Bahrain announces new 2025–26 academic calendar: Key dates every parent should know

The Ministry of Education in Bahrain has released the official academic calendar for the 2025–26 school year, detailing term start and end dates, major exam windows, holidays, and key registration periods for public schools and continuing education programmes. The calendar provides clarity and structure for both staff and students, ensuring a smooth academic year ahead.

TL;DR:

• Staff return on Monday, 1 September 2025; students start on Wednesday, 3 September 2025.
  

• Term One runs until Monday, 12 January 2026, with final exams beginning 21 December. The mid-year break is set from 18 to 29 January 2026.

• Term Two begins 1 February 2026 and ends 25 May 2026, with final exams spread across May and resits in June.

Holidays and examination windows in term one
Staff will return on Monday, 1 September 2025, and students begin classes on Wednesday, 3 September. The first term will run until Monday, 12 January 2026, with a mid-year break scheduled from 18 to 29 January 2026. Key holidays during the first term include the Prophet’s Birthday on 4 October, Bahrain ’s National Day and the King’s Accession Day on 16 and 17 December, and New Year’s Day on 1 January 2026. The English pre-test is scheduled from 5 to 9 October, while the post-test is planned for late March to early April the following year.
Final exams for general secondary, parallel secondary, and technical and vocational streams begin on 21 December 2025. Religious Intermediate Certificate exams start on 24 December, General Intermediate exams on 28 December, and exams for non-certificate grades and Cycle Two affiliate students commence on 31 December. The last exam day for all is 12 January 2026, which also marks the final teaching day for Cycle One of basic education.

Second term schedule and key dates
The second term starts on Sunday, 1 February 2026, and ends on Monday, 25 May 2026. Ramadan is expected from 18 February to 19 March. Notable holidays include Eid al-Fitr from 20 to 22 March, Labour Day on 1 May, the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha from 26 to 29 May, the Hijri New Year on 16 June, and Ashura on 24 and 25 June.
Exams during the second term include the English post-test from 29 March to 2 April, end-of-term exams for Continuing Education Centres from 28 April to 6 May, and final exams for secondary and vocational education starting 4 May. The term concludes with exams continuing through 25 May, while resits occur in June. School books for the following academic year will be distributed from 21 to 25 June, and staff will have their last working day on 30 June 2026, returning on 1 September 2026.

Registration for new students enrolling in the 2026–27 academic year is open from 20 October to 6 November 2025. Resit exams for Continuing Education Centres take place from 10 to 22 June 2026, with additional resits for other stages running from 18 to 28 June.

The Ministry’s detailed calendar offers students, parents, and educators clear, structured timelines for terms, exam periods, holidays, and key administrative dates. With this schedule, Bahrain continues to emphasize academic planning and success across all educational stages.

FAQ

• 1. When does the 2025–26 school year start in Bahrain?
  Staff return on 1 September 2025, and students start classes on 3 September 2025.
• 2. What are the major holidays during the academic year?
  Key holidays include the Prophet’s Birthday, Bahrain National Day, King’s Accession Day, New Year’s Day, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hijri New Year, and Ashura.
• 3. When are the final exams scheduled?
  Final exams are held in December/January for the first term and May for the second term, with resits taking place in June.
• 4. When is student registration for the next academic year?
  Registration for the 2026–27 school year runs from 20 October to 6 November 2025.