October School Break Thailand 2026: Dates, Pay, and Teacher Checklist
October School Break Thailand 2026: Dates, Pay, and a Teacher Checklist
Semester 1 is winding down. Here is the October 2026 mid-year break for Thai government schools, with the dates, exams, camps, and a short checklist for foreign teachers.
Most Thai government schools are about to start their mid-year break. If you teach in an OBEC public school or a bilingual school on the May–March calendar, this is your window. International schools work differently and usually take a short October half-term rather than three weeks off.
Check your own school's calendar PDF first. The dates below show the typical 2026–2027 public-school pattern. They are not a Ministry order that applies to every campus.
Expected public-school dates for 2026
| Window | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Late September to about 8 October | Semester 1 exams, grade sheets, and the last teaching days |
| 9–30 October 2026 | Mid-year (Term 1) holiday, called ปิดเทอม |
| Tuesday 13 October | King Bhumibol Memorial Day (public holiday) |
| Friday 23 October | Chulalongkorn Day (public holiday) |
| Around 31 October 2026 | Semester 2 begins (confirm the first teaching day with your school) |
Private bilingual and international schools often run an August–June year. Many of them only close for about 12–16 October, plus the two royal holidays. Don't book a three-week trip based on an international school calendar.
For the full year, including both semesters, exam weeks, and every public holiday, see our Thai School Calendar guide.
What foreign teachers actually do during the break
1. Finish the admin before you leave campus
Submit grades and exam papers, and complete the classroom inventory. Thai schools notice who disappeared on the morning of the last exam. Hand keys, registers, and any camp money to the person named on the noticeboard.
2. Check whether you are paid
Teachers on a monthly salary are usually paid through October. Some one-semester or hourly contracts end when Term 1 ends. Read the payment line in your contract instead of trusting staff-room rumours.
3. Expect camps
Many northern and central schools run a short English camp in the first or last week of the break. If KET or your school has asked you to stay, treat those as working days, not holiday. If you're free, say so early so the school can roster someone else.
4. Travel if you like, and keep it legal
Weekend trips to Laos or Cambodia are common. Your Non-B visa and work permit still apply while you travel. If your 90-day report (TM47) falls in October, file it before you get on the bus. The TDAC is for entering Thailand, not for leaving it.
5. Plan around the two public holidays
13 and 23 October both fall inside the public-school break. Banks and many government offices close on those days. Do visa or TM47 errands on other working days, or in the first week of November.
Last-week-of-term checklist
- Exam papers and scores submitted
- Classroom locked and materials labelled
- October salary and any camp days confirmed in writing
- 90-day report date checked
- School LINE group notifications left on, because principals message during the break
- Return date saved in your phone: be back before Semester 2 starts, not at 07:55 on the first morning
International vs government schools: don't mix them up
If you move to a different type of school next year, the whole shape of your year changes. That is why the school calendar guide stays up all year.
After the break
Semester 2 is the long, hot stretch through to March. It brings Sports Day planning, Christmas activities in a Buddhist school, and exams in late February. Rest in October, and don't spend the whole break rewriting every lesson. The other big break comes in April with Songkran.
If you're arriving in November for Semester 2, start with the packing checklist and the Non-B visa and work permit guides rather than this article.
October break FAQs
When is the October school break in Thailand in 2026?
For most Thai government (OBEC) and bilingual schools on the May–March calendar, the mid-year break is expected to run about 9–30 October 2026. Always confirm with your own school's calendar PDF, because dates vary by campus.
Do international schools get the same October break?
Usually not. Many international schools run an August–June year and take a short October half-term of four or five days, plus the 13 and 23 October public holidays. Do not plan a three-week trip from an international school calendar.
Are foreign teachers paid during the October break?
Monthly-salary teachers are usually paid through October. Some one-semester or hourly contracts end when Term 1 ends. Check the payment line in your own contract rather than relying on staff-room talk.
Can I travel outside Thailand during the October break?
Many teachers take short trips to Laos or Cambodia. Your Non-B visa and work permit rules still apply. If your 90-day report falls in October, file it before you travel. TDAC is for entering Thailand, not for leaving.
Which public holidays fall in the October 2026 break?
King Bhumibol Memorial Day on Tuesday 13 October and Chulalongkorn Day on Friday 23 October. Banks and many government offices close on those days, so plan visa and TM47 errands for other dates.
Related guides
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