Religious Calendar
Major Religious Observances
Stanford has long supported faculty, students and staff in observing religious holidays of significance to them. In the complex process of creating the academic calendar, religious holy days are but one of many considerations. The university administration has always been helpful in facilitating communication and encouraging respect and understanding when there are academic calendar conflicts with religious holy days.
Most instructors will be cooperative and flexible regarding religious observance when they receive appropriate and early communication. Students should work with their instructors in advance. If a student is planning NOT to attend class or take an exam because of a religious holiday, they should convey this information to instructors at the beginning of the quarter so that the student will not be disadvantaged as a result of religious practice. Students and instructors should work together to plan for the absence and any class notes or assignments that might be missed.
The Office for Religious & Spiritual Life makes available to faculty, staff and students this list of significant religious holidays at the beginning of each academic year. For any questions or concerns, please contact the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life.
How to view the multifaith Religious Observances Calendar
- Log in to your web calendar at webcal.stanford.edu
- On the left side of the screen, click on the “Add Calendar” link
- A window will pop up. On the left-hand side menu, click on “Add from Directory”
- You will be prompted to enter the calendar name. Type in “ORSL CAL Religious Observances” and select it from the drop-down menu
- From the "Add to" drop down menu, select where you would like the calendar to appear and then click on the "Add" button
- The ORSL CAL Religious Observances calendar will now appear under your calendar list for viewing.
If you don't have Outlook, then the calendar can be viewed on the browser here: View the Religious Observances Calendar in your Browser
List of Observances for the 2025-2026 academic year
This list is not meant to be a comprehensive list of observances from all religions. Instead, the following observances are some that may affect the academic calendar and generally require accommodation for special worship.
| Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Observance is set and move according to a lunar calendar |
| Observance begins at sundown on the first day listed |
| Observance ends at nightfall of the last day listed |
| Observance has significant work restrictions |
| Observance involves fasting practices or food accommodations |
Summer Quarter 2025
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| June 1 - 3, 2025 | Shavuot
| Jewish |
| June 21, 2025 | Litha | Pagan, Wiccan |
| July 6, 2025 | Ashura
| Muslim |
| July 9, 2025 | Martyrdom of The Báb | Bahá'í |
| August 1, 2025 | Lammas/Lughnasad | Pagan, Wiccan |
| August 2 - 3, 2025 | Tisha B'Av
| Jewish |
| August 3, 2025 | Mawlid al Nabi | Muslim |
| August 16, 2025 | Sri Krishna Jayanti / Janmashtami
| Hindu |
| August 21 - 28, 2025 | Paryushana-parva
| Jain |
| August 28, 2025 | Samvatsari | Jain |
| August 28 - September 7, 2025 | Dashalakshani-parva | Jain |
| September 7, 2025 | Ksamavani | Jain |
Fall Quarter 2025
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| September 22 - 24, 2025 | Rosh Hashanah
| Jewish |
| October 1 - 2, 2025 | Yom Kippur
| Jewish |
| October 6 - 13, 2025 Work Restrictions on first two days only | Sukkot
| Jewish |
| October 7 - November 5, 2025 | Kathina | Buddhism |
| October 13 - 14, 2025 | Shemini Atzeret
| Jewish |
| October 14 - 15, 2025 | Simchat Torah
| Jewish |
| October 20, 2025 | Diwali
| Hindu |
| October 20, 2025 | Bandhi Chhor Divas | Sikh |
| October 20, 2025 | Installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji | Sikh |
| October 22 - 23, 2025 | Twin Holy Birthdays:
| Bahá’í |
| October 31 | Samhain | Pagan, Wiccan |
| November 5, 2025 | Birth date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji | Sikh |
| November 24, 2025 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji | Sikh |
| December 14 - 22, 2025 | Hanukkah/Chanukah
| Jewish |
| December 25 | Christmas | Christian |
| December 26 - January 1 | Kwanzaa | Pan-African |
Winter Quarter 2026
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| January 6, 2026 | Epiphany/Theophany | Christian |
| January 14, 2026 | Makar Sankranti | Hindu |
| January 23, 2026 | Vasanta Panchami | Hindu |
| February 15, 2026 | Nehan-e (Nirvana Day) | Buddhism |
| February 19 - March 20, 2026 | Ramadan
| Muslim |
| March 1 - 20, 2026 | 19-Day Fast
| Bahá’í |
| March 3, 2026 | Holi
| Hindu |
| March 20, 2026 | Eid al Fitr
| Muslim |
| March 21, 2026 | Nowruz
| Zoroastrian, Bahá’í |
| March 26, 2026 | Birth Anniversary of Prophet Zarathustra | Zoroastrian |
Spring Quarter 2026
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2026 | Mahavira Jayanti | Jain |
| April 1 - 9, 2026 | Passover
| Jewish |
| April 3, 2026 April 10, 2026 (For Christians who follow the Julian calendar) | Good Friday
| Christian |
| April 5, 2026 April 12, 2026 (For Christians who follow the Julian calendar) | Easter/Pascha
| Christian |
| April 13 - 14, 2026 | Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
| Jewish |
| April 14, 2026 | Vaisakhi | Hindu, Sikh |
| April 21 - May 2, 2026 | Festival of Ridván
| Bahá’í |
| April 21, April 29, May 2; 2026 | First, Ninth, and Twelfth Day of Ridván
| Bahá’í |
| May 24, 2026 | Declaration of The Báb
| Bahá'í |
| May 27, 2026 | Eid al Adha
| Muslim |
| May 29, 2026 | Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
| Bahá’í |
| May 31, 2026 | Vesak/Buddha Day
| Buddhist |