Religious Observances that Affect the Academic Calendar
To help instructors and staff in course and event planning, some of the religious observances that may affect the academic calendar are listed below. This table attempts to include dates for religions that are most widely observed by students and employees at the University of Illinois and is intended as an aid only.
Members of the University of Illinois community practice a diversity of religious, spiritual, and secular traditions, and individuals may celebrate observances not listed below. When planning around religious observances is not possible, employers and instructors must provide reasonable accommodations as per campus code, and state, and federal law.
Major Religious Observances
Fall 2025
Observance
Religion
Dates
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Islam (Sunni)
Anticipated to begin at sundown on September 4, 2025 and end at sundown on September 5, 2025
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Islam (Shia)
Anticipated to begin at sundown on September 4, 2025, and end at sundown on September 5, 2025
Leil Selichot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 13, 2025
Navratri
Hinduism
Begins on September 22, 2025 and ends on October 2, 2025
Rosh Hashanah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 22, 2025, and ends at sundown on September 24, 2025
Mabon
Wicca
September 24, 2025
Yom Kippur
Judaism
Begins at sundown on October 1, 2025 and ends at sundown on October 2, 2025
Sukkot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on October 6, 2025 and ends at sundown on October 13, 2025
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on October 13, 2025 and ends at nightfall on October 14, 2025
Birth of Guru Granth
Sikhism
October 20, 2025
Diwali
Hinduism
October 20, 2025
Birth of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on October 21, 2025, and ends at sunset on October 22, 2025
Birth of Baha’u’llah
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on October 22, and ends at sunset on October 23, 2025
Samhain
Wicca
Begins at sunset on October 31, 2025 and ends at sunset on November 1, 2025
Guru Nanak Birthday
Sikhism
November 5, 2025
Loy Krathong
Buddhism
November 5, 2025
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on November 26, 2025 and ends at sunset on November 27, 2025
Bodhi Day
Buddhism
December 8, 2025
Hanukkah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on December 14, 2025 and ends at sundown on December 22, 2025
Yule (Winter Solstice)
Wicca
Begins on December 21, 2025, and ends on January 1, 2026
Christmas
Christianity
December 25, 2025
Kwanzaa
Interfaith / African-American
Begins on December 26, 2025, and ends on January 1, 2026
Spring 2026
Observance
Religion
Dates
Feast of the Epiphany
Christianity
January 6, 2026
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Birthday
Sikhism
January 6, 2026
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
Orthodox Christianity
January 7, 2026
Imbolc/Candlemas
Wicca/Celtic
Begins on February 1, 2026 and ends on February 2, 2026
Lunar New Year
Interfaith/National
February 17, 2026
Ramadan
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on February 17, 2026 and end at sundown on March 18, 2026
Ash Wednesday
Christianity
February 18, 2026
Nineteen Day Fast
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on March 2, 2026 and ends at sunset on March, 20, 2026
Purim
Judaism
Begins at sundown on March 2, 2026 and ends at sundown on March 3, 2026
23rd Night of Ramadan
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 12, 2026
27th Night of Ramadan
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 16, 2026
Eid al-Fitr
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 18, 2026, and end at sundown on March 21, 2026
Eostara (Spring Equinox)
Wicca
March 20, 2026
Naw‐Rúz
Baháʼí Faith, Zoroastrian
Begins at sunset on March 20, 2026, and ends at sunset on March 21, 2026
Holi
Hinduism, Sikhism
March 23, 2026
Passover (Pesach)
Judaism
Begins at sundown on April 1, 2026 and ends at sundown on April 9, 2026.
Good Friday
Christianity
April 3, 2026
Easter
Christianity
April 5, 2026
Eastern Orthodox Holy Friday
Orthodox Christianity
April 10, 2026
Eastern Orthodox Easter (Pascha)
Orthodox Christianity
April 12, 2026
Vaisakhi
Sikhism
April 14, 2026
First Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on April 21, 2026 and ends at sunset on April 22, 2026
Ninth Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on April 28, 2026, and ends at sunset on April 29, 2026
Beltane
Wicca
May 1, 2026
Twelfth Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 1, 2026 and ends at sunset on May 2, 2026
Vesak
Buddhism
May 1, 2026
Ascension Day
Catholicism
May 14, 2026
Summer 2026
Observance
Religion
Dates
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day
Orthodox Christianity
May 21, 2026
Shavuot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on May 21, 2026, and ends at sundown on May 23, 2026
Declaration of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 23, 2026, and ends at sunset on May 24, 2026
Eid al-Adha
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on May 26, 2026 and end at sundown on May 30, 2026
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 28, 2026, and ends at sunset on May 29, 2026
Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice)
Wicca
June 20, 2026
10th of Muharram (Ashura)
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on June 25, 2026, and end at sundown on June 26, 2026
Martyrdom of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on July 9, 2026 and ends at sunset on July 10, 2026
Tish’a B’Av
Judaism
