Religious Observance Calendar 2026 - 2027

At the George Washington University, we honor the rich diversity of beliefs and practices within our community. This Interfaith calendar reflects our commitment to equity and belonging by providing a resource to help students, faculty, staff, and community members plan with consideration for the holy days, holidays, and festivals observed by some members of the GW community.

This calendar presents a non-exhaustive list of religious and cultural holidays for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please note that many observances in the Islamic, Jewish, and Baha'i traditions begin at sundown on the first date listed and typically end at sundown on the final date. If you have any questions or notice a discrepancy, please reach out to cislgwu [dot] edu (cisl[at]gwu[dot]edu.)

The Office of the Provost has outlined academic policies for Religious Observance. Students are encouraged to communicate as early as possible with their faculty if accommodations are needed.

Fall 2026

August 2026

August 1: Lammas/Lughnasadh (Pagan/Wicca)
August 1–14: Dormition Fast (Orthodox Christian)
August 4–5: Arba’een (Islam - Shia)
August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration (Orthodox Christian)
August 25: Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam - Sunni)
August 28: Varalakshmi Nombu (Hindu)

September 2026

September 4: Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September 8–15: Paryushana Parvarambha (Jain)
September 11–13: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
September 12: Guru Granth Sahib Jayanti (Sikh)
September 13–14: Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
September 15: Samvatsari Parva (Jain)
September 20–21: Yom Kippur (Jewish)
September 22: Mabon / Autumn Equinox (Pagan/Wicca)
September 25 – October 2: Sukkot (Jewish)

October 2026

October 2–4: Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah (Jewish)
October 12–20: Ashwina Navapada Oli (Jain)
October 20: Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Hindu)
October 21: Installation of Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh)
October 31: Samhain (Pagan/Wicca)

November 2026

November 1: All Saints Day (Christian)
November 1–2: Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead (Mexican/Catholic)
November 8: Diwali / Deepavali (Hindu, Jain, Sikh)
November 9: Jain New Year (Veer Nirvana Samvat)
November 10: Birth of the Báb (Baha'i)
November 11: Birth of the Bahá'u'lláh (Baha'i)
November 24: Guru Nanak Dev Jayanti (Sikh)
November 24: Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh)
November 29: Advent Season Begins (Christian)

December 2026

December 4–12: Hanukkah / Chanukah (Jewish)
December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
December 21: Yule / Winter Solstice (Pagan/Wicca)
December 24: Christmas Eve (Christian)
December 25: Christmas (Christian)
December 26: Zartosht No-Diso (Zoroastrian)
December 26 – January 1: Kwanzaa (African-American)

Spring 2027

January 2027

January 1: Gantan Sai (Shinto New Year)
January 1: Solemnity of Mary (Catholic)
January 6: Epiphany (Christian) / Theophany (Orthodox)
January 7: Orthodox Christmas (Orthodox)
January 14: Maghi / Lohri (Sikh)
January 14–15: Makar Sankranti / Pongal (Hindu)
January 15: Guru Gobind Singh Birthday (Sikh)
January 22: Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
January 22–23: Tu B'Shevat / 15 Shevat (Jewish)
January 30: Sadeh Kermani (Zoroastrian)
January 31: World Religion Day (Baha'i)

February 2027

February 1–2: Imbolc (Pagan/Wicca)
February 3: Setsubun Sai (Shinto)
February 6: Lunar New Year (Interfaith/Taoist/BSA)
February 7 – March 8: Ramadan (Islam)
February 10: Ash Wednesday / Lent Begins (Christian)
February 11: Vasant Panchami (Hindu)
February 15: Nirvana Day / Parinirvana Day (Buddhist/Jain)
February 21: Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
February 26 – March 1: Ayyám-i-Há (Baha'i)

March 2027

March 6: Laylat al-Qadr (Islam)
March 6–7: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
March 10: Eid al-Fitr (Islam)
March 14: Nanak Shahi (Sikh)
March 15: Clean Monday / Orthodox Lent Begins (Orthodox)
March 20: Ostara / Spring Equinox (Pagan/Wicca)
March 21: Palm Sunday (Christian)
March 21: Naw-Rúz / Nowruz (Baha'i/Persian/Zoroastrian New Year)
March 22–23: Holi (Hindu)
March 22–23: Purim (Jewish)
March 23–25: Hola Mohalla (Sikh)
March 26: Good Friday (Christian)
March 28: Easter (Christian)

April 2027

April 7: Ugadi (Hindu New Year)
April 8: Hanamatsuri (Buddhist)
April 8–9: Farvardigan (Zoroastrian)
April 14: Vaisakhi / Baisakhi (Sikh)
April 14–15: Rama Navami (Hindu)
April 19: Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)
April 20: Theravada New Year (Buddhist)
April 21: Ridván Begins (Baha'i)
April 21–29: Passover / Pesach (Jewish)
April 25: Orthodox Palm Sunday
April 30: Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian)

May 2027

May 1: Beltane (Wicca)
May 2: Pascha / Orthodox Easter (Orthodox)
May 6: Ascension Day (Christian)
May 16–17: Eid al-Adha (Islam)
May 19–20: Vesak / Buddha Day (Buddhist)
May 23–24: Declaration of the Báb (Baha'i)
May 28–29: Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh (Baha'i)

Summer 2027

June 2027

June 5–6: Al-Hijira (Islam)
June 10: Ascension of Christ (Orthodox Christian)
June 10–12: Shavuot (Jewish)
June 15: Ashura (Islam)
June 16: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh)
June 20: Pentecost (Orthodox Christian)
June 21: Litha / Summer Solstice (Pagan/Wicca)

July 2027

July 1: Tiragan (Zoroastrian)
July 1–3: Maidoshahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
July 8–10: Martyrdom of the Báb (Baha'i)
July 15: Obon (Buddhist)
July 20: Asalha Puja / Dharma Day (Buddhist)
July 24: Pioneer Day (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)