The Ministry of Education has released the academic calendar for 2026, with the long school holiday returning to December as it was previously.

The provisional academic calendar for 2026, released by the Education Ministry, has changed the long holiday to December in line with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's campaign promise.

Currently, the Maldivian academic year begins in August, a change introduced by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government in 2021 due to COVID-19. However, as this period coincides with the monsoon season, many parents and teachers expressed concerns about it interfering with their holidays.

Following requests from many citizens, President Muizzu had promised during his presidential campaign to revert the long holiday to its previous schedule.

According to the provisional academic calendar released today by the Education Ministry, the 2026 academic year is set to begin on January 27, 2026. The mid-term break is scheduled from May 24 to 30. The first term ends with a holiday from July 17 to August 1.

The second term of 2026 is set to begin on August 2. The annual long holiday for 2026 is scheduled to start on December 17. Following this, the new academic year for 2027 is set to begin on January 13.