Are Schools in Turkey Closed on June 19, 2026? School Status Before the YKS Exam

With the arrival of mid-June and rising temperatures, millions of primary, middle, and high school students across Turkey are awaiting the start of summer vacation. Meanwhile, the administration of the national university entrance exam (YKS) during the weekend has led to questions about the status of school activities on Friday, June 19, 2026 [1].

School Status on Friday, June 19, 2026 According to the academic calendar published by the Ministry of National Education (MEB) for the 2025-2026 academic year, Friday, June 19, is considered a regular working day for schools. Despite rumors circulating on social media regarding early school closures or the early distribution of report cards, education officials have confirmed that no changes have been made to the official schedule [1][3]. Therefore, students are required to attend classes, and educational activities will continue as usual.

YKS 2026 Exam Dates The primary reason for the sensitivity regarding the date of June 19 is the administration of the decisive YKS exam on Saturday and Sunday. According to the announcement by the Assessment, Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM), the 2026 YKS exam will be held on June 20 and 21 [2]. - Saturday, June 20: First stage of the exam (TYT) - Sunday, June 21: Second and third stages of the exam (AYT and YDT) Many candidates hoped that the Friday before the exam would be declared a holiday for rest and final preparation, but according to the latest announcements, schools will be open on this day, and only exam centers will be prepared for the following day's exam [1][2].

End of Academic Year and Report Card Distribution Contrary to the assumption by some that June 19 marks the end of schools, the official MEB calendar shows that the 2025-2026 academic year ends on Friday, June 26, 2026 [3]. On this day, students will receive their report cards and officially begin their three-month summer vacation [1]. Therefore, even after the YKS exam, students must continue attending school for one more week to complete the administrative and educational end-of-year processes.

Importance of Attendance in Final Weeks The Ministry of National Education has emphasized that attendance records (Yoklama) will continue until the last day of school activity [1]. This is particularly important for high school students who are on the verge of graduation and have absence limits. Parents and students are advised not to pay attention to social media rumors and to plan only based on official statements issued by the Ministry of National Education and ÖSYM websites [2][3].