With September on the horizon, the Back to School takes center stage in thousands of homes: it's time to coordinate schedules, finalize purchases, and check calendars to make sure you don't miss any key dates. In Spain, the system is decentralized, so each autonomous community sets its own calendar and holidays, coordinated with the Ministry of Education.
The course is generally structured in three quarters with breaks at Christmas and Easter and a minimum of 175 school daysBeyond the classrooms, the return also represents an organizational and economic effort for families, who seek balance the routine with the smoothest possible start to the course.
How the calendar looks by autonomous communities
These are the main start, vacation and closing dates of the 2025-2026 academic year in the autonomous communities and cities, according to the planning published by each educational administration.
Andalucía
- Home: September 10 (Preschool, Primary, Special Education); September 15 (Secondary and Baccalaureate).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 6, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 5, 2026.
- Holidays and non-school days: March 2, 2026 (educational community) and October 31, 2025 (provincial), among others.
- End of course: June 22–23, 2026.
Aragon
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary, Special Education, and Secondary Education); September 10 (Baccalaureate).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 6, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 13, December 8, April 23, May 1, November 3, and April 24, 2026, plus provincial days.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
Asturias
- Home: September 9, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 5, 2026.
- Non-teaching: November 3 and 4, February 13–17 (Carnival), May 4, plus two local holidays.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
Illes Balears
- Home: September 10, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 6, 2026. Easter week: April 2–12, 2026.
- holidays: March 2, February 27, in addition to state and local.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
Canary Islands
- Home: September 9 (Preschool and Primary), September 10 (Secondary), September 11 (Baccalaureate), September 15 (FP and other teachings).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 5, 2026.
- holidays: February 17 (Shrove Tuesday) and other national, regional and local events.
- End of course: June 19, 2026 (general); May 15, 2026 (second year of high school and adults).
Cantabria
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary and Special Education), September 11 (Secondary, Baccalaureate and Vocational Training), September 16 (Music and Dance).
- Intermediate breaks: October 27–31, 2025, and February 16–20, 2026.
- Christmas: December 24 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 5, 2026.
- End of course: June 18 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); June 22 (Secondary, Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training).
Castilla la Mancha
- Home: September 8, 2025 (all stages); October 13 (virtual FP).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 6, 2026.
- Non-teaching: October 31, November 14, February 16–17, 2026, January 7, plus state, regional and local holidays.
- End of course: June 17, 2026.
Castilla y Leon
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary and Special Education), September 15 (Secondary, Baccalaureate and Vocational Training).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 27 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 13, October 31, February 16–17, 2026, April 24, plus national and local events.
- End of course: May 22 (second year of high school and higher); June 2 (all other courses).
Catalonia
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary, and Secondary); September 12 (Baccalaureate and Vocational Training).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: September 11 (Diada), May 1 and four days of free disposal.
- End of course: June 19, 2026 (Preschool, Primary, Secondary and 1st year of Baccalaureate).
Ceuta
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary, Special Education, and Secondary Education); September 10 (Baccalaureate, Vocational Training, and other courses).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 20 – April 5, 2026.
- holidays: October 13, October 31, September 17.
- End of course: June 22, 2026.
Melilla
- Home: September 9, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 20 – April 5, 2026.
- holidays: October 13, October 31, September 8.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
Region of Madrid
- Home: September 8 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); September 9 (Secondary, Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 27 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 31, February 26, 2026, and national/regional/local holidays.
- End of course: June 22 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); June 24 (Secondary, Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training).
Navarra
- Home: September 4–8, 2025 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); September 4 (Secondary, Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training).
- Christmas: December 20 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: April 2–12, 2026.
- holidays: October 10, October 31, February 17, as well as state and local.
- End of course: June 17–19, 2026 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); June 17 (others).
Valencian Community
- Home: September 8, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 23 – January 6, 2026. Easter week: April 2–13, 2026.
- holidays: October 9, December 8, March 19, May 1, and local/free days.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
Estremadura
- Home: September 11, 2025 (Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Baccalaureate and Vocational Training).
- Christmas: December 23 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 30 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 31, February 14 and 15, as well as national and local events.
- End of course: June 19, 2026 (Preschool, Primary, and Special Education); June 17–19, 2026 (Secondary, Baccalaureate, and Vocational Training).
Galicia
- Home: September 8, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 23 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 30 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 31, May 2, as well as regional and local elections.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
the Basque Country
- Home: September 5, 2025 (Preschool, Primary, Special Education, Secondary Education and Baccalaureate).
- Christmas: December 24 – January 6, 2026. Easter week: April 2–6, 2026.
- holidays: October 20, November 2, February 23, as well as national and local events.
