Stockholm School Holidays 2026/2027: Höstlov, Sportlov & Påsklov Dates

Nobody tells you this when you move to Sweden: the school year here is planned in week numbers. Your child's school will announce that sportlov is “v.9”, other parents will ask what you are doing “v.44”, and you will nod along while quietly opening a calendar.

This guide translates the week numbers into dates. It lists the main school holidays in Stockholm for 2026/2027 and answers the practical questions: does fritids stay open, what happens at preschool, and what exactly is a studiedag?

01Stockholm school holiday dates 2026/2027

The autumn term runs from Monday 17 August to Friday 18 December 2026. The spring term begins Monday 11 January and ends Friday 11 June 2027. The next school year begins Tuesday 17 August 2027; höstlov 2027 falls in week 44, from 1 to 5 November.*1

02Why everyone talks in week numbers

Swedish schools commonly use ISO week numbers when planning terms and holidays. It sounds strange at first, but it soon becomes useful: Stockholm's höstlov is normally placed in week 44 and sportlov in week 9, even though the calendar dates change each year.

Switch on week numbers in your phone's calendar. Then “v.9” and “v.44” stop feeling like secret codes.

03Höstlov 2026: 26–30 October

Höstlov falls in week 44, Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. It arrives only ten weeks after the first day of term, which can surprise families who are new to the Swedish school calendar.

All Saints' Day falls on Saturday 31 October 2026. Across Stockholm, museums, libraries, cultural centres and sports organisations usually arrange lovaktiviteter during the break. Programmes and booking rules vary, so check your city district and the City of Stockholm's holiday-activities pages closer to the date.

04Jullov 2026/2027: 19 December–10 January

The last school day is Friday 18 December and the spring term begins Monday 11 January. That gives pupils a break from Saturday 19 December through Sunday 10 January.*1

Many schools mark the end of term with a skolavslutning. The time, format and whether guardians are invited are decided locally, so do not assume the ceremony will follow the same schedule at every school.

05Sportlov 2027: 1–5 March

Stockholm's sports break is in week 9: Monday 1 to Friday 5 March. Sportlov is staggered across Sweden, with municipalities choosing different weeks during late winter.*2

If you are planning a ski holiday or flight, book early. Demand from Stockholm families rises sharply when the city's schools close at the same time.

06Påsklov 2027: 30 March–2 April

Stockholm's Easter break runs from Tuesday 30 March through Friday 2 April, in week 13. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March, so pupils are away from teaching from Friday 26 March through Sunday 4 April.*1

That creates an eleven-day window without ordinary school days. Fritids arrangements still need to be booked with the school in advance.

07Ascension break 2027: 6–7 May

Ascension Day, Thursday 6 May, is a public holiday. Stockholm's municipal schools also list Friday 7 May as a day off, creating a four-day weekend.*1

In 2027, May Day falls on a Saturday and Sweden's National Day falls on a Sunday. Neither creates an additional weekday away from school.

08Sommarlov 2027: 12 June–16 August

The last day of the spring term is Friday 11 June. Summer break starts Saturday 12 June, and the next school year begins Tuesday 17 August.*1

That is far more time than most parents have in annual leave. Families often combine their own holiday with fritids, relatives, day camps and other activities.

Stockholm's kollo programme offers subsidised residential summer camps for eligible school-age children registered in the City of Stockholm. Application dates, age groups and fees are published for each season, and fees are linked to household income.*3 Check the current kollo information before planning; do not rely on a previous year's opening date.

09Is fritids open during school holidays?

Usually, yes. Fritidshem for younger pupils and fritidsklubb for older children provide care outside teaching hours, including holidays and many studiedagar, for children who are enrolled and entitled to a place.*1,*4

Two practical details matter:

• Register in advance. Before a break, schools usually send a lovanmälan asking which days and hours your child needs care. Staffing and meals are planned from those answers.
• The location may change. During summer and sometimes shorter breaks, several schools may combine their fritids at one site. Ask where your child will be and whether familiar staff will be present.

