Kuwait Ministry of Education School Calendar and Holidays 2026–2027

The Kuwait Ministry of Education School Calendar and Holidays 2026–2027 is an important reference for parents, students and expatriate families planning the school year in Kuwait. It helps families organise school reopening, registration and transfer deadlines, examinations, the mid-year break, religious holidays and summer vacation.

The Ministry of Education publishes its educational calendar and may revise dates through official decisions and circulars. The 2026–2027 calendar was updated in September 2026, so families should check the latest Ministry announcement rather than rely on an older calendar image or a forwarded social media message.

This guide summarises the main confirmed dates available for Kuwait’s government schools and Arabic private-school system, explains how international-school calendars may differ, and provides a practical checklist for parents.

Important: These dates refer to the Ministry’s educational calendar. Private international schools may use different term dates, examination periods and vacation arrangements. Always confirm your child’s dates with the school.

📅 Official Kuwait School Calendar: Important Dates

The following dates are listed in the Ministry of Education’s published calendar for the 2026–2027 academic year. Some dates concern students, while others apply to staff, registrations or specific educational systems.

For the complete event-by-event schedule, including transfer periods, registration deadlines, examinations and results, consult the official Ministry of Education calendar. The Ministry’s calendar includes separate categories for general education, special education, religious education and adult education.

🏫 When Does the School Year Start in Kuwait?

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Ministry announced separate start dates for different student groups:

• Sunday, 13 September 2026: First-grade students begin school.
• Monday, 14 September 2026: Other school grades begin according to the Ministry announcement.
• Wednesday, 16 September 2026: Kindergarten children begin attending.

These dates are particularly useful for parents enrolling children in Kuwait’s government schools or Arabic private-school system. However, some international schools follow their own published academic calendars, and their students may have started classes earlier in August or September.

If your child has recently transferred from India, the United Kingdom, the United States or another country, contact the school to confirm the start date, grade placement, required documents and whether an orientation day is scheduled.

❄️ Kuwait School Winter and Mid-Year Holidays

The Ministry’s calendar lists the mid-year holiday for the 2026–2027 academic year from 24 January to 4 February 2027, with the second semester scheduled to begin on Sunday, 7 February 2027.

Parents should distinguish this Ministry calendar from the term breaks used by individual international schools. Some international schools have a winter holiday in December and January, with term dates that do not exactly match the government-school system.

Before planning a winter holiday

• Check the last day of classes and the first day back for your child’s specific grade.
• Check whether examinations or school assessments take place immediately before the break.
• Ask the school whether any holiday assignments, revision work or online activities are expected.
• Confirm travel dates before buying non-refundable flight tickets.
• Check whether siblings in different schools have different term dates.

🇰🇼 Kuwait National Day and Liberation Day School Holidays

Kuwait celebrates National Day on 25 February and Liberation Day on 26 February each year. These are important national occasions for residents, families and schools.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, both dates fall during the second semester. However, the exact school closure arrangements, additional days off and any changes to the academic timetable should be confirmed through the relevant official announcement and your child’s school notice.

International schools may also organise cultural activities, assemblies or celebrations before the holiday. These events can take place on a school day even when the official public holiday falls later in the week.

🌙 Ramadan School Timings and Holidays

Ramadan affects daily routines across Kuwait, including school schedules, family transport and working hours. School timings may be shortened or adjusted in accordance with official instructions and the school’s approved schedule.

For 2027, Ramadan is expected to fall around February and March, but the precise beginning and end depend on the official religious announcement. Parents should not use an estimated Ramadan date as a substitute for the school’s confirmed timetable.

What parents should check during Ramadan

• Daily school start and dismissal times.
• Whether the school has a separate timetable for kindergarten, primary, intermediate and secondary students.
• Changes to bus pickup and drop-off times.
• Any changes to after-school activities, clubs or sports.
• Examination schedules that may fall during Ramadan.
• School notices about attendance, meal arrangements and special activities.

Important distinction: The Ministry calendar lists special leave from 1–8 March 2027 for specified education employees during the final part of Ramadan. This should not automatically be interpreted as a student holiday for every school. Check the student calendar and the individual school’s circular for confirmed closures.

🕌 Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and Islamic Holidays

Islamic holidays are important to families throughout Kuwait. Eid Al-Fitr follows Ramadan, while Eid Al-Adha takes place later in the Islamic calendar. Other religious occasions may also affect school schedules.

