Tamil Nadu’s 2026-27 school academic calendar puts the half-yearly (second-term) exams from 15 to 23 December 2026, with a break from 24 December to 3 January 2027. Schools should reopen on Monday 4 January. The calendar, released by the School Education Department in June, sets 210 working days for the year, as News Today reported.
The detailed day-by-day half-yearly timetable has not been published yet, and we could not find it on the department’s portals as of 18 October. Parents in Chennai should treat the dates below as the calendar framework and wait for the school’s circular before booking travel or fixing family functions in December.
The 2026-27 calendar at a glance
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Quarterly (first-term) exams | 17 to 25 September 2026 (held) |
| Quarterly break | 26 September to 4 October 2026 |
| Half-yearly (second-term) exams | 15 to 23 December 2026 |
| Half-yearly break | 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Annual (third-term) exams | 7 to 23 April 2027 |
| Expected last working day | 23 April 2027 |
The calendar counts 155 holidays across the year. December and September carry 19 holidays each and July 18, while schools close for six days in January 2027. Some Saturdays are working days so that the syllabus can be completed. Your school will tell you which ones apply to your child’s class.
What we know about the December exams
The calendar fixes only the window. The order of subjects, the start time for each class and the length of each paper are set out in a separate timetable, which reaches parents through the school. Until it arrives, plan on the whole stretch from 15 to 23 December being taken up by exams, and keep the first and last days free of travel.
School hours on exam days can differ from a normal day, and practice varies between schools. Ask your child’s class teacher how arrival and pick-up times will change, especially if you rely on a school van or a shared auto. The September quarterly exams are the best guide to how your own school runs exam week.
The state calendar applies to state board schools. CBSE and ICSE schools in Chennai set their own term exams, so check with the school directly.
Public exams in March 2027 are already fixed
For students in the board years, the bigger dates are out. School Education Minister A Rajmohan released the 2027 public exam timetable at a Directorate of Government Examinations event in Chennai on 14 October, as DT Next reported.
- Class 12: theory exams 3 to 29 March 2027; practicals 8 to 18 February; tentative results 7 May.
- Class 10 (SSLC): theory exams 17 March to 12 April 2027; practicals 19 to 26 February; tentative results 20 May.
- Class 11 arrear candidates: 5 March to 1 April 2027; results 7 May.
About 7.90 lakh students are expected to write the Class 10 exams and 8.70 lakh the Class 12 exams statewide. Papers start at 10.15 am, after ten minutes of reading time and five minutes to verify details. For Class 10 and 12 students, the December half-yearly exams are effectively the last full rehearsal before practicals begin in February.
Rain holidays and other closures
The northeast monsoon set in over Tamil Nadu on 15 October, and the October to December season is when Chennai sees most of its school closures for rain. These are declared by the district collector for that day, usually the evening before or early in the morning. They are not part of the academic calendar. If heavy rain forces a closure during the exam window, wait for the school’s message on when the missed paper will be held. Watch for the collector’s announcement and the school’s own message, and do not rely on forwarded posts on messaging apps, which often circulate old or fake holiday notices.
Festival holidays such as Christmas fall inside the half-yearly break this year, so there is no separate closure to plan for in late December.
Where to check official updates
The School Education Department publishes circulars through tnschools.gov.in, and the Directorate of Government Examinations handles public exam timetables, hall tickets and results. Schools pass the half-yearly timetable on through their own notice boards and parent groups, which is usually the quickest way to get it.
Quick answers
When are the Tamil Nadu half-yearly exams in 2026?
The academic calendar sets them from 15 to 23 December 2026. The detailed timetable is awaited.
How long is the half-yearly holiday?
From 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Schools are expected to reopen on 4 January.
When do the 2027 Class 10 and 12 public exams start?
Class 12 begins on 3 March 2027 and Class 10 on 17 March 2027.
Are CBSE schools in Chennai on the same dates?
No. CBSE and other boards set their own term schedules.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
