At a glance
- First day
- 13 Sep (Grade 1), 14 Sep 2026 (other grades)
- Mid-year break
- 24 Jan to 4 Feb 2027
- Second semester
- 7 February 2027
- Grade 12 finals
- 9 to 21 June 2027
- Resit exams (secondary)
- 6 to 15 July 2027
Kuwait school calendar 2026-27, key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Staff return in all stages, including Arabic private schools | Sunday 6 September 2026 |
| Grade 1 starts | Sunday 13 September 2026 |
| All other grades start | Monday 14 September 2026 |
| Kindergarten starts | Wednesday 16 September 2026 |
| First-semester exams, Grades 4, 5 and intermediate | 20 to 28 December 2026 |
| First-semester exams, Grades 10 and 11 | 20 to 31 December 2026 |
| First-semester exams, Grade 12 | 10 to 21 January 2027 |
| Mid-year break | 24 January to 4 February 2027 |
| Second semester starts | Sunday 7 February 2027 |
| Special leave for all school staff in the last week of Ramadan | 1 to 8 March 2027 |
| Second-semester exams, Grades 4, 5 and intermediate | 23 to 31 May 2027 |
| Kindergarten ends | 27 May 2027 |
| Primary and intermediate results issued | 2 June 2027 |
| Second-semester exams, Grade 12 | 9 to 21 June 2027 |
| Second-round (resit) exams, secondary | 6 to 15 July 2027 |
Source: Kuwait Ministry of Education calendar, entries for general education and private (Arabic) education, checked October 2026. The ministry adds and updates entries during the year.
Holidays and occasions
Official holidays are announced by the government, and Islamic dates depend on moon sighting. Ramadan and Eid dates here are estimates from the Hijri calendar published by Bahrain's ministry.
| Occasion | Expected timing |
|---|---|
| Ramadan 1448 | About 8 February to 8 March 2027 |
| National Day and Liberation Day | 25 and 26 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr | About 9 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha | About 16 May 2027 |
Government, Arabic private and international schools
The ministry's calendar covers government schools, religious education, special education and the Arabic private schools (المدارس الأهلية), which share the same start dates and semester exams. The first day is split by grade: Grade 1 starts a day before the other grades, and kindergarten two days after.
Foreign private schools, the British, American, IB and Indian schools many expatriate and Kuwaiti families use, publish their own term dates under the ministry's oversight. Many start in late August or early September and have their own winter and spring breaks. Check the school's calendar rather than the ministry's.
Exam weeks to watch
For Grade 12 students in government and Arabic private schools, the first-semester exams run from 10 to 21 January 2027, shortly before the mid-year break. The second-semester finals from 9 to 21 June 2027 decide the secondary certificate, with second-round exams from 6 to 15 July for those who need them.
Students in international schools face different peaks: mocks in December or January, IGCSE, A Level, IB and AP exams from late April to June 2027. Ramadan falls in February and early March, so revision timetables need to allow for shorter school days and late evenings.
Fitting tutoring around the Kuwaiti school year
Online lessons work well in Kuwait's long afternoons and in the mid-year break, when Grade 12 students can consolidate after January exams. A tutor can also shift lesson times to after iftar during Ramadan. LiveTutor tutors teach the curricula they list, including British, American, IB and Cambridge courses; Arabic-speaking tutors are available for some subjects, so ask when you book.
Common questions
When did school start in Kuwait in 2026?
Grade 1 started on Sunday 13 September 2026, all other grades on Monday 14 September, and kindergarten on Wednesday 16 September, in government and Arabic private schools.
When is the mid-year holiday in Kuwait 2027?
From 24 January to 4 February 2027. The second semester starts on Sunday 7 February 2027.
When are Grade 12 exams in Kuwait 2026-27?
First-semester exams run from 10 to 21 January 2027, and second-semester exams from 9 to 21 June 2027. Second-round exams are from 6 to 15 July 2027.
Do international schools in Kuwait follow the ministry calendar?
No, not for term dates. Foreign private schools set their own calendars, so check the school's website. The ministry calendar applies to government and Arabic private schools.
How much do online lessons cost?
Each LiveTutor lesson is one to one, online and 60 minutes, at $15, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.