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
Summer 2024
| Observance | Religion | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of the Báb | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on May 22, 2024, and ends at sunset on May 23, 2024 |
| Vesak | Buddhism | May 23, 2024 |
| Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on May 27, 2024, and ends at sunset on May 28, 2024 |
| Shavuot | Judaism | Begins at sundown on June 11, 2024, and ends at sundown on June 13, 2024 |
| Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day Orthodox | Orthodox Christianity | June 13, 2024 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on June 16, 2024, and end at sundown on June 20, 2024 |
| Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice) | Wicca | June 20, 2024 |
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on July 8, 2024, and ends at sunset on July 9, 2024 |
| 10th of Muharram (Ashura) | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on July 16, 2024 and end at sundown on July 17, 2024 |
| Tish’a B’Av | Judaism | Begins at sundown on August 12, 2024, and ends at sundown on August 13, 2024 |
| Lammas | Wicca | August 1, 2024 |
Fall Semester 2024
| Observance | Religion | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Arba’een | Islam (Shia) | Anticipated to begin at sundown on August 25, 2024, and end at sundown on August 26, 2024 |
| Krishna Janmashtami | Hinduism | August 26, 2024 |
| Paryushan | Jainism | Begins on August 31, 2024, and ends on September 7, 2024 |
| Leil Selichot | Judaism | Begins at sundown on September 28, 2024 |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad | Islam (Sunni) | Anticipated to begin at sundown on September 15, 2024, and end at sundown on September 16, 2024 |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad | Islam (Shia) | Anticipated to begin at sundown on September 20, 2024, and end at sundown on September 21, 2024 |
| Mabon | Wicca | September 21, 2024 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | Begins at sundown on October 2, 2024, and ends at sundown on October 4, 2024 |
| Navratri | Hinduism | Begins on October 3, 2024, and ends on October 11, 2024 |
| Yom Kippur | Judaism | Begins at sundown on October 11, 2024, and ends at sundown on October 12, 2024 |
| Sukkot | Judaism | Begins at sundown on October 16, 2024, and ends at sundown on October 23, 2024 |
| Birth of Guru Granth | Sikhism | October 20, 2024 |
| Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Judaism | Begins at sundown on October 23, 2024, and ends at nightfall on October 25, 2024 |
| Samhain | Wicca | Begins at sunset on October 31, 2024, and ends at sunset on November 1, 2024 |
| Diwali | Hinduism | November 1, 2024 |
| Birth of the Báb | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on November 1, 2024, and ends at sunset on November 2, 2024 |
| Birth of Baha’u’llah | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on November 2, 204, and ends at sunset on November 3, 2024 |
| Guru Nanak Birthday | Sikhism | November 15, 2024 |
| Loy Krathong | Buddhism | November 16, 2024 |
| Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on November 26, 2024, and ends at sunset on November 27, 2024 |
| Bodhi Day | Buddhism | December 8, 2024 |
| Yule (Winter Solstice) | Wicca | Begins on December 21, 2024, and ends on January 1, 2025 |
| Hanukkah | Judaism | Begins at sundown on December 25, 2024, and ends at sundown on January 2, 2025 |
| Christmas | Christianity | December 25, 2024 |
| Kwanzaa | Interfaith / African-American | Begins on December 26, 2024, and ends on January 1, 2025 |
Spring Semester 2025
| Observance | Religion | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Feast of the Epiphany | Christianity | January 6, 2025 |
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Birthday | Sikhism | January 6, 2025 |
| Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Eastern Orthodox Christianity | January 7, 2025 |
| Lunar New Year | Interfaith/National, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism | January 29, 2025 |
| Imbolc/Candlemas/Brigid | Wicca/Celtic | Begins on February 1, 2025, and ends on February 2, 2025 |
| Ash Wednesday | Christianity | March 5, 2025 |
| Nineteen Day Fast | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on February 28, 2025, and ends at sundown on March 19, 2025 |
