When is Winter Break 2026 in British Columbia?

Monday, December 21, 2026 to Friday, January 1, 2027 at 32 of 40 boards.

When does Winter Break 2026 start and end?

It starts Monday, December 21, 2026 and the last day off is Friday, January 1, 2027. Students are back the next school day.

Do all British Columbia boards take Winter Break in the same week?

No. 32 of 40 take the same week; 8 differ, including SD35, SD74, SD58.

Is Christmas break the same as Winter Break in British Columbia?

Yes. British Columbia boards print Winter Break on their calendars. Christmas break, December break and holiday break are other names for the same week off.

Do private schools follow the same Winter Break?

Not always. Private schools set their own calendars, so check with the school. The dates here are the public and Catholic boards' own.

Winter Break 2026 in British Columbia

British Columbia boards print Winter Break. If your school calls it Christmas break, December break or holiday break, it is the same week.

Winter Break starts

Monday, December 21, 2026 to Friday, January 1, 2027 · 10 school days · the week 32 of 40 boards take

Get ready for Winter Break

Add your own plans around the week off.

Open Planner

Boards on a different week

Langley School District Dec 18 - Jan 4
Gold Trail School District Dec 19 - Jan 3
Nicola-Similkameen School District Dec 19 - Jan 3
Qualicum School District Dec 20 - Dec 31
Comox Valley School District Dec 21 - Dec 31
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District Dec 21 - Dec 31
Mission School District Dec 21 - Jan 4
Vancouver School District Dec 21 - Dec 31

By city

Which boards serve each place.

Abbotsford : SD34

Ashcroft : SD74

Burnaby : SD41

Chilliwack : SD33

Coquitlam : SD43

Courtenay : SD71

Cranbrook : SD5

Dawson Creek : SD59

Delta : SD37

Duncan : SD79

Gibsons : SD46

Hagensborg : SD49

Hope : SD78

Invermere : SD6

Langley : SD35

Maple Ridge : SD42

Merritt : SD58

Mission : SD75

Nakusp : SD10

Nanaimo : SD68

Nelson : SD8

North Vancouver : SD44

Oliver : SD53

Parksville : SD69

Penticton : SD67

Port Hardy : SD85

Powell River : SD47

Prince George : SD57

Quesnel : SD28

Salmon Arm : SD83

Smithers : SD54

Squamish : SD48

Surrey : SD36

Terrace : SD82

Trail : SD20

Vancouver : SD39

Vanderhoof : SD91

Victoria : SD61, SD62

Williams Lake : SD27

Every board

Board	City	Winter Break
Langley School District	Langley	Dec 18 - Jan 4
Gold Trail School District	Ashcroft	Dec 19 - Jan 3
Nicola-Similkameen School District	Merritt	Dec 19 - Jan 3
Qualicum School District	Parksville	Dec 20 - Dec 31
Abbotsford School District	Abbotsford	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Arrow Lakes School District	Nakusp	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Bulkley Valley School District	Smithers	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Burnaby School District	Burnaby	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Cariboo-Chilcotin School District	Williams Lake	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Central Coast School District	Hagensborg	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Chilliwack School District	Chilliwack	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Coast Mountains School District	Terrace	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Comox Valley School District	Courtenay	Dec 21 - Dec 31
Coquitlam School District	Coquitlam	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Cowichan Valley School District	Duncan	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Delta School District	Delta	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Fraser-Cascade School District	Hope	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Greater Victoria School District	Victoria	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Kootenay Lake School District	Nelson	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Kootenay-Columbia School District	Trail	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District	Maple Ridge	Dec 21 - Dec 31
Mission School District	Mission	Dec 21 - Jan 4
Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District	Nanaimo	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Nechako Lakes School District	Vanderhoof	Dec 21 - Jan 1
North Okanagan-Shuswap School District	Salmon Arm	Dec 21 - Jan 1
North Vancouver School District	North Vancouver	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Okanagan Similkameen School District	Oliver	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Okanagan Skaha School District	Penticton	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Peace River South School District	Dawson Creek	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Prince George School District	Prince George	Dec 21 - Jan 1
qathet School District	Powell River	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Quesnel School District	Quesnel	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Rocky Mountain School District	Invermere	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Sea to Sky School District	Squamish	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Sooke School District	Victoria	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Southeast Kootenay School District	Cranbrook	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Sunshine Coast School District	Gibsons	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Surrey School District	Surrey	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Vancouver Island North School District	Port Hardy	Dec 21 - Jan 1
Vancouver School District	Vancouver	Dec 21 - Dec 31

Common questions

When is Winter Break 2026 in British Columbia?: Monday, December 21, 2026 to Friday, January 1, 2027 at 32 of 40 boards.
How long is Winter Break 2026?: 10 school days.
When does Winter Break 2026 start and end?: It starts Monday, December 21, 2026 and the last day off is Friday, January 1, 2027. Students are back the next school day.
Do all British Columbia boards take Winter Break in the same week?: No. 32 of 40 take the same week; 8 differ, including SD35, SD74, SD58.
Is Christmas break the same as Winter Break in British Columbia?: Yes. British Columbia boards print Winter Break on their calendars. Christmas break, December break and holiday break are other names for the same week off.
Do private schools follow the same Winter Break?: Not always. Private schools set their own calendars, so check with the school. The dates here are the public and Catholic boards' own.