In this complete guide, we cover all major Florida School Holidays, breaks, and important dates for the 2026-2027 school year — including Florida’s unique local holidays like the Florida State Fair Day and Strawberry Festival Day, hurricane makeup day planning, and FAST testing windows.
Florida is home to the third-largest public school system in the United States — serving over 3 million students across 67 county-based school districts. Each Florida county has exactly one public school district, making it easier to find your district than in states like Texas or California. However, every Florida district still sets its own approved calendar — meaning first day, Spring Break, and holiday dates can vary significantly from county to county.
Important: Florida school calendar dates vary by county district. Always verify with your specific county school district’s official website before making travel or childcare plans.
Florida School Year 2026-2027 — Key Dates Overview
| Event | Typical Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First Day of School | August 10–17, 2026 | Varies by county district |
| Labor Day — No School | September 7, 2026 | Statewide |
| Veterans Day — No School | November 11, 2026 | Statewide |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 23–27, 2026 | For the full week, most districts |
| Winter Break | December 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027 | ~2 weeks |
| MLK Jr. Day — No School | January 18, 2027 | Statewide |
| Presidents’ Day — No School | February 15, 2027 | Most districts |
| FL State Fair Day — No School | February 12, 2027 | Hillsborough only — FL unique |
| Strawberry Festival Day — No School | March 8, 2027 | Hillsborough only — FL unique |
| Spring Break | March 15–26, 2027 | Varies by county |
| Good Friday — No School | March 26, 2027 | Many FL districts |
| Memorial Day — No School | May 31, 2027 | Statewide |
| Last Day of School | May 27 – June 3, 2027 | Varies by district |
Florida School Holidays — Detailed Guide 2026-2027
1. First Day of School 2026
Most Florida public schools start between August 10 and August 17, 2026. Florida requires a minimum of 180 instructional days, and most districts start in early August to ensure summer break begins before Memorial Day weekend.
- Broward County Public Schools — August 10, 2026
- Hillsborough County Public Schools — August 10, 2026
- Palm Beach County School District — August 10, 2026
- Pinellas County Schools — August 11, 2026
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools — August 13, 2026
- St. Lucie Public Schools — August 10, 2026
- Leon County Schools (Tallahassee) — August 12, 2026
- Pasco County Schools — August 13, 2026
2. Labor Day — September 7, 2026
Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026. All Florida public schools are closed. Since most Florida schools start in early August, Labor Day comes about a month into the school year — giving students an early long weekend.
3. Veterans Day — November 11, 2026
Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. All Florida public schools are closed on this federal holiday. In some districts, Veterans Day is designated as a hurricane makeup day — meaning if the district has used storm makeup days earlier in the year, Veterans Day may become a regular school day.
4. Thanksgiving Break 2026
Most Florida school districts observe a full Thanksgiving week off — Monday, November 23 through Friday, November 27, 2026. This full-week Thanksgiving Break is consistent across virtually all Florida counties, making it one of the most uniform holiday periods in the Florida school calendar.
5. Winter Break 2026-2027
Winter Break in Florida typically runs approximately two weeks. Most Florida districts observe:
- Start: December 21, 2026 (Monday)
- End: January 1, 2027 (Friday)
- School Resumes: January 5, 2027 (Tuesday)
This is shorter than California’s nearly three-week break but consistent with most Southern states. Some districts designate January 4 (Monday) as a teacher planning day, meaning students return on January 5.
6. MLK Jr. Day — January 18, 2027
Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 18, 2027. All Florida public schools are closed on this federal holiday.
7. Presidents’ Day — February 15, 2027
Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 15, 2027. Most Florida school districts close on this day.
8. Florida State Fair Day — February 12, 2027 (Hillsborough Only)
The Florida State Fair Day is one of the most unique school holidays in the entire United States — and it exists only in Hillsborough County. The Florida State Fair is held annually in Tampa, and Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) closes schools on this day so students and families can attend.
This holiday does not exist in any other Florida county or any other US school district. It is a beloved local tradition reflecting Hillsborough County’s strong ties to the Florida State Fair — one of the largest state fairs in the Southeast.
9. Florida Strawberry Festival Day — March 8, 2027 (Hillsborough Only)
Even more unique than State Fair Day, the Florida Strawberry Festival Day is a school holiday that exists only in Hillsborough County. The Florida Strawberry Festival is held annually in Plant City — a major agricultural community within Hillsborough County — and HCPS closes schools on this day.