| Ramadan | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on February 28, 2025, and end at sundown on March 30, 2025 |
| Purim | Judaism | Begins at sundown on March 13, 2025, and ends at sundown on March 14, 2025 |
| Holi | Hinduism, Sikhism | March 14, 2025 |
| Naw-Ruz/First of Baha – Splendour | Baháʼí Faith, Zoroastrian | Begins at sunset on March 19, 2025, and ends at sunset on March 20, 2025 |
| Eostara (Spring Equinox) | Wicca | March 20, 2025 |
| 23rd Night of Ramadan | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 23, 2025 |
| 27th Night of Ramadan | Islam (Sunni) | Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 27, 2025 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on March 30, 2025, and end at sundown on March 31, 2025 |
| Pesach (Passover) | Judaism | Begins at sundown on April 12 and ends at sundown on April 20, 2025 |
| Vaisakhi | Sikhism, Hinduism | April 14, 2025 |
| Good Friday | Christianity | April 18, 2025 |
| Eastern Orthodox Holy Friday | Orthodox Christianity | April 18, 2025 |
| First Day of Ridván | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on April 19, 2025, and ends at sunset on April 20, 2025 |
| Easter Sunday | Christianity | April 20, 2025 |
| Eastern Orthodox Easter (Pascha) | Eastern Orthodox Christianity | April 20, 2025 |
| Ninth Day of Ridvan | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on April 27, 2025, and ends at sunset on April 28, 2025 |
| Twelfth Day of Ridvan | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on April 30, 2025, and ends at sunset on May 1, 2025 |
| Beltane | Wicca | May 1, 2025 |
| Vesak | Buddhism | May 12, 2025 |
Summer 2025
| Observance | Religion | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of the Báb | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on May 22, 2025, and ends at sunset on May 23, 2025 |
| Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on May 27, 2025, and ends at sunset on May 28, 2025 |
| Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day Orthodox | Orthodox Christianity | May 29, 2025 |
| Ascension Day | Catholicism | May 29, 2025 |
| Shavuot | Judaism | Begins at sundown on June 1, 2025, and ends at sundown on June 3, 2025 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on June 5, 2025, and end at sundown on June 6, 2025 |
| Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice) | Wicca | June 21, 2025 |
| 10th of Muharram (Ashura) | Islam | Anticipated to begin at sundown on July 5, 2025, and end at sundown on July 6, 2025 |
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on July 8, 2025, and ends at sunset on July 9, 2025 |
| Lammas | Wicca | August 1, 2024 |
| Tish’a B’Av | Judaism | Begins at sundown on August 2, 2025, and ends at sundown on August 3, 2025 |
Fall 2025
| Observance | Religion | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Paryushan | Jainism | August 21 – August 28, 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 |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad | Islam (Sunni) | Anticipated to begin at sundown on September 9, 2025, and end at sundown on September 10, 2025 |
| Leil Selichot | Judaism | Begins at sundown on September 13, 2025 |
| Navratri | Hinduism | Begins on September 22, 2025, and ends on October 2, 2025 |
| Mabon | Wicca | September 22, 2025 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | Begins at sundown on September 22, 2025, and ends at sundown on 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 either October 14, 2025 or October 15, 2025. (Days varies by tradition). |
| 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 19, 2026 |
| Ash Wednesday | Christianity | February 18, 2026 |
| Nineteen-Day Fast | Baháʼí Faith | Begins at sunset on March 1, 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 |
| Holi | Hinduism, Sikhism | 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 19, 2026, and end at sundown on March 20, 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 |
| 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 20, 2026, and ends at sunset on April 21, 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 27, 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 22, 2026, and ends at sunset on July 23, 2026 |
| Lammas | Wicca | August 1, 2026 |
| Arba’een (Shia) | Islam | August 5, 2026 |
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.
For questions, please contact diversity@illinois.edu.