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 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, 2027 |
| 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 |
| Lunar New Year | Interfaith/National, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism | February 6, 2027 |
| Ramadan | Islam | 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.