- End of course: June 19, 2026.
La Rioja
- Home: September 9, 2025 (all stages).
- Christmas: December 23 – January 7, 2026. Easter week: March 28 – April 6, 2026.
- holidays: October 31, February 27, as well as national and local events.
- End of course: June 22, 2026.
In many regions, the return is concentrated around the Monday 8 of September, although there are notable exceptions such as the Basque Country (day 5), Cantabria (day 8 with several staggered) or Estremadura (day 11). It is advisable to review the two local holidays that each municipality can add to the calendar.
How much does it cost to equip the backpack?
Starting the school year involves a significant outlay. According to the comparator Banqmi, the average back-to-school specific expenditure is at 422,05 euros per student, 1,59% more than the previous year. The items that most increase the bill are creative writing y uniformTo reduce it, consult our tricks to save.
La OCU estimates the total annual cost per student in 2.390 Euros, with strong differences between public centers (€1.221), agreed (3.444 €) y private (€8.283)In private schools, tuition and fees account for a large portion of the expenditure, while in state-subsidized schools, they account for around 42%. For guidance, read our shopping tips.
By communities, the Valencian Community leads the average expenditure of this campaign (€481,30), followed by Catalonia (€ 462,67) and Navarra (€456,45). On the more modest side are Estremadura (€ 391,52) and Castilla la Mancha (397,94 €). In uniforms, the national average is around 220 Euros, with higher figures in Catalonia, Navarre, and Madrid, and lower figures in Extremadura, Galicia, and Asturias. To avoid surprises, consult Five tips to avoid overspending.
There are also differences by stage: in Children The price of books rises by around 4,6%; in Primary 2,6%; and in Middle School 1,5%. Between centers, books move around €157 in public, €253 in private schools y €315 in private; the uniforms average 181 € and school supplies nearby 92 €.
Second hand is gaining ground as a safety valve savingPlatforms such as Wallapop and Milanuncios point out that 54% of families already buy or consider buying recycled material; the most sought after are textbooks, devices such as tablets and calculators, uniforms and backpacks. The estimated average savings are around 60 euros per student. Furthermore, 20% of households plans to increase its budget due to rising prices. You can find more ideas at tips to save.
Emotional preparation and routines: what experts recommend
It is advisable to adjust the days before sleep schedules, meals, and screen time, and introduce the topic well in advance. Specialists such as psychologists Barbara Zorrilla Pantoja They suggest talking about the return at least with 7–10 days of margin (in Primary) to facilitate a gradual transition. If there are difficulties, consult What to do if your child doesn't adjust to school.
En Infant (3–6 years), the recommendation is to shorten the anticipation to about 5 days and use resources Visual (calendars with symbols) and stories about school. In Primary, it helps to remember the positive aspects of the previous year and also to verbalize the nerves or fears, validating those emotions.
It is key to avoid overly idealized messages. An approach realistic —recognizing the positive and the effort—reduces the feeling of disorientation if difficulties arise. Phrases like, “There will be things that are difficult, like getting up early, and other things that are exciting, like reuniting with friends,” are more helpful than forced optimism.
Regarding the screens, it is advisable to set clear and agreed limits according to age, assess parental controls, prioritize appropriate content and schedule alternative outdoor activities. All of this, accompanied by open communication that promotes emotional management.
- Anticipated the return according to age and create routines gradually.
- Valid emotions and talk without judging; avoid over-idealizing.
- Define standards of screen use and offers alternatives.
- Remember saving resources: reuse, book banks and libraries.
El Cañaveral (Madrid): Start with temporary classrooms and limited places
In The Canaveral (Vicálvaro, Madrid), two centers are opening this year after years of local demand: the Rudyard Kipling public (which opens for students born in 2022) and the Humanitas Bilingual School (Preschool, Primary and part of ESO). The strong demographic pressure has forced to resort to prefabricated classrooms and to expand ratios in the concerted system, while many families lament the shortage of public places.
Complaints include: split shift and the added costs for dining room and extracurricular to reconcile, as well as the delay in certain facilities (gym, patios or kitchen) that in some cases will start with catering serviceThe Department of Education maintains that the phased opening is the usual procedure for new schools and announces a Public institute 1.000 places, with works planned for 15 months.
The tension between public and concerted supply, the construction times and the rapid arrival of young families explain a return to school with temporary solutions. Neighborhood associations demand more public squares and planning that accompanies the growth of the neighborhood.
With the dates already on the table, the success of the start of the course depends on check the local calendar, adjust routines calmly and plan purchases wisely: books and uniforms concentrate the spending, second hand It helps ease the burden, and the anticipation—both emotional and logistical—makes returning to the classroom more bearable.
