. It is the ideal season to discover our finest gorges and waterfalls, to take on the castles or to enjoy the playgrounds reopening in the sun. Nature walks and stroller-friendly routes are perfect for the year’s first gentle outings.

Summer holidays: head for the water

From 3 July 2027. Summer in Vaud means the lake first and foremost. Head for the finest beaches on Lake Geneva, try the summer toboggan runs, treat yourselves to a round of minigolf by the water, or cool off in a gorge or by a waterfall. With nearly two months of holidays, there is plenty to vary without ever going far.

And in the other cantons?

Dates change from one canton to another. Find the school holidays for Geneva, Fribourg, 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 Vaud. And so you are never short of ideas, join the 1000+ families subscribed to our weekly newsletter.