When does school start in Ticino in 2026?

For the 2026-2027 school year, classes in all schools of Canton Ticino start on Monday 31 August 2026, according to the official DECS calendar. Some vocational schools with specific calendars are an exception.

When does school end in Ticino in 2027?

The 2026-2027 school year ends on Wednesday 16 June 2027 for all compulsory schools in Canton Ticino. The summer holidays therefore begin on Thursday 17 June 2027.

What are the Carnival holidays in Ticino in 2027?

The 2027 Carnival holidays in Ticino run from Saturday 6 February to Sunday 14 February 2027 (one week), according to the DECS calendar.

When are the 2027 Easter holidays for Ticino schools?

The 2027 Easter holidays in Canton Ticino schools run from Friday 26 March to Sunday 4 April 2027. Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027.

When are the Christmas and autumn holidays in Ticino 2026-2027?

The autumn holidays run from Saturday 31 October to Sunday 8 November 2026; the Christmas holidays from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027. All dates are set by the DECS of Canton Ticino.

Is the Ticino school calendar the same as the Italian one?

No. Italian border schools (Como, Varese, Valtellina) follow a different calendar, with a mid-September start, longer summer holidays and no autumn break. Cross-border parents with children in both systems must cross-reference the dates to find common holiday windows.

School Holidays Ticino 2026 (cross-border guide)

School Holidays Ticino 2026 — free tools and expert guides for cross-border workers (frontalieri) between Switzerland and Italy. Compare salaries, tax, LAMal health insurance, pensions, and cost of living in Ticino. Updated 2026.

Last updated: August 2026

By Frontaliere Ticino Editorial Team

📚 Ticino school calendar · 2026-2027

Every official DECS date for the 2026-2027 school year at a glance: first day, holidays, long weekends and the last day of school in Canton Ticino.

31 Aug

First day · Mon 2026

16 Jun

Last day · Wed 2027

Breaks & long weekends

Cantonal holidays (school closed)

Calculate your cross-border net salary

🗓️ The school year, step by step

First day of school
Monday 31 August 2026
Autumn break
Sat 31 Oct → Sun 8 Nov 2026
9 days
Christmas holidays
Thu 24 Dec 2026 → Wed 6 Jan 2027
2 weeks
Carnival break
Sat 6 Feb → Sun 14 Feb 2027
9 days
Easter holidays
Fri 26 Mar → Sun 4 Apr 2027
10 days
Ascension long weekend
Thu 6 → Sun 9 May 2027
4 days
Last day of school
Wednesday 16 June 2027
Summer holidays
from Thursday 17 June 2027
~11 weeks

🇨🇭 Other days school is closed

🕯️ Immaculate Conception · Tue 8 Dec 2026
✝️ St Joseph · Fri 19 Mar 2027
🕊️ Whit Monday · Mon 17 May 2027
🌿 Corpus Christi · Thu 27 May 2027

Official dates: DECS — School calendar 2026/2027. The cantonal document always prevails.

Ticino school calendar 2026-2027

The school holiday calendar in Canton Ticino is set annually by the Department of Education, Culture and Sport (DECS) and applies to public kindergartens (ages 3-6), primary schools (6-11) and lower secondary schools (11-15). Private schools generally follow the same calendar with 1-2 day deviations.

2026-2027 holiday dates

For the 2026-2027 school year the official DECS dates in Canton Ticino are: school start Monday 31 August 2026; autumn break Saturday 31 October - Sunday 8 November 2026; Christmas holidays Thursday 24 December 2026 - Wednesday 6 January 2027; carnival Saturday 6 - Sunday 14 February 2027; Easter Friday 26 March - Sunday 4 April 2027; Ascension Thursday 6 May 2027 with a long weekend to Sunday 9 May (Friday 7 May is a day off); Whit Monday 17 May 2027; Corpus Christi Thursday 27 May 2027; end of school year Wednesday 16 June 2027. Summer holidays start on Thursday 17 June 2027. The Immaculate Conception (Tuesday 8 December 2026) and St Joseph (Friday 19 March 2027) are additional days off.

Enrolment and cost

To enrol a child in a Ticino public school the child must be resident in Ticino (so only for B-permit cross-border workers, not G). Enrolment opens in January-February. For G-permit children there are bilingual private schools (SEL Sorengo, Liceo di Lugano) charging CHF 15,000-35,000 per year. School meals cost about CHF 8-12 per meal, subsidies available for low-income families.

Frequently asked questions

When does school start in Ticino in 2026?: For the 2026-2027 school year, classes in all schools of Canton Ticino start on Monday 31 August 2026, according to the official DECS calendar. Some vocational schools with specific calendars are an exception.
When does school end in Ticino in 2027?: The 2026-2027 school year ends on Wednesday 16 June 2027 for all compulsory schools in Canton Ticino. The summer holidays therefore begin on Thursday 17 June 2027.
What are the Carnival holidays in Ticino in 2027?: The 2027 Carnival holidays in Ticino run from Saturday 6 February to Sunday 14 February 2027 (one week), according to the DECS calendar.
When are the 2027 Easter holidays for Ticino schools?: The 2027 Easter holidays in Canton Ticino schools run from Friday 26 March to Sunday 4 April 2027. Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027.
When are the Christmas and autumn holidays in Ticino 2026-2027?: The autumn holidays run from Saturday 31 October to Sunday 8 November 2026; the Christmas holidays from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027. All dates are set by the DECS of Canton Ticino.