In around two weeks' time, the long summer vacation, the "vacanze estive", will come to an end in Italy and the school day will return. However, as is the case every year, the first day of school does not take place on the same date for everyone across the country. Due to the country's federal structure, the regions set their school calendars autonomously, resulting in a staggered start to the new school year 2025/2026.
This year, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano will kick things off with schools opening their doors on Monday, September 8. The province of Trento and the regions of Veneto and Valle d'Aosta will follow shortly afterwards on September 10. The largest group of students will start classes on Monday, September 15 - including the regions of Lazio, Tuscany, Lombardy, Sicily and Emilia-Romagna. Students in Apulia and Calabria will be the last to return from vacation on September 16.
The calendar of public holidays and bridging days
Pupils will have to be patient after the start of school, as the first public holiday, All Saints' Day on November 1, falls on a Saturday. However, things look better with the Feast of the Assumption on December 8: This day falls on a Monday, giving many a welcome long weekend. The Christmas vacations begin nationwide on December 22, 2025 and end on January 6, 2026.
In spring, the Easter date on April 5 offers a break of several days. Some regions such as Piedmont or Trentino-Alto Adige can also look forward to days off for Carnival. Students will be less fortunate with the following public holidays: both Liberation Day on April 25 and Labor Day on May 1 will fall on a Saturday in 2026. One last chance to take a deep breath before the end of the school year is Republic Day on June 2, which falls on a Tuesday and therefore allows for a bridging day.
