Published 22 June 2026 | Updated 4 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
When does TUI release flights and holidays? Summer programmes go on sale in mid-October, about 18 months before the first departures, and Summer 2028 opens on Thursday 15 October 2026. Winter sun follows in July, about 16 months ahead, and Winter 2027/28 has been on sale since 2 July 2026. If you’re after a particular hotel, room or departure airport, book in the first weeks after a launch.
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TUI release dates for 2027 and 2028
| Programme | Covers | On sale | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2028 | Apr to Oct 2028 | 15 Oct 2026 (confirmed) | Opens 15 Oct |
| Winter 2027/28 | Nov 2027 to Apr 2028 | 2 Jul 2026 | On sale now |
| Summer 2027 | Apr to Oct 2027 | 16 Oct 2025 | On sale now |
| Winter 2026/27 | Nov 2026 to Apr 2027 | July 2025 | On sale now |
| Last-minute | Departures within 8 weeks | Rolling | Always on tui.co.uk |
“From 15 October TUI will have two summers on sale at once, 2027 and 2028, with Winter 2027/28 in between. Anyone still hunting for a family room next August is picking from stock that’s been selling since October 2025. If your plans are for summer 2028, don’t wait for a sale: launch week is when the choice of rooms is widest.”Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
When does TUI release its summer programme?
TUI’s summer flights and holidays go on sale in mid-October, covering April to October departures the year after next. Summer 2027 opened on 16 October 2025 with more than 2,200 beach properties across 70 destinations from 23 UK airports. At launch every hotel, departure airport and room type is available, and Spain, Greece, Turkey and the Canaries sell fastest, so the best rooms tend to go in the first days.
When does TUI release its winter programme?
TUI’s winter sun programme runs from November to April, covering the Canary Islands, Egypt, Thailand and the Caribbean. It goes on sale in July, around 16 months before the first departures. Winter 2027/28 went on sale on 2 July 2026 with more than 2,000 hotels across 50 destinations, including new direct flights to Zanzibar. The Canaries resorts families want most sell out months before the season, so book those early.
How far ahead does TUI release compared with airlines?
TUI opens its summer programme about 18 months before the season starts, which puts it level with when Jet2 releases flights and well ahead of the low-cost airlines. Ryanair is selling flights about 13 months ahead as of October 2026, and easyJet up to about 14 months ahead, in seasonal batches.
| Operator | Release window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TUI | About 18 months (summer) | Summer 2028 opens 15 Oct 2026; winter about 16 months ahead |
| Jet2 | About 18 months (summer) | Summer 2027 on sale 15 Oct 2025 |
| Ryanair | Up to about 13 months | Summer 2027 on sale by 4 Oct 2026 |
| easyJet | Up to about 14 months | Seasonal batches; summer 2027 on sale 28 Jul 2026 |
When will TUI release Summer 2028?
TUI has confirmed that Summer 2028 flights and holidays go on sale on Thursday 15 October 2026, about 18 months before the season starts. Winter 2027/28 is already on sale, having opened on 2 July 2026. To hear the moment a new season opens, register for emails on tui.co.uk or turn on notifications in the TUI app.
Flights or holidays: does TUI release them differently?
No. TUI launches each season’s flights and package holidays together, so the dates above apply to both. A package bundles the flight, hotel and transfers into one ATOL-protected booking, while a flight-only booking covers just the seat. TUI adjusts availability through the year: hotels that sold out at launch sometimes reappear when customers cancel, and new hotels are occasionally added mid-season, but the first wave of bookings still takes the most popular rooms and departure times.
Should you book as soon as TUI opens?
- For July and August departures, booking at launch gives the widest choice of resorts, rooms and dates, and often the lowest headline price.
- TUI lets you secure a package on a low deposit, with the balance due closer to departure, which makes booking a year or more ahead easier.
- Off-peak prices move around more. TUI’s last-minute section lists holidays leaving within eight weeks, often discounted, if you’re flexible on hotel and airport.
- TUI’s sales can bring prices down on what’s left, though the best rooms and dates may have gone by then.
How to find out when TUI releases new flights and holidays
The most reliable way to hear first is TUI’s email list, which goes out as a new programme goes on sale, usually the same day the website updates. The TUI app sends push notifications for the same launches, TUI Group posts press releases on tuigroup.com, and tui.co.uk’s homepage carried the Summer 2028 date weeks ahead.
Frequently asked questions
When will TUI release Summer 2028 flights and holidays?
TUI has confirmed that Summer 2028 flights and holidays go on sale on Thursday 15 October 2026, about 18 months before the season starts. Sign up to TUI’s emails or the TUI app to hear the moment they open.
When did TUI release Summer 2027?
Summer 2027 flights and holidays went on sale on 16 October 2025, covering April to October 2027 departures from 23 UK airports.
When does TUI release its winter programme?
TUI releases winter sun in July, about 16 months before the first November departures. Winter 2027/28 went on sale on 2 July 2026, and Winter 2026/27 went on sale in July 2025.
How far in advance does TUI release flights and holidays?
About 18 months ahead for summer and about 16 months for winter, measured to the first departures. Last-minute holidays appear on tui.co.uk six to eight weeks before departure.
Can I book TUI more than a year in advance?
Yes. When TUI opens a summer programme in mid-October, departures run from April of the year after next through to October, so the latest dates are about two years away. From 15 October 2026, Summer 2028 holidays will be bookable.
Do TUI flights and holidays go on sale on the same day?
Yes. TUI launches each season’s flights and package holidays together. A package bundles the flight, hotel and transfers, while a flight-only booking covers just the seat, so it’s worth pricing both.
Is it cheaper to book TUI early or wait?
Booking early gets you the widest choice of hotels, rooms and departure airports. Waiting for a sale or a last-minute deal can save more, but the hotel and dates you wanted may have gone by then.
Is TUI the first UK operator to release summer holidays?
TUI and Jet2 release their summer programmes in mid-October on similar timescales. For Summer 2027, TUI opened on 16 October 2025 and Jet2 on 15 October 2025.
How do I find out when TUI releases new flights and holidays?
Join TUI’s email list or turn on notifications in the TUI app. The emails go out the day a new programme goes on sale, and TUI Group posts press releases for major launches on tuigroup.com.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
