Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026 (Updated)
Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026: Complete Directorate of School Education & Matriculation Holiday Calendar, Summer, Pongal, Dussehra, Diwali & Winter Breaks (Updated April 2026)
The Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026 (academic session 2026-27) has been officially notified by the Directorate of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. This calendar applies to all government, government-aided, matriculation, and recognised private schools (Primary to Higher Secondary) across the state, including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, and other districts.
Parents, students, and teachers searching for “Tamil Nadu school holiday list 2026”, “TN summer vacation 2026”, “Tamil Nadu school Pongal holidays”, “TN Dussehra vacation 2026”, “Tamil Nadu avkash talika 2026 PDF”, or “Tamil Nadu school winter break 2026” will find the most accurate, complete, and up-to-date details here.
Important Note: This is the official model holiday & academic calendar. Moon-sighting festival dates (Ramzan, Bakrid, Muharram, etc.) are tentative and subject to government notification. Private/CBSE schools may add 2–3 restricted holidays. Always verify with your school notice board or the latest circular on education.tn.gov.in.
Key Highlights – Tamil Nadu School Holidays 2026-27
- Total Gazetted + Festival Holidays: 22–26 days (mandatory)
- Major Vacations: Summer (≈45 days – longest), Pongal Break (4 days), Dussehra/Autumn Break (3 days), Diwali Break (short), Winter Break (9 days)
- Total Non-Working Days: Approximately 75–85 days (including Sundays & vacations)
- Academic Session: April 2026 – March 2027
- Special Focus: Early summer vacation due to heat; Pongal (mid-January) and October–November festive cluster are the biggest breaks
- Applicability: Uniform across all districts in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu School Major Vacation Schedule 2026-27
| Sl. No. | Vacation Period | Start Date | End Date | Duration | Reopening Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summer Vacation | 17 April 2026 | 31 May 2026 | 45 days | 01 June 2026 |
| 2 | Dussehra / Autumn Break | 19 October 2026 | 21 October 2026 | 3 days | 22 October 2026 |
| 3 | Diwali Break | 08 November 2026 | 09 November 2026 | 2 days | 10 November 2026 |
| 4 | Winter / Christmas Break | 24 December 2026 | 01 January 2027 | 9 days | 04 January 2027 |
| 5 | Pongal Break | 14 January 2027 | 17 January 2027 | 4 days | 18 January 2027 |
Pro Tip: The 45-day Summer Vacation (starting mid-April) helps beat the peak summer heat. The Pongal cluster and October–November festive window offer excellent extended holidays for family travel.
Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026
| Sl. No. | Holiday Name | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 01 January 2026 | Thursday |
| 2 | Pongal | 15 January 2026 | Thursday |
| 3 | Thiruvalluvar Day | 16 January 2026 | Friday |
| 4 | Uzhavar Thirunal | 17 January 2026 | Saturday |
| 5 | Republic Day | 26 January 2026 | Monday |
| 6 | Thai Poosam | 01 February 2026 | Sunday |
| 7 | Telugu New Year’s Day | 19 March 2026 | Thursday |
| 8 | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan) | 21 March 2026 | Saturday |
| 9 | Mahavir Jayanti | 31 March 2026 | Tuesday |
| 10 | Good Friday | 03 April 2026 | Friday |
| 11 | Tamil New Year / Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti | 14 April 2026 | Tuesday |
| 12 | May Day | 01 May 2026 | Friday |
| 13 | Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) | 28 May 2026 | Thursday |
| 14 | Muharram | 26 June 2026 | Friday |
| 15 | Independence Day | 15 August 2026 | Saturday |
| 16 | Milad-un-Nabi | 26 August 2026 | Wednesday |
| 17 | Krishna Jayanti | 04 September 2026 | Friday |
| 18 | Vinayakar Chathurthi | 14 September 2026 | Monday |
| 19 | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | 02 October 2026 | Friday |
| 20 | Ayutha Pooja | 19 October 2026 | Monday |
| 21 | Vijaya Dasami (Dussehra) | 20 October 2026 | Tuesday |
| 22 | Deepavali (Diwali) | 08 November 2026 | Sunday |
| 23 | Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday |
*Dates of moon-sighting festivals are tentative.
Month-wise Quick View – Tamil Nadu School Holidays 2026-27
- January–April 2026: Pongal cluster (major 4-day break), Republic Day, Ramzan, Tamil New Year, Good Friday
- May–August 2026: Summer Vacation (45 days – longest break) + May Day, Bakrid, Muharram, Independence Day
- September–December 2026 + January 2027: Vinayakar Chathurthi, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra + Diwali + Christmas + Winter Break + Pongal 2027 (heaviest festive season)
Tamil Nadu Government / Matriculation vs CBSE / Private Schools
- Tamil Nadu Board / Government & Aided Schools: Strictly follow the above calendar.
- CBSE / ICSE Private Schools: Follow state gazetted holidays + own vacation patterns (Summer usually May–mid June, Autumn Break 10 days in Oct, Winter Break 11 days in Dec–Jan). Minor variations possible.
- Matriculation Schools: Align closely with the state model.
Why This Holiday List Matters for Parents & Students in Tamil Nadu
- Plan summer coaching, family trips to hill stations, or competitive exam preparation during the long summer break.
- Book travel early for Pongal (January) and Diwali (November) — peak festive seasons.
- Maintain minimum attendance requirements by planning around compulsory holidays only.
Official Sources to Download Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026 PDF
- Directorate of School Education, Tamil Nadu: education.tn.gov.in → Circulars / Academic Calendar
- Tamil Nadu Government Portal: tn.gov.in → Holidays
- School Education Department notifications
Bookmark this page — it is updated as per the latest official releases and is the most comprehensive resource for Tamil Nadu school holidays 2026.
FAQ – Tamil Nadu School Holiday List 2026
Q1. When is Summer Vacation in Tamil Nadu schools 2026? A: From 17 April 2026 to 31 May 2026 (45 days), with schools reopening on 01 June 2026.
Q2. How long is Pongal vacation in Tamil Nadu schools 2026? A: 14–17 January 2027 (4 days) — one of the biggest festive breaks.
Q3. When is Diwali vacation in Tamil Nadu schools 2026? A: Diwali falls on 08 November 2026 (Sunday). Schools usually give a short break around it, often combined with Dussehra holidays.
Q4. Is the holiday list the same for government and private schools? A: Largely uniform for gazetted holidays. CBSE/ICSE schools may have slightly different vacation durations.
Q5. Where to check the latest updates for Tamil Nadu school holiday list 2026? A: Official School Education Department website, school notice board, or trusted education portals.

