Policy, Resources, and Fall 2026–Spring 2027 Observance Calendar
Each semester brings a host of faith-based and religious holidays, celebrations, and observances, and UMBC is committed to supporting community members in fully observing them.
UMBC’s Faith-Based & Religious Accommodations Policy: For information on accommodations, visit UMBC’s Interim Policy on Faith-Based and Religious Accommodations and the form created by the Office of Equity and Civil Rights for campus community members to request these accommodations. Please note who should receive the completed form, since it varies by role within the university and by the type and nature of the accommodation requested.
Weekly & Daily Observances
In addition to major religious and spiritual holidays, celebrations, and observances, campus community members often engage in daily and weekly practices that can significantly shape how they navigate campus. Daily practices (including individual and communal prayers, specific dietary accommodations, etc.) and weekly practices (including Shabbat or Jummah observance) serve as important touchpoints for students, staff, and faculty at UMBC. Please note that these observances often include work restrictions, fasting, and other practices.
Many of these observances take place on campus in spaces such as the Center for Religion, Spirituality, & Pluralism’s Gathering Space in the Center for Well-Being, or in another Reflection, Prayer, or Meditation space. Community members might also find a sense of belonging with one of UMBC’s 33 Undergraduate and Graduate Religious and Belief Student Organizations or by engaging with members of the UMBC Religious Council (click the Spiritual Resources tab), who are available to meet and provide religious and spiritual guidance.
New Supports Provided by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, & Pluralism (CRSP)
CRSP is continually developing resources to better support faculty and staff as we work together to support religious, secular, and spiritual practice on campus. One new resource this year is a brief 1-hour workshop, Planning for Pluralism: Providing Intentional Support for Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities on Campus, which offers basic guidance and tips for those scheduling and planning events to ensure inclusion of these identities. More training on supporting religious, secular, and spiritual identities on campus can be requested by contacting CRSP staff or by completing this Division of Institutional Equity form.
For more information, contact the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Pluralism:
Matt Hoffman, MDiv, STM, Director, Email: matt.hoffman@umbc.edu
Joseph Vann-Jones, MDiv (he/him/his), Coordinator, Email: jvannjo1@umbc.edu
Upcoming Religious Holidays for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Academic Year
Below is a list of religious holy days that may affect your calendars during the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 academic semesters. Please keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list. The holidays included are those that may significantly impact observant community members and could conflict with academic and work requirements. Note: not all holidays apply to all members of a particular religious or spiritual community, and the level and type of observance may vary by individual.
Quicks Notes
- For many religious traditions, the celebration or observance begins the evening before the actual day (sometimes called “eve” or “erev”). In these circumstances, both days are listed for ease of reference. Work restrictions for Jewish holidays begin shortly before sundown on the first date indicated and may include avoiding creative work, studying, and use of electricity.
- Some holidays in Islam are not fixed to a calendar but are based on the actual sighting of the moon and may lead to some variance by day.
NOTE: Unless indicated, work is not restricted on these days, but attendance at services, fasting, or other observances may take place.
If seeking a more in-depth calendar with additional holidays and observances, please check out this calendar created by the Yale University Chaplaincy.
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| Onam (Hindu) | August 16-26 | |
| Mawlid al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad) # (Islam) | August 25 | |
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| Rosh Hashanah* (Jewish) | September 11-13 | Work Restricted |
| Ganesha Chaturthi (Hindu) | September 14 | |
| Mid-Autumn Festival (Cultural) | September 25 | May include family or local religious practices;
May begin on the 24th and extend through the 26th |
| Yom Kippur* (Jewish) | September 20-21 | Work Restricted |
| Mabon (Pagan/Neopagan) | September 22 | |
| Sukkot* (Jewish) | September 25-October 2 | Work Restricted (9/25-27) |
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| Shemini Atzeret* (Jewish) | October 2-3 | Work Restricted |
| Simchat Torah* (Jewish) | October 3-4 | Work Restricted |
| Navratri/Dussehra (Hindu) | October 11-20 | 9-Day Festival; Dussehra (20) |
| Samhain (Pagan/Wiccan)* | October 31-November 1 | |
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| All Saints/Souls Day (Protestant & Catholic) | November 1-2 | Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics |
| Diwali (Hindu/Jain/Sikh) | November 6-10 | 5-Day Festival; Diwali (8) |
| Birth of the Báb and Baha’u’llah (Baha’i) | November 10-11 | |
| Guru Nanak’s Birthday/Gurpurab (Sikh) | November 24 | |
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| Hannukah/Chanukah* (Jewish) | December 4-12 | |
| Bodhi Day (Buddhist) | December 8 | |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) | December 8 | Holy Day of Obligation |
| Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic/Cultural) | December 12 | |
| Yule/Winter Solstice (Pagan/Neopagan) | December 21 | Midwinter Celebration continues until January 1 |
| Christmas (Protestant & Catholic) | December 25 | |
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| Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Catholic) | January 1 | Holy Day of Obligation |
| St. Basil’s Day (Orthodox Christian & Catholicism) | January 1 (Orthodox), January 2 (Catholic) | |
| Epiphany (Protestant & Catholicism) | January 6 | |
| Christmas (Orthodox Christian) | January 7 | |
| Makar Sankranti/Pongal* (Hindu) | January 14-15 | |
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| Imbolc (Pagan/Neopagan) | February 1 | |
| Lunar New Year/Spring Festival (Cultural) | February 6 | May include family or local religious practices |
| Ramadan # (Muslim) | February 7-March 8 | Fasting; Eid al-Fitr (March 9) |
| Ash Wednesday (Protestant & Catholic) | February 10 | |
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| Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) | March 6 | Fasting |
| Eid al-Fitr # (Muslim) | March 9 | |
| Ostara (Pagan/Neopagan) | March 20 | |
| Nowruz (Cultural) | March 20 | May include family or local religious practices |
| Holi * (Hindu) | March 21-22 | |
| Good Friday (Protestant & Catholic) | March 26 | |
| Easter (Protestant & Catholic) | March 28 | |
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| Vaishiki (Hindu/Sikh) | April 14 | |
| Ridvan * (Baha’i) | April 21-May 2 | Important Days: 1, 9, & 12; Work Restrictions |
| Passover* (Jewish) | April 21-29 | Work restricted on the first two and last two days (April 21-23, 27-29) |
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| Beltane * (Pagan/Neopagan) | May 1 | |
| Easter (Orthodox Christian) | May 2 | |
| Solemnity of the Ascension (Catholic) | May 6 | Holy Day of Obligation |
| Eid al-Adha* # (Muslim) | May 16-17 | Festival runs to May 19 |
| Vesak (Buddhist) | May 20 | |