Religious Observance Calendar 2025 - 2026
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.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of religious or cultural observances. Many holidays—especially those based on lunar calendars—may vary in date depending on regional, cultural, or denominational traditions. In particular, Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the date listed.
This calendar is intended for informational purposes and may not include all major holidays or detailed descriptions of each. We encourage all members of our community to use it as a guide to respectfully engage with one another and to deepen their understanding of the diverse traditions that shape our shared experience.
For questions about the calendar, please contact CISL
gwu [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.
Holidays marked with an asterisk (*) begin at sundown.
- Fall 2025
Lughnasadh 08/01/2025 Pagan/Wiccan
Tisha B’Av* 08/02/2025 through 08/03/2025 Jewish
Raksha Bandhan 08/09/2025 Hindu
Krishna Janmashtami 08/16/2025 Hindu
Paryushan Parva 08/20/2025 through 08/27/2025 Jain
Ganesh Chaturthi 08/26/2025 through 08/27/2025 Hindu
Mawlid al-Nabi 09/04/2025 through 09/05/2025 Islam
Nativity of Mary 09/08/2025 Roman Catholic
Ghambar Paitishem 09/12/2025 through 09/16/2025 Zoroastrian
Navratri 09/22/2025 through 10/02/2025 Hindu
Mabon 09/22/2025 Pagan/Wiccan
Rosh Hashanah* 9/22/2025 through 09/24/2025 Jewish
Yom Kippur* 10/01/2025 through 10/02/2025 Jewish
Dussehra 10/2/2025 Hindu
Autumn Moon Festival 10/06/2025 Buddhist
Sukkot* 10/06/2025 through 10/13/2025 Jewish
Karwa Chauth 10/09/2025 through 10/10/2025 Hindu
Shemini Atzeret* 10/13/2025 through 10/15/2025 Jewish
Simchat Torah* 10/14/2025 through 10/15/2025 Jewish
Installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib 10/20/2025 Sikh
Diwali 10/20/2025 Hindu/Jain/Sikh
Birth of the Báb 10/22/2025 Bahá’í
Birth of Bahá’u'lláh 10/23/2025 Bahá’í
Samhain 10/31/2025 through 11/01/2025 Pagan/Wiccan
All Saints’ Day 11/1/2025 Christian
All Souls’ Day 11/2/2025 Christian
Birth of Guru Nanak 11/5/2025 Sikh
Buddha’s Descent 11/11/2025 Buddhist
Shichi-go-san 11/15/2025 Shinto
Niinamesai 11/23/2025 Shinto
Day of the Covenant 11/24/2025 through 11/25/2025 Bahá’í
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá 11/26/2025 through 11/27/2025 Bahá’í
First Sunday of Advent 11/30/2025 Christian
Srīmad Bhagavad Gīta Jayantī 11/30/2025 Hindu
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 12/08/2025 Roman Catholic
Bodhi Day 12/08/2025 Buddhist
Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe 12/12/2025 Roman Catholic
Hanukkah* 12/14/2025 through 12/22/2025 Jewish
Yule 12/21/2025 through 01/01/2025 Pagan/Wiccan
Christmas 12/25/2025 Christian
Zarathosht Diso 12/26/2025 Zoroastrian- Spring 2026
Oshogatsu 01/01/2025 Shinto
Epiphany 01/06/2026 Christian
Christmas 01/07/2026 Orthodox Christian
Maghi 01/14/2026 Sikh
Makar Sankranti 01/14/2026 Hindu
Lailat al Miraj 01/15/2026 through 01/16/2026 Islam
Birth of Guru Gobind Singh 01/20/2026 Sikh
Vasant Panchami 01/23/2025 Hindu
Imbolc 02/01/2026 Pagan/Wiccan
Tu B’shevat* 02/01/2026 through 02/02/2026 Jewish
Setsubun 02/03/2026 Shinto
Buddha’s Passing 02/15/2026 Buddhist
Maha Shivaratri 02/15/2026 through 02/16/2026 Hindu
Ramadan 02/17/2026 through 03/19/2026 Islam
Ash Wednesday 02/18/2026 Christian
Losar 02/18/2026 through 02/20/2026 Buddhist
Forgiveness Sunday 02/22/2026 Orthodox Christian
Ayyám-i-Há 02/25/2026 through 03/01/2026 Bahá’í
Nineteen Day Fast 03/01/2026 through 03/20/2026 Bahá’í
Purim* 03/02/2026 through 03/03/2026 Jewish
Sangha Day/Māgha Pūjā 03/03/2026 Buddhist
Holi 03/04/2026 Hindu
Hola Mohalla 03/04/2026 through 03/06/2026 Sikh
Laylat al Qadr 03/16/2026 Islam
Eid-al-Fitr 03/19/2026 through 03/20/2026 Islam
Ostara 03/20/2026 Pagan/Wiccan
Nowruz 03/20/2026 Bahá’í/Zoroastrian
Rama Navami 03/26/2026 Hindu
Palm Sunday 03/29/2026 Christian
Mahavir Jayanthi 03/31/2026 Jain
Hanuman Jayantï 03/31/2026 through 04/01/2026 Hindu
Passover* 04/01/2026 through 04/09/2026 Jewish
Holy Thursday 04/02/2026 Christian
Good Friday 04/03/2026 Christian
Easter 04/05/2026 Christian
Pascha 04/12/2026 Orthodox Christian
Yom Ha’shoah* 04/13/2026 through 04/14/2026 Jewish
Vaisakhi 04/14/2026 Sikh
Ridván 04/20/2026 through 05/02/2026 Bahá’í
Beltane 05/01/2026 Pagan/Wiccan
Lag B’Omer* 05/04/2026 through 05/05/2026 Jewish
Ascension Day 05/14/2026 Christian
Shavuot* 05/21/2026 through 05/23/2026 Jewish
Declaration of the Báb 05/23/2026 through 05/24/2026 Bahá’í
Buddha’s Birthday 05/24/2026 Buddhist
Pentecost 05/24/2026 Christian
Eid-al-Adha 05/26/2026 through 05/27/2026 Islam
Ascension of Bahá’u'lláh 05/28/2026 through 05/29/2026 Bahá’í
Litha 06/21/2026 Pagan/Wiccan
Ashura 06/25/2026 through 06/26/2026 Islam
Martyrdom of the Báb 07/10/2026 Bahá’í
Tisha B’Av* 07/22/2026 Jewish
Asalha Puja/ Dharma Day 07/29/2026 Buddhist