This is arguably the most distinctive school holiday in the entire United States. No other school district in the country gives students a day off for a strawberry festival. The 2027 date (March 8) was moved from the traditional first Monday in March to align with the festival’s actual dates.
10. Good Friday — March 26, 2027
Good Friday is observed as a school holiday in many Florida districts. In 2027, Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26, 2027. Florida is one of the states where Good Friday as a school holiday is fairly common — particularly in North Florida and the Panhandle region.
11. Spring Break 2027
Spring Break is one of the most important and variable parts of the Florida school calendar. Dates differ significantly between counties:
| Florida District | Spring Break 2027 |
|---|---|
| Broward County Public Schools | March 22–26, 2027 |
| Hillsborough County Public Schools | March 22–26, 2027 |
| Palm Beach County Schools | March 22–26, 2027 |
| Pinellas County Schools | March 13–21, 2027 |
| St. Lucie Public Schools | March 22–26, 2027 |
| Leon County Schools (Tallahassee) | March 15–22, 2027 |
| Pasco County Schools | March 22–26, 2027 |
| Miami-Dade County Public Schools | March 22–26, 2027 (projected) |
Important for families: Spring Break week in Florida is one of the busiest tourism weeks of the year — especially for theme parks in Orlando and beaches on both coasts. Hotels, flights, and Disney/Universal tickets sell out quickly. Book as early as possible if planning a Spring Break trip.
12. Memorial Day — May 31, 2027
Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. Most Florida schools will have already ended by this date, as the last day of school for most Florida districts falls in late May.
13. Last Day of School 2027
Most Florida public schools end in late May 2027 — earlier than most Northern states:
- Broward County — May 28, 2027
- Hillsborough County — May 28, 2027
- Palm Beach County — June 17, 2027
- Pinellas County — May 27, 2027
- St. Lucie Public Schools — May 28, 2027
- Leon County Schools — May 27, 2027
- Pasco County Schools — May 28, 2027
FAST Testing Dates 2026-2027 Florida
FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) is Florida’s statewide student assessment program that replaced the former FSA. Unlike STAAR in Texas or Regents Exams in New York, FAST is administered in three windows throughout the school year — not just in spring.
| FAST Testing Window | Dates | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| PM1 — Fall Progress Monitoring | September 2026 | Early year baseline |
| PM2 — Mid-Year Progress Monitoring | January 2027 | Mid-year check |
| PM3 — Spring Accountability | April–May 2027 | End-of-year accountability |
What Makes Florida School Holidays Unique?
Florida State Fair Day & Strawberry Festival Day
Hillsborough County’s Florida State Fair Day (February 12) and Strawberry Festival Day (March 8) are arguably the most unique school holidays in the entire United States. No other school district in the country closes for a state fair or a strawberry festival. These holidays reflect Hillsborough County’s deep agricultural and community heritage.
Hurricane Makeup Days
Florida is the only US state where hurricane season (June–November) significantly impacts school calendar planning. Most Florida districts designate specific “hurricane makeup days” — teacher planning days or holidays that can be converted to instructional days if schools close due to tropical weather. Districts like Broward County build in up to five severe weather makeup days. Flagler County designates eight possible hurricane makeup days.
Parents should always check their district’s website during hurricane season for real-time schedule changes — a planned day off can become a school day if it was designated as a hurricane makeup day and a storm previously caused closures.
67 County-Based Districts
Florida is unique in that it has exactly one school district per county — 67 counties, 67 school districts. This makes finding your district very straightforward compared to states like Texas (1,200+ districts) or California (1,000+ districts). However, despite this simpler structure, calendar dates still vary significantly between counties.
North Florida Fair Day — Leon County
Leon County Schools (Tallahassee) observes a unique North Florida Fair Day as an official school holiday — closing schools for the local county fair. This is another example of Florida’s tradition of honoring local agricultural and community events with school holidays.
Good Friday Widely Observed
Good Friday (March 26, 2027) is observed as a school holiday in many Florida districts — particularly in North Florida and the Panhandle. This reflects the region’s strong religious community traditions and is more common in Florida than in most Northern states.
