The summer break in Italian schools lasts about three months And it repeats the same dilemma every year for those who need to balance children and work. It's the longest school break in the European Union, second only to Bulgaria.
In 2026, the holidays started on June 6th in regions such as Emilia Romagna and Lombardy e Veneto, and on June 16 in Bolzano. Most regions ended classes on the 8th or 9th. The return to classrooms will take place between September 7th and 15th, depending on the region.
Up to 14 weeks without classes
For most families, the period away from school reaches 13 or 14 weeks. Greece and Portugal They come next in the European ranking, with about 12 weeks of recess.
In preschool, the break is usually shorter. It's about eight weeks concentrated in July and August.
Summer programs help fill part of that gap. Often, the schools the children attend organize these activities. However, the cost is usually separate.
The account does not close
The challenge arises when comparing the weeks off with the parents' vacation time. Standard full-time contracts in Italy, which are not always easy to obtain, offer around four to five weeks of paid vacation per year.
Many companies still close their doors throughout the month of August. In these cases, workers need to use their vacation weeks precisely during this period.
The difference between the school calendar and parents' free time leaves a large gap of weeks to fill. The situation weighs especially heavily on foreign families, who don't always have grandparents or relatives nearby to help with the children.