The Gregorian dates of Islamic holidays change from year to year because the Islamic calendar is lunar. Official holidays can also depend on announcements by the relevant authorities, so estimated dates published months in advance may change.

Do not assume that every religious holiday will result in the same number of school days off across all school systems. For travel planning, use the official school circular rather than an estimated holiday calendar.

📝 Examination Dates and End-of-Year Holidays

Examination dates are among the most important parts of the Kuwait school calendar. They affect revision plans, family travel, student attendance and preparation for the next grade.

The Ministry calendar includes examination periods for different grades and educational systems. In September 2026, the Ministry also announced updates to the educational calendar for several academic years, including changes involving examinations for Grades 4 and 5.

Why examination dates vary

• Different grades may have different examination windows.
• Primary, intermediate and secondary stages do not necessarily finish at the same time.
• Grade 12 examination arrangements can differ from the regular school schedule.
• Religious education, special education and adult education have their own calendar entries.
• International schools usually publish separate assessment and examination dates.

Parents should record examination dates separately from ordinary class dates. If a student has a scheduled examination, do not assume that the general school holiday or end-of-term date applies to that student.

For exact examination dates, use the relevant category in the Ministry calendar and the latest notice issued by the school.

🌍 Government Schools vs Private and International Schools

One of the most common sources of confusion for expatriate parents is the difference between the Ministry’s calendar and an individual school’s calendar.

For example, an international school may begin its first term in late August or early September, while the Ministry’s general education calendar gives different start dates for particular student groups. This does not necessarily mean one calendar is incorrect; the two may apply to different school systems.

Parents can browse the following IndianinQ8 directories to find school-specific information:

• Indian Schools in Kuwait
• International Schools in Kuwait
• Indian Community School Salmiya: Fees and Admission Guide

🎒 School Registration, Transfers and Admission Planning

The Ministry’s educational calendar includes registration and transfer periods for certain grades and school systems. These dates matter if your family has recently moved to Kuwait, changed residential areas or needs to transfer a child between schools.

For the first semester of 2026–2027, the Ministry calendar lists a transfer period from 6 September to 29 October 2026 for specified transfers involving government schools and Arabic private schools. The applicable procedures and eligibility depend on the student’s grade and education system.

Do not assume that every transfer request is automatically accepted during this period. Contact the receiving school or relevant educational authority to confirm eligibility, available places, required documents and the correct application process.

Documents worth preparing

• Student’s Civil ID or relevant identification documents.
• Parent or guardian identification documents.
• Previous school reports and academic records.
• Transfer Certificate or leaving certificate, if required.
• Birth certificate or other supporting documents requested by the school.
• Vaccination or health documents, if required by the school or applicable rules.
• Any equivalency, attestation or approval documents relevant to the student’s circumstances.

The exact list varies by school, grade, nationality, curriculum and transfer circumstances. Ask the school for its current requirements before arranging document attestation or paying admission-related fees.

How the School Calendar Affects Parents’ Daily Routines

A school calendar is more than a list of holidays. It helps families organise transportation, childcare, study time, annual leave and travel.

• School buses: Confirm pickup and drop-off times after holidays or timetable changes.
• Childcare: Plan alternative arrangements during school breaks if both parents work.
• Examination preparation: Start revision early and avoid scheduling long trips during important assessment periods.
• Family travel: Compare the school calendar with your employer’s leave policy before booking tickets.
• School fees: Check the school’s payment deadlines and refund or withdrawal policies separately from the academic calendar.
• New admissions: Contact the school early if your child will join after a transfer or relocation.
• Multiple children: Keep a separate calendar for each child if they attend different schools or curricula.

How to Check the Latest Kuwait Ministry of Education School Calendar and Holidays

The safest way to verify a date is to use the Ministry’s official website and your child’s school notice.

1. Open the official Ministry of Education calendar.
2. Choose the relevant educational category, such as general education, special education, religious education or adult education.
3. Find the event or date you need, such as school reopening, registration, examinations or a vacation period.
4. Check the latest Ministry news for any revised educational calendar or new circular.
5. Compare the Ministry information with the calendar issued by your child’s school.
6. Save the latest notice and check again before booking travel or making important arrangements.

