Schools are out in Italy for the next three months, and for many families it raises the same question every year: how do you cover weeks of childcare when working life doesn’t pause with the school calendar?
In 2026, the summer break runs from June 6th in regions including Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, or June 16th in Bolzano, with most regions finishing on the 8th or 9th. Children go back between September 7th and 15th, depending on the region.
For most, this works out at 13 to 14 weeks off school - the longest break anywhere in the European Union, other than Bulgaria. Greece and Portugal follow with around 12 weeks off.
For preschool-aged children, the break is usually eight weeks over July and August.
Some of this period may be covered by summer programmes, often run by the schools the children usually attend - though for an additional fee.
