2026 School Calendar Kenya: Full Opening Dates, Holidays and Exam Schedule.
The 2026 Kenya Basic Education School Calendar has been released, providing parents, teachers, learners and education stakeholders with the official schedule for school terms, half-term breaks, holidays and national examinations.
The calendar outlines the opening and closing dates for all three school terms, scheduled holiday periods and examination dates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
2026 Kenya School Term Dates
The academic year will consist of three school terms.
Term One
- Opening Date: January 5, 2026
- Closing Date: April 2, 2026
- Duration: 13 weeks
Term Two
- Opening Date: April 27, 2026
- Closing Date: July 31, 2026
- Duration: 14 weeks
Term Three
- Opening Date: August 24, 2026
- Closing Date: October 23, 2026
- Duration: 9 weeks
2026 Half-Term Break Dates
The school calendar also provides two half-term breaks during the academic year.
Term One Half-Term
- Dates: February 25 – March 1, 2026
Term Two Half-Term
- Dates: June 24 – June 28, 2026
2026 School Holiday Dates
The holiday schedule includes three major school breaks.
April Holiday
- Dates: April 7 – April 24, 2026
- Duration: 3 weeks
August Holiday
- Dates: August 3 – August 21, 2026
- Duration: 3 weeks
End-of-Year Holiday
- Dates: October 26, 2026 – January 1, 2027
- Duration: Approximately 10 weeks
2026 National Examination Dates
The calendar provides the examination timetable for candidates sitting national assessments and examinations.
Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA)
- Dates: October 26 – October 29, 2026
- Duration: 4 days
Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA)
- Dates: October 26 – October 30, 2026
- Duration: 5 days
Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA)
- Dates: October 26 – November 5, 2026
- Duration: 7 days
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
- Dates: November 2 – November 20, 2026
- Duration: Three weeks
2026 Kenya School Calendar at a Glance
| Activity | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 | January 5 – April 2, 2026 |
| April Holiday | April 7 – April 24, 2026 |
| Term 2 | April 27 – July 31, 2026 |
| August Holiday | August 3 – August 21, 2026 |
| Term 3 | August 24 – October 23, 2026 |
| End-of-Year Holiday | October 26, 2026 – January 1, 2027 |
| KPSEA | October 26 – October 29, 2026 |
| KILEA | October 26 – October 30, 2026 |
| KJSEA & KPLEA | October 26 – November 5, 2026 |
| KCSE | November 2 – November 20, 2026 |
Read Also: TSC Addresses July 2026 Teachers’ Salary Increment Reports
Conclusion
The 2026 Kenya Basic Education School Calendar provides the official framework for the 2026 academic year, detailing school opening and closing dates, holiday periods, half-term breaks and the national examination timetable. The schedule will guide planning by schools, teachers, learners and parents throughout the academic year.
2026 School Calendar Kenya: Full Opening Dates, Holidays and Exam Schedule.