Rosh Hashanah in South Florida
Palm Beach County Schools observe Rosh Hashanah as an official school holiday — reflecting Palm Beach County’s significant Jewish community along Florida’s Gold Coast. This is one of the few non-NYC school systems in the US to formally observe Rosh Hashanah as a school holiday.
Florida School District Calendars — Find Your District
Every Florida county school district publishes its own approved calendar. Here are the individual district calendar pages on our site:
- Broward County Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027
- Hillsborough County Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027
- Palm Beach County School District Calendar 2026-2027
- Pinellas County Schools Calendar 2026-2027
- St. Lucie Public Schools Calendar 2026-2027
- Leon County Schools Calendar 2026-2027
- Pasco County Schools Calendar 2026-2027
Don’t see your county? Use our School District Calendar search to find any Florida school district’s calendar.
Tips For Planning Around Florida School Holidays 2026-2027
- Spring Break is the biggest travel week: Florida Spring Break (March 2027) is one of the busiest tourism periods in the entire United States. Theme parks in Orlando reach peak capacity. Gulf Coast and Atlantic beaches fill up. Book hotels, flights, and park tickets 4–6 months in advance.
- Spring Break dates vary by county: Broward, Hillsborough, and Palm Beach all share March 22–26. But Pinellas observes March 13–21 — a full week earlier. If you have children in different counties or grandparents in another county, check that Spring Break overlaps before booking trips.
- Hurricane season planning: Florida’s hurricane season (June–November) can cause unscheduled school closures. Most districts build makeup days into the calendar. Always check your district’s website if a storm threatens — a planned holiday may be converted to a school day.
- Theme parks during school breaks: Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld all see massive crowd spikes during Florida school breaks — especially Winter Break (December 21 – January 4) and Spring Break (March 2027). If you prefer smaller crowds, visit during non-Florida school break weeks when only out-of-state visitors are present.
- Rosh Hashanah travel from Palm Beach: Palm Beach County closes for Rosh Hashanah (September 20–21, 2026). If you’re in Palm Beach County, this creates a long weekend opportunity in late September.
Frequently Asked Questions — Florida School Holidays 2026-2027
When does school start in Florida in 2026?
Most Florida public schools start between August 10 and August 17, 2026. Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie all start August 10. Miami-Dade starts August 13. Pasco County starts August 13. Pinellas starts August 11.
When is Spring Break 2027 in Florida?
Spring Break 2027 dates vary by Florida county. Most South Florida and Tampa Bay area districts (Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pasco, St. Lucie) observe March 22–26, 2027. Pinellas County observes March 13–21, 2027. Leon County (Tallahassee) observes March 15–22, 2027.
When is Winter Break 2026-2027 in Florida?
Most Florida districts observe Winter Break from December 21, 2026, through January 1, 2027, with school resuming around January 5, 2027. This gives students approximately two weeks off.
What is Florida State Fair Day?
Florida State Fair Day (February 12, 2027) is a unique school holiday observed only in Hillsborough County Public Schools. The Florida State Fair is held annually in Tampa, and HCPS closes schools on this day. No other Florida county or US school district observes this holiday.
What is Strawberry Festival Day in Florida schools?
Strawberry Festival Day (March 8, 2027) is a school holiday observed only in Hillsborough County. The Florida Strawberry Festival is held in Plant City, and HCPS closes schools for this local tradition. It is the most unique school holiday in the United States.
Do Florida schools close for Good Friday?
Many Florida school districts close for Good Friday (March 26, 2027), particularly in North Florida and the Panhandle. South Florida districts vary — check your specific county’s calendar.
What is FAST testing in Florida?
FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) replaced the former FSA as Florida’s statewide assessment. Unlike most state tests, FAST is administered three times per year — fall (September), mid-year (January), and spring (April–May). Schools remain open during testing.
When does school end in Florida in 2027?
Most Florida public schools end in late May 2027. Broward, Hillsborough, Pasco, and St. Lucie end May 28. Pinellas ends May 27. Leon County ends May 27. Palm Beach County ends June 17, 2027.
Disclaimer: We are an independent informational website and not affiliated with any Florida school district or the Florida Department of Education. Dates on this page are based on officially approved district calendars and publicly available information. Always verify exact dates with your school district’s official website before making travel or childcare plans. Florida school calendars can change due to hurricanes, board decisions, or other unforeseen circumstances.