As winter tightens its grip across India, schools in numerous states are preparing to close their doors for the annual year-end break. The winter vacation period for December 2025 and early January 2026 aligns with festive celebrations of Christmas and New Year, offering students a brief respite. However, this holiday season also coincides with a critical phase of academic preparation for upcoming board and competitive examinations.
Balancing Festivities with Exam Preparations
The winter break is not just a time for celebration but also a pivotal study window for countless students. With important examinations like the JEE Main and various board exams scheduled in the subsequent month, the holiday period becomes integral to final revision cycles. For many, these weeks mark the final stretch of preparation before the commencement of the next academic cycle. The duration of the break varies significantly across different states and school boards, reflecting regional climatic conditions and academic calendars.
State-Wise Breakdown of Winter Holidays
Here is a detailed look at the announced or expected winter vacation schedules for schools across various Indian states for 2025-26.
Delhi NCT: Schools in the capital are expected to observe winter vacation from the week of December 23 to January 1, 2026. Extensions are possible based on weather and air quality conditions.
Punjab: Students in Punjab are slated to get a substantial break, with holidays beginning around December 22–24, 2025, and continuing until around January 10, 2026.
Uttar Pradesh: Schools across UP will typically close for winter holidays from around December 20 through December 31, 2025, reopening at the start of January.
Haryana: The state plans a mid-January break, with winter vacation expected primarily from January 1 to January 15, 2026.
Jammu & Kashmir: Due to extreme cold, extended closures are in place. Classes 1–8 are off from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, while Classes 9–12 are closed from around December 11, 2025 until February 22, 2026.
Southern States Schedule
Andhra Pradesh & Telangana: Missionary schools in both states will observe a five-day Christmas vacation from December 23 to December 27, 2025, as per their respective academic calendars.
Tamil Nadu: The state has announced a longer 12-day half-yearly holiday starting December 24, covering the Christmas period and extending into early January.
Kerala: Schools will have holidays on December 24 and 25 for Christmas. A separate winter break is scheduled from January 1, 2026 to January 15, 2026, with reopening on January 16.
Karnataka: While no uniform government order is available, multiple school schedules indicate a break from December 23, 2025 to January 1, 2026. Some institutions may observe an alternative period from December 25 to January 4, 2026.
Maharashtra: Christmas Day (December 25) is a confirmed statewide holiday. Additional winter vacation days vary by school and board, with no uniform statewide break declared.
Bihar: Winter vacation is expected to begin around December 25, often running through December 31, 2025. Last year saw extensions in some regions due to cold waves.
Regions Awaiting Official Announcements
As of now, no specific winter vacation announcements have been issued by the education departments of West Bengal, Assam, and several North-Eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya. In the absence of a consolidated notification, schools in these states are likely to follow their regular academic calendars or individual institutional schedules aligned with regional practices.
Students and parents are advised to confirm exact dates with their respective schools or state education boards, as local factors can lead to adjustments in the holiday calendar. This period of winter vacations serves as a crucial junction for both festive joy and focused academic endeavor.
