Too hot to study: Will heatwaves impact school summer holidays?

By&nbspInês Trindade Pereira&nbsp&&nbspvideo by Léo Arnoux
Published on
03/08/2026 – 9:00 GMT+2

School summer holidays can last up to 14 weeks in the EU. However, the recurrence of heatwaves has pressed member states to consider ways for schools to adapt their calendars in the face of extreme heat

The length of school summer holidays can vary significantly across Europe the European Commission-funded education information network

Italy, Malta, Lat, with Italian <a href="https://jiuniversity.com/u-s-mulling-100000-fee-for-foreign-students-after-graduation-work/” title=”U.S. mulling $100,000 fee for foreign students after graduation work”>students getting 14 weeks off and Maltese, Lat

On the other hand, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany have the shortest holidays in the bloc, with pupils getting just six weeks off for the summer

However, as heatwaves become more frequent, countries such as France, Spain and Italy are considering ways for schools to adapt to extreme weather events, with some suggesting finishing classes early and extending the length of school summer holidays

What impact have heatwaves had on education?

In 2024, more than 900,000 pupils in Europe had their education disrupted by heatwaves

Schools in southern and south-eastern Europe are experiencing the highest number of hot days, and their exposure to heat is expected to continue in the future

Currently, around 16,650 schools in Europe already experience days with maximum temperatures above 30°C during the school year, according to the European Climate and Health Observatory (ECHO)

If the current trajectory continues, between 68% and 82% of days exceeding 30°C during the school year will occur before the summer holidays, and between 18% and 32% will occur afterwards, the ECHO said

What measures are European schools taking?

This year, schools in countries such as France and Belgium have already stopped classes ahead of schedule or closed completely due to the heatwaves

This was not the only solution, however. In Belgium, for example, the unions called on schools to ensure every classroom is equipped with a thermometer and to suspend classes whenever legal heat limits were exceeded

Furthermore, in Spain, some schools have experimented with slightly different schedules, with classes starting at 8 am instead of 8:30 am and finishing at 3 pm instead of 4:30 pm

More radical calls have suggested extending the school summer holidays

However, critics say this solution may cause issues for parents’ work commitments and for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds

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Source: www.euronews.com