Romania’s October 2026 School Break: What Parents Check

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A date posted in a parents’ group can be entirely correct yet still be of no use for your child. That happens when the date belongs to another school: “School Otherwise” and “Green Week” do not have one single week that applies to all pupils.

The autumn break, by contrast, is fixed: it begins on Saturday, 24 October 2026, ends on Sunday, 1 November, and classes resume on Monday, 2 November. The order governing the structure of the school year sets these dates for the standard pre-university education system; however, it allows individual changes only in exceptional circumstances, through the procedure provided. edu.ro

For more information about School Otherwise, see also School starts on 7 September 2026: the full school-year calendar and what to check before the first day, which provides complementary details on this subject.

For family planning, remembering the holiday dates is not enough. You need to make three separate checks.

Quick guide: what to check, where, and what you will find

What you want to find out	Where to check	What the document tells you
Autumn break	Ministry of Education order	Whether pupils have classes: 24 October–1 November 2026 is the nationwide school-break period.
“School Otherwise” and “Green Week”	Your own school’s approved annual structure	Which week each programme takes place and whether the final week before the break has an unusual schedule.
Your child’s daily timetable	The activity schedule issued by the school	Arrival and departure times, trips, consent forms, materials, costs, meals, transport and supervision.
The movable February–March 2027 break	The decision of the competent school inspectorate	The week selected for the county or municipality where your child attends school.

What is already certain about the October break

The final day of the first teaching period is Friday, 23 October 2026. The break covers nine consecutive calendar days. For parents who work Monday to Friday, it includes five standard working days: 26–30 October. This calculation may help with planning, but it says nothing about the schedules of after-school care, a private kindergarten, transport or a sports club; each service may operate under its own rules. edu.ro

“School Otherwise” and “Green Week” are not holidays

Both programmes are part of school time. Each lasts five consecutive working days and must be scheduled between 7 September 2026 and 23 April 2027, in different teaching periods. Scheduling is the responsibility of the school, within the framework set by the order; there is therefore no single nationwide date that a parent can automatically apply. For classes in technological and vocational education tracks, the order provides for practical training activities during these periods. edu.ro

Schools were required to communicate the detailed structure of the school year, including the flexible options, by 1 April 2026. The deadline indicates what had to be communicated; it does not prove that a particular parent received, saw or can still find the message today. edu.ro

Why another school’s date can be misleading

Two calendars published by schools show why the programme name matters as much as the week itself. No. 113 Lower Secondary School in Bucharest announced “School Otherwise” for 19–23 October 2026 and “Green Week” for 19–23 April 2027. scoala113.ro

At “Iordache Cantacuzino” Lower Secondary School in Pașcani, the published calendar shows the reverse: “Green Week” from 19 to 23 October 2026, and “School Otherwise” from 19 to 23 April 2027. scoalaiordachecantacuzino.ro

The examples are not a ranking and cannot replace your child’s school document. They do, however, show the practical consequence: the same week in October can mean a different type of activity, different preparations and different communications to parents. Do not assume it is a free week, either: it is school time in a different format.

What to ask before organising your schedule

The annual structure tells you when the programme takes place. The specific activity schedule tells you what you need to do. If you do not have it, ask for clear answers to these questions:

What are the arrival and departure times each day?
Will children leave the school premises? If so, where will they go, with whom and by what means of transport?
Is written parental consent required?
Are there any costs, materials or equipment to prepare?
Are meals, transport and supervision provided after the activities end?
Will after-school care operate on those days, and until what time?
What happens if a pupil cannot take part in an activity outside the school?

Ready-to-send message:

Hello. Please let me know the approved structure of the school year and the activity schedule for the “School Otherwise”/“Green Week” period. In particular, I need the arrival and departure times, travel arrangements, parental consent forms, costs, meals, transport and after-school schedule.

If the school website is not up to date, request the document through the electronic register, the primary teacher or form teacher, or the school office. A school inspectorate may ask schools to set and communicate the periods, as the Brașov County School Inspectorate has done, but the document that matters for your child remains the one issued by their school. isjbrasov.ro

The movable break must also be checked separately

The February–March 2027 break is a separate category. The order leaves school inspectorates to choose one week within the period from 15 February to 7 March 2027, following consultations held at school level. For example, Brașov has set 20–28 February 2027; this decision does not automatically apply in other counties. edu.ro

In short: the national calendar tells you when your child has no school; the school’s calendar and schedule tell you what their days will actually look like.

Frequently asked questions

When is the autumn break in 2026?

The break begins on Saturday, 24 October 2026, and ends on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Classes resume on Monday, 2 November 2026.

Are “School Otherwise” and “Green Week” days off?

No. They are educational programmes held during the school year. They may replace the usual timetable with activities, visits or workshops, but they are not holidays.

Where can I find the correct date for my child?

In the approved annual structure and activity schedule communicated by your child’s school: on its website, in the electronic register, through the primary teacher or form teacher, or from the school office.

What if the school has published only the calendar, without the activity schedule?

Specifically request information on arrival and departure times, travel arrangements, parental consent forms, costs, meals, transport, supervision and after-school care.

Is the February 2027 break the same across the country?

No. School inspectorates choose one week within the 15 February–7 March 2027 window. Check the decision of the inspectorate in the county or municipality where your child attends school.