The Ministry of Education has officially released the 2026 academic calendar, outlining school term dates, holidays, and the schedule for national assessments and examinations across all education levels.
According to the ministry’s circular, Term One will run for 13 weeks, with schools closing on April 2, 2026. Learners will observe a five-day mid-term break from February 25 to March 1, 2026. This will be followed by a three-week April holiday running between April 7 and April 24, 2026.
Term Two, the longest of the three terms, will last 14 weeks. Schools will reopen on April 27, 2026, and close on July 31, 2026. A second half-term break is scheduled from June 24 to June 28, 2026, after which learners will proceed for the August holiday, a three-week break ending on August 21, 2026. The academic year will conclude with Term Three, the shortest term, which will run for nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.
The Ministry further outlined timelines for national assessments. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will be conducted over five days, starting October 26, 2026. On the same date, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will commence, running for seven days.
For secondary school candidates, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination will be conducted over three weeks, starting on November 2 and ending on November 20, 2026.
In a firm directive, the Ministry reiterated that all activities and visits to secondary schools during the third term of 2026 remain prohibited, as per earlier circulars, to allow uninterrupted syllabus coverage and examination preparation.
The released calendar is expected to guide school administrators, teachers, parents, and learners in planning effectively for the 2026 academic year.
