Six to seven weeks — the long Danish summer break. Classics: a summer house on the west coast or Bornholm, beach weekends at Tisvildeleje or Henne Strand, family trips to Legoland, Djurs Sommerland or Bonbon-Land. Many travel abroad — especially Southern Europe and Asia. For those staying home there are countless festivals: Roskilde, Smukfest, Tinderbox, Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
Academic year 2025/2026
Past
🍂
Autumn break (Kartoffelferien)
October 13 – October 17
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Academic year 2025/2026
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Week 42 — the classic “potato holiday” that historically gave schoolchildren time off to help dig up potatoes. Today it is a week of autumn activities: visit the forest’s golden colours (Dyrehaven, Rold Skov or Mons Klint), the Halloween opening of Tivoli or Legoland, or a trip south for winter sun. Pumpkin picking on farms and aquariums like Den Bla Planet are good outings.
Academic year 2025/2026
🎄
Christmas break
December 22 – January 4
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Academic year 2025/2026
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The longest continuous school break — around two weeks. Traditional Danish Christmas with family, aebleskiver, gloegg and Christmas lunches. Popular activities: ice skating on city squares, Tivoli Christmas (open until just after New Year), Christmas markets in Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus, and the traditional TV Advent calendar marathon. Between Christmas and New Year many head out for julefrokost with friends.
Academic year 2025/2026
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Winter break
February 9 – February 13
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Academic year 2025/2026
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Week 7 across most of Zealand and Bornholm; Jutland and Funen typically take the winter break in week 8 (16–20 February). Check your municipality’s school calendar. Classic activities: skiing in Norway, Sweden or the Alps, cosy stays at a Danish water park like Lalandia or Djurs Sommerland, or simply a quiet week at home with good books and games. Many museums run special winter-holiday activities for children.
Academic year 2025/2026
🐣
Easter break
March 28 – April 6
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Academic year 2025/2026
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Ideas for the break
The Easter break typically starts the Friday before Palm Sunday and runs until Easter Monday — ten days off. Perfect for Easter egg hunts, gaekkebreve, family Easter lunches and spring activities. Many head to the summer house or a charter holiday (Mallorca is a Danish Easter favourite). The forest’s anemones and beech leaves come out — a lovely time for walks on Bornholm or along the North Sea coast.
Academic year 2025/2026
School breaks 2026/2027
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Autumn break (Kartoffelferien)
October 12 – October 16
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Academic year 2026/2027Until start 175 days
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Ideas for the break
Week 42 again — the fixed autumn break across Denmark. Golden autumn light, pumpkin picking on farms, Halloween preparations, last outdoor activities before the dark. Good trips are Mons Klint, Skagen, the Silkeborg lakes or Bornholm. Weather can be changeable — pack both rain gear and a wool sweater.
Academic year 2026/2027
❄️
Christmas break
December 22 – January 3
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Academic year 2026/2027Until start 246 days
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Ideas for the break
Christmas break 2026/27 — Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday, giving a beautiful long Christmas holiday. Perfect for a classic Danish Christmas: cosy moments, TV Advent calendars, family julefrokost, New Year’s banquet, fireworks and New Year’s gatherings. New Year’s Day falls on a Friday, so off until Sunday 3 January 2027.
Academic year 2026/2027
⛷️
Winter break
February 15 – February 19
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Academic year 2026/2027Until start 301 days
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Ideas for the break
Week 7 on Zealand and week 8 in western Denmark (22–26 February 2027). Check your municipality. Skiing trips, water-park stays, or cosy weeks at home. Many use the winter break for a short charter trip to the sun — Greece, Spain or the Canary Islands.
Academic year 2026/2027
🐣
Easter break
March 26 – April 5
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Academic year 2026/2027Until start 340 days
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Ideas for the break
Easter break 2027 — from the Friday before Palm Sunday to Easter Monday. Easter falls early in 2027. Lovely trips to the spring nature — anemones, first green leaves. Plan ahead if you want a summer house in Jutland or a charter to the sun — the Easter break is popular.
Academic year 2026/2027
☀️
Summer break
June 26 – August 8
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Academic year 2026/2027Until start 432 days
Starts
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→
Ends
Sunday, August 8
44 days • 6 weeks
Ideas for the break
Summer break 2027 — around six to seven weeks again. Classics: Legoland, Djurs Sommerland, Bornholm, Skagen, Mallorca, Greece. Roskilde Festival and other Danish music festivals fall in July. Warm Danish summer break with beach, ice cream and long, bright evenings.
Academic year 2026/2027
School holidays in Denmark 2025/2026 and 2026/2027
In Denmark, individual municipalities and schools set the school calendar based on recommendations from the Ministry of Education. This means holiday periods can vary between the country’s 98 municipalities — especially the winter break (some use week 7, others week 8) and the exact start and end of the summer break. The dates on this page are a national standard calendar that most municipalities follow.
The five fixed breaks in the Danish school year are the autumn break (week 42, also known as the “potato holiday”), Christmas break (around 14 days from Christmas Eve), winter break (one week in February), Easter break (from the Friday before Palm Sunday to Easter Monday — about 10 days) and summer break (roughly 6–7 weeks from late June). Always check your local school’s calendar if you are planning holidays in borderline cases.
Frequently asked questions — school breaks
Who sets Danish school holidays?▾
In Denmark it is municipalities and individual schools that set the school calendar, following recommendations from the Ministry of Education. This means variations can occur between the country’s 98 municipalities — especially the winter break (week 7 vs. week 8) and the exact end date of the summer break. Most follow the national standard calendar, but always check your local school calendar.
Is the winter break in week 7 or week 8?▾
Traditionally Zealand and Bornholm take the winter break in week 7, while Jutland and Funen take it in week 8. But the rule is not fixed — some municipalities in Jutland use week 7, and some on Zealand use week 8. It’s worth checking the municipality’s or school’s official calendar before booking a ski trip.
How long is the summer break in Denmark?▾
The summer break in Denmark lasts about 6–7 weeks — typically from the end of June to the beginning of August. The national standard is that the summer break starts on the Friday after week 25 (last school day) and ends on the Sunday before week 33 (first school day of the new year). High schools and tertiary education often have longer summer breaks.
What is the “kartoffelferien” (potato holiday)?▾
The “potato holiday” is the classic Danish nickname for the autumn break in week 42. The name comes from the 1800s when schoolchildren were given time off to help harvest the potato crop before winter. The modern autumn break is still in week 42 but is now used for anything from forest walks to charter trips to the south.
When is the Easter break?▾
The traditional Danish Easter break starts on the Friday before Palm Sunday (or on the Monday after Palm Sunday for some schools) and lasts until Easter Monday — about 10 days in total. In 2026 the break is 28 March – 6 April, in 2027 it is 26 March – 5 April (Easter falls earlier that year). Check your school’s specific dates.
Do 9th grade students and high-schoolers have the same holidays as primary school?▾
Mostly yes, but with exceptions. 9th and 10th grade students typically have the same holidays as primary school, except around graduation exams in May–June. High-school students follow their own calendar that may differ. Student exams and HF exams can run into June, and the end of the school year can be later than primary school.