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North Rhine‑Westphalia publishes 2026 school holiday and start dates
The Ministry of Education of North Rhine‑Westphalia released the full school calendar for 2026. Winter holidays run from 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 and again from 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. Easter holidays are scheduled for 30 March – 11 April 2026, while the Pfingst (Pentecost) break falls on 26 May 2026. Summer holidays span 20 July – 1 September 2026, making them the longest break of the year. Autumn holidays are set for 19 – 31 October 2026.
For first‑grade pupils, the start of the 2026/27 school year is not fixed centrally. Most schools will begin on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, but some may start a day later on Thursday, 3 September 2026, depending on the individual school’s schedule.
Entities
Ministry of Education of North Rhine‑Westphalia · NRW Ministry of Education · North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) · North Rhine‑Westphalia · North Rhine‑Westphalia Ministry of Education
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Christmas holidays 2025/26 in North Rhine‑Westphalia run from 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Most first‑grade students in North Rhine‑Westphalia start school on Wednesday 2 September 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Some schools in North Rhine‑Westphalia may start first‑grade classes on Thursday 3 September 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Pentecost (Pfingst) holidays 2026 in North Rhine‑Westphalia are on 26 May 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Summer holidays 2026 in North Rhine‑Westphalia run from 20 July 2026 to 1 September 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Easter holidays 2026 in North Rhine‑Westphalia run from 30 March 2026 to 11 April 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The last day of summer holidays in North Rhine‑Westphalia 2026 is Tuesday 1 September 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] Autumn holidays 2026 in North Rhine‑Westphalia run from 19 October 2026 to 31 October 2026. www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de