Begins at sunset on July 9, 2026, and ends at sunset on July 10, 2026
Lammas
Wicca
August 1, 2026
Arba’een (Shia)
Islam
August 5, 2026
Fall 2026
Observance
Religion
Dates
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Islam (Sunni)
Anticipated to begin at sundown on August 24, 2026, and end at sundown on August 25, 2026
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad
Islam (Shia)
Anticipated to begin at sundown on August 29, 2026, and end at sundown on August 30, 2026
Krishna Janmashtami
Hinduism
September 4, 2026
Leil Selichot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 5, 2026
Paryushan
Jainism
Begins September 8, 2026, and ends September 15, 2026
Rosh Hashanah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 11, 2026, and ends at sundown on September 13, 2026
Yom Kippur
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 20, 2026, and ends at sundown on September 21, 2026
Mabon
Wicca
September 23, 2026
Sukkot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on September 25, 2026, and ends at sundown on October 2, 2026
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on October 3, 2026, and ends at nightfall on October 5, 2026
Navratri
Hinduism
Begins October 11, 2026, and ends October 20, 2026
Birth of Guru Granth
Sikhism
October 20, 2026
Samhain
Wicca
Begins at sunset on October 31, 2026, and ends at sunset on November 1, 2026
Diwali
Hinduism
November 8, 2026
Birth of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on November 9, 2026, and ends at sunset on November 10, 2026
Birth of Baha’u’llah
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on November 10, 2026, and ends at sunset on November 11, 2026
Guru Nanak Birthday
Sikhism
November 24, 2026
Loy Krathong
Buddhism
November 25, 2026
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on November 27, 2026, and ends at sunset on November 28, 2026
Bodhi Day
Buddhism
December 8, 2026
Hanukkah
Judaism
Begins at sundown on December 4, 2026, and ends at sundown on December 12, 2026
Yule (Winter Solstice)
Wicca
Begins December 21, 2026, and ends January 1, 2026
Christmas
Christianity
December 25, 2026
Kwanzaa
Interfaith / African-American
Begins December 26, 2026, and ends January 1, 2027
Spring 2027
Observance
Religion
Dates
Feast of the Epiphany
Christianity
January 6, 2027
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Birthday
Sikhism
January 7, 2027
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
Orthodox Christianity
January 7, 2027
Imbolc/Candlemas/Brigid
Wicca/Celtic
Begins February 1, 2027, and ends February 2, 2027
Anticipated to begin at sundown on February 7, 2027, and end at sundown on March 8, 2027
Ash Wednesday
Christianity
February 10, 2027
Nineteen-Day Fast
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on March 1, 2027, and ends at sunset on March 20, 2027
23rd Night of Ramadan
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 2, 2027
27th Night of Ramadan
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 6, 2027
Eid al-Fitr
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 9, 2027, and end at sundown on March 10, 2027
Eostara (Spring Equinox)
Wicca
March 20, 2027
Naw-Ruz/First of Baha – Splendour
Baha’i Faith, Zoroastrian
Begins at sunset on March 20, 2027, and ends at sunset on March 21, 2027
Purim
Judaism
Begins at sundown on March 22, 2027, and ends at sundown on March 23, 2027
Holi
Hinduism, Sikhism
March 22, 2027
Good Friday
Christianity
March 26, 2027
Easter Sunday
Christianity
March 28, 2027
Vaisakhi
Sikhism, Hinduism
April 14, 2027
Pesach (Passover)
Judaism
Begins at sundown on April 21, 2027, and ends at sundown on April 29, 2027
First Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on April 20, 2027, and ends at sunset on April 21, 2027
Ninth Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on April 28, 2027, and ends at sunset on April 29, 2027
Eastern Orthodox Holy Friday
Orthodox Christianity
April 30, 2027
Beltane
Wicca
May 1, 2027
Twelfth Day of Ridván
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 1, 2027, and ends at sunset on May 2, 2027
Easter (Pascha)
Orthodox Christianity
May 2, 2027
Ascension Day
Catholicism
May 6, 2027
Summer 2027
Observance
Religion
Dates
Eid al-Adha
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on May 16, 2027, and end at sundown on May 20, 2027
Vesak
Buddhism
May 20, 2027
Declaration of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 23, 2027, and ends at sunset on May 24, 2027
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on May 28, 2027, and ends at sunset on May 29, 2027
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
June 10, 2027
Shavuot
Judaism
Begins at sundown on June 10, 2027, and ends at sundown on June 12, 2027
10th of Muharram (Ashura)
Islam
Anticipated to begin at sundown on June 14, 2027, and end at sundown on June 15, 2027
Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice)
Wicca
June 21, 2027
Martyrdom of the Báb
Baháʼí Faith
Begins at sunset on July 9, 2027, and ends at sunset on July 10, 2027
Lammas
Wicca
August 1, 2027
Tish’a B’Av
Judaism
Begins at sunset on August 11, 2027, and ends at sunset on August 12, 2027
Special thanks to the following individuals for their assistance in reviewing the religious observances listed on this page and in the full Religious Observances calendar: Rabbi Alan Cook from Sinai Temple of Champaign-Urbana, Amy Felty from the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Urbana, Father Robert Lampitt from St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Dr. Adam Newman from the Department of Religion, and Imam Ousmane Sawadogo from the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center.