The Ministry announced on 2 September 2026 that it had approved updates to the educational calendar for 2026–2027 and later academic years. The Ministry also published the start dates for the 2026–2027 student year in September 2026.

Official links:

• Ministry of Education – Educational Calendar
• Ministry announcement about updated educational calendars
• Ministry announcement about the 2026–2027 school opening dates
• Kuwait Ministry of Education – Official Website

✅ Parent’s School Calendar Checklist

Use this checklist to organise your child’s academic year and avoid missing important dates.

• Confirm the first day of school for your child’s grade and curriculum.
• Save the school’s official academic calendar on your phone.
• Record the mid-year break and the confirmed return date.
• Mark examination dates and school assessment periods separately.
• Check Ramadan timings and any changes to the school bus schedule.
• Verify the dates for National Day, Liberation Day and Eid holidays.
• Check registration, transfer and admission deadlines.
• Confirm whether the school has special arrangements for Grade 12 or other examination classes.
• Check the final school day before booking summer travel.
• Review school messages for revised dates and unexpected closures.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Kuwait School Calendar and Holidays 2026–2027

1. When did the 2026–2027 school year start in Kuwait?

According to the Ministry of Education, Grade 1 students began on 13 September 2026, other school grades began on 14 September 2026, and kindergarten children began on 16 September 2026. Some international schools use different start dates.

2. When is the mid-year school holiday in Kuwait?

The Ministry’s 2026–2027 calendar lists the mid-year holiday from 24 January to 4 February 2027. The second semester is scheduled to begin on 7 February 2027. Check the school notice for any arrangements specific to your child.

3. Do all schools in Kuwait follow the same academic calendar?

No. The Ministry calendar applies to the educational systems and school categories specified in its published schedule. Indian, British, American and other international schools may publish their own term dates, examinations and vacation arrangements.

4. When is the winter break in Kuwait schools?

For the Ministry’s 2026–2027 calendar, the mid-year break is listed from 24 January to 4 February 2027. Some international schools have a separate winter break in December and January, so check the relevant school’s calendar.

5. When are Kuwait National Day and Liberation Day?

Kuwait National Day is celebrated on 25 February and Liberation Day on 26 February. School closure arrangements and any additional days off should be confirmed through official announcements and the school’s calendar.

6. Will schools have shorter hours during Ramadan?

School hours may be adjusted during Ramadan under applicable instructions. The exact timings depend on the official schedule and school stage. Parents should check the school’s circular for start times, dismissal times and transport changes.

7. Does the Ramadan staff holiday mean students are off school?

Not automatically. The Ministry calendar lists special leave for specified education employees from 1–8 March 2027. Parents should check the student calendar and the individual school’s notice before assuming classes are cancelled.

8. Where can I find the official Kuwait school calendar?

Visit the Kuwait Ministry of Education’s official educational calendar. Select the relevant educational category and check the latest Ministry announcements for updates.

9. Are examination dates the same for every grade?

No. Examination dates vary according to grade, subject, education system and examination type. Check the Ministry’s calendar and the school’s examination timetable, particularly for secondary and Grade 12 students.

10. Can I book international travel during the school holidays?

You can plan travel around confirmed holidays, but check examination dates, the last day of school and the return date before buying tickets. Avoid relying on estimated Islamic holiday dates or an old calendar image.

11. Where can I find Indian schools in Kuwait?

Browse the Indian Schools in Kuwait directory on IndianinQ8. Contact each school directly to confirm its current academic calendar, fees, admission requirements and examination schedule.

12. Is the Kuwait Ministry of Education calendar subject to change?

Yes. The Ministry may revise the educational calendar or issue new circulars. Always check the latest official calendar and your child’s school notice before making travel, admission or examination-related arrangements.

However, the most useful calendar for your family is the one that applies to your child’s specific school, grade and curriculum. Government schools, Arabic private schools and international schools may follow different schedules.

For the latest information, visit the official Kuwait Ministry of Education calendar, read the school’s latest circular and confirm important dates before booking travel.

Explore more school information through IndianinQ8:

• Indian Schools in Kuwait
• International Schools in Kuwait
• Indian Community School Salmiya – Fees and Admission Guide

Disclaimer: Dates in this article are based on the Ministry of Education’s published calendar and announcements available at the time of writing. Calendar dates, examinations, school timings and holiday arrangements may change. Confirm all important dates with the Ministry and your child’s school.