If your child attends an independent school without its own fritidshem, Stockholm explains that the child may apply for a place at a municipal fritidshem.*4 Check eligibility and placement directly with the city.

10What happens at förskola during school holidays?

Förskola does not follow the school holiday calendar. It is childcare and education for younger children, so höstlov and sportlov do not automatically mean that preschool closes.

There are exceptions in practice:

• During periods with low attendance, especially in summer, nearby preschools may combine their operations.
• A preschool may close for a planning day. Stockholm states that families who still need care should be offered an alternative.*5
• Guardians are normally asked well in advance which days and hours their child will attend during major holiday periods.

Skolverket's guidance says preschool should be available to the extent families need it because of work, studies or the child's own needs. It also refers to decisions from the Parliamentary Ombudsman indicating that closing for staff development more than four days per year is not acceptable.*6

11Studiedagar: the dates that catch new parents out

A studiedag is a weekday when teachers and other staff plan or train and pupils have no lessons. Each school decides its own dates, so they are not included in the citywide holiday list above.*1

Two municipal schools in the same area can therefore have different studiedagar. Put every date from your school's own calendar into your phone at the start of term. Fritids is generally available to enrolled pupils who need care, but the school may require advance registration.

12Independent schools and gymnasium: check their calendars

The citywide dates in this article are for Stockholm's municipal compulsory schools. Independent schools can set different term and holiday dates. International schools may follow a substantially different calendar, and municipal upper-secondary schools publish their own dates.*1,*7

The safe rule is simple: use this guide for planning, but use your school's kalendarium for booking anything non-refundable.

13Four planning tips for international families

• Book sportlov and påsklov travel early. Many Stockholm families are free on the same dates.
• Do not plan to use VAB for a holiday. Temporary parental benefit is for caring for a sick child or specific related situations, not ordinary school holidays or studiedagar.*8
• Watch for the lovanmälan. Schools often request holiday-attendance details weeks before the break.
• Learn the week numbers. Saying “I am away in week 9” is completely normal in Sweden.

14Frequently asked questions

When is höstlov 2026 in Stockholm?

Week 44: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026.

When is sportlov 2027 in Stockholm?

Week 9: Monday 1 to Friday 5 March 2027.

When is påsklov 2027 in Stockholm?

Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April 2027. Together with Good Friday and Easter Monday, pupils have no ordinary school days from 26 March through 4 April.

When does summer holiday 2027 begin in Stockholm?

The last school day is Friday 11 June. Summer holiday starts Saturday 12 June, and the next school year begins Tuesday 17 August 2027.

Is fritids open during school holidays?

Fritids is generally available for enrolled children who need care, but guardians normally need to register attendance in advance. Ask the school about opening hours and whether care will be moved to another site.

Does förskola close during school holidays?

Not automatically. Individual preschools may combine operations or close for planning, but Stockholm states that an alternative should be offered to families who need care.*5

15Related reading

• How Does School Choice Work in Stockholm? A Parent's Guide for 2027
• Preschool Queue in Stockholm: How It Works and When to Apply
• 25 Questions to Ask When Visiting a Preschool in Sweden

Sources

1. 1Stockholms stad: Terminer och lov i grundskolan Official dates for Stockholm's municipal compulsory schools, including term dates, school holidays and information about studiedagar and fritids.
2. 2Skolverket: Läsår och lov National rules for the school year and how holiday dates can vary between municipalities and schools.
3. 3Stockholms stad: Kollo Current application, eligibility and fee information for Stockholm's summer camps.
4. 4Stockholms stad: Fritidshem och fritidsklubb Information about after-school care, opening during holidays and municipal placement where an independent school has no fritidshem.
5. 5Stockholms stad: Öppettider och schema på förskolan Information about preschool opening, planning days, combined holiday operations and alternative care.
6. 6Skolverket: Rätt till förskola National guidance on entitlement, opening and staff-development closures.
7. 7Stockholms stad: Terminer och lov på kommunala gymnasieskolor Official term and holiday information for municipal upper-secondary schools.
8. 8Försäkringskassan: Vab för barn under 12 år Rules for temporary parental benefit when caring for a child.