School Holiday Calendar Indonesia for Expat Families in 2026

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The school holiday calendar Indonesia for expat families is an essential reference for planning travel, childcare, and school transitions during the 2025 and 2026 academic periods.

Indonesia follows a July to June school cycle, which can feel different for expat parents accustomed to northern hemisphere schedules.

Both national and international schools operate within this general structure, but each institution publishes its own detailed calendar with variations in mid-term breaks, public holiday closures, and year-end vacations.

Understanding these patterns helps families coordinate annual leave, anticipate peak travel seasons, and arrange activities during school breaks.

Since major religious holidays such as Eid, Christmas, and Nyepi affect the entire country, these dates influence nearly all schools.

This guide outlines the main 2025 and 2026 term dates, public holiday closures, key differences between local and international schools, and practical planning tips for expat households.

Major Term Dates and Semester Breaks 2025/2026

The school holiday calendar Indonesia for expat families aligns with the national structure that runs from mid July 2025 to mid June 2026.

The breakdown below makes the academic rhythm easier to understand.

Academic Year Timeline

• Start of School Year: Mid July 2025, typically during the second or third week.
• End of School Year: Mid June 2026, followed by a three to four week break before the next school year begins.
• Overall Structure:

• • Semester 1 runs from July to December.

  • Semester 2 runs from January to June.

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Mid-Semester Breaks

Most schools provide two short mid-term holidays:

• October or November 2025: A three to five day break.
• March or April 2026: Another three to five day break.
  Exact timing varies because each province, such as Jakarta or Bali, issues its own education office calendar.

Semester 1 Holiday

• Typically one to two weeks, beginning in late December 2025 and ending in early January 2026.
• International schools may extend the break to support families who travel for Christmas and New Year.

Differences Across School Types

• National schools: Follow the provincial education department calendar.
• International schools:

• • Keep the same July to June structure.

  • Add extra mid-term breaks.

  • Sometimes begin or end the school year one to two weeks earlier or later.

Practical Note

Because of regional variations, families should always download their school’s official academic PDF.

Large schools such as JIS, ACG, AIS, BIS, Dyatmika, NAS, and SIS Medan provide detailed calendars well in advance.

Key Public and Religious School Holidays in 2026

The school holiday calendar Indonesia for expat families also includes nationwide public holidays.

Nearly all national and international schools close on these days, even when not observing the religious event.

Major 2026 Closures

• New Year’s Day: 1 January 2026.
• Chinese New Year: Mid February 2026, based on the lunar date.
• Isra Mi’raj: February or March 2026.
• Nyepi (Day of Silence): March 2026. Schools in Bali fully close and Jakarta schools often add extra closure days.
• Good Friday: Late March or early April 2026.
• Eid al Fitr: Two Eid days plus collective leave days. Most schools close for one to two weeks in April 2026.
• Labour Day: 1 May 2026.
• Ascension of Jesus: May 2026.
• Vesak: May or June 2026.
• Pancasila Day: 1 June 2026.
• Eid al Adha: June or July 2026.
• Islamic New Year: Later in 2026.
• Independence Day: 17 August 2026, falling in the next academic year.

Additional Notes

International schools may add bridging holidays to extend long weekends around Nyepi, Good Friday, or Vesak.

This helps expat families plan short local or regional trips.

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Differences Between Local and International School Calendar

Understanding how local and international schools differ helps families anticipate schedule gaps.

National Schools

• Governed by each province’s “kalender pendidikan”.
• Dates for semesters, exams, and holidays follow national guidelines.
• Public holiday closures strictly apply.

International Schools

• Maintain Indonesian public holiday closures.
• Add their own mid-term breaks and sometimes longer Christmas holidays.
• Academic start and end dates may shift by one to two weeks.
• Some British or IB curriculum schools follow northern hemisphere term patterns more closely.

Why This Matters for Families

It is common for siblings enrolled in different school types to have misaligned mid-term breaks.

Public holidays remain consistent, but term-based holidays may not match.

Planning Tips for Expat Families in 2026

Families can manage the school holiday calendar Indonesia for expat needs more effectively by combining school calendars with Indonesia’s national holiday schedule.

How to Plan Smoothly

1. Use Two Calendars:
   Compare your school’s PDF with the national 2026 public holiday list.

2. Book Early for Peak Travel Periods:

   • Eid al Fitr in April 2026.

   • Christmas and New Year from late December 2025 to early January 2026.

   • Year-end break from mid June to mid July 2026.

3. Plan Short Trips During Mid-Term Breaks:
   October 2025 and March or April 2026 breaks are ideal for domestic destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta, or Labuan Bajo.

4. Be Aware of Local Restrictions:
   Bali’s Nyepi involves airport closure and no outdoor activities. Travel must avoid this day.

5. Create a Shared Family Planner:
   Mark all school closures, cuti bersama, and regional holidays to prevent scheduling conflicts.

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