At TCU, our ties with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, inform our campus today. As a church-related University, those ties are strong and vibrant. Because of this, we support an education that blends together faith, reason and intellectual curiosity on a campus where individuals from all religious traditions and spiritual paths make up our campus community.
It is because of this tie and not in spite of it that TCU upholds a Religious Holiday Policy. Advocated for by student groups, unanimously approved by TCU Student Government Association, and voted into approval by TCU Faculty Senate, this policy allows students to take an excused absence from classes to observe their religious holiday.
We recommend that students examine each syllabus at the beginning of the semester for potential conflicts, notify the instructor/professor, and follow their directions as to how to request accommodations. For an email template, please click here.
To view the list of religious holidays please see the table below or download the list here, and if you have any questions, please email faith@tcu.edu or text/call 817-257-7830.
Please note that the list that follows is not exhaustive. It includes notable festivals and holy days that may require appropriate accommodations for students and employees; although by no means are all religious traditions represented in the TCU community. If your particular holiday is missing, please contact us at faith@tcu.edu and let us know. Note that some holidays are tied to the lunar calendar or to particular cultural patterns that vary by region, and this means the official date of the holiday can be fluid.
Islamic Holidays: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be a one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
Religious Holidays 2026-27
| Date (s) | Holiday | Days of Week | Religion | Accommodations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25-8/26, 2026 | Mawlid al-Nabi | Tues-Wed | Islam | (dates can vary by a day) Muslim students and employees may be fasting. |
| 9/4/26 | Sri Krishna Jayaanti | Fri | Hinduism | (date may vary) Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines on this day, since it is likely that Hindu students will be operating on very little sleep. Some may fast during the first day. |
| 9/8-9/15, 2026 | Paryushana | Tues-Tues | Jainism, Swetamber/Shvetambara sect | (dates may vary) Religious accommodations: Jain students and employees may be fasting. |
| 9/11-9/13, 2026 | Rosh Hashanah | Fri-Sun | Judaism | (first 2 days) Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply). |
| 9/15-9/25, 2026 | Paryushana/Daslakshana/Kshamavani | Tues-Fri | Jainism, Digambara sect | (dates may vary) Religious accommodations: Jain students and employees may be fasting. |
| 9/20-9/21, 2026 | Yom Kippur | Mon-Tues | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academics deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Jewish students and employees may be fasting all day. |
| 9/25-10/2, 2026 | Sukkot | Fri-Fri | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on the first two days. Eve and first day are non-working for Reform Jews; Eve, first and second days are non-working for Orthodox Jews. |
| 10/2-10/4, 2026 | Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah | Fri-Sun | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply). |
| 10/11-10/19, 2026 | Navarati | Sun-Mon | Hinduism | Note: Some Hindus will pray and fast |
| 11/8/26 | Diwali (Deepavali) | Sun | Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism | Religious Accommodations: Hindu employees will likely request the day off on this date. |
| 11/10/26 | Birth of the Báb | Tues | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Baha’i employees suspend work on this day and will likely request to have this day off. |
| 11/11/26 | Birth of Bahá’u’lláh | Wed | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Baha’i employees suspend work on this day and will likely request to have this day off. |
| 12/4-12/12, 2026 | Hanukkah/Chanukah | Fri-Sat | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Academics and work permitted. Provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply—potato pancakes, doughnuts or other fried food is customary). |
| 12/24-12/25, 2026 | Christmas Eve/Christmas Day | Thurs-Fri | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Christian employees will likely request to have this day off. |
| 12/26-1/1, 2026-2027 | Kwanzaa | Sat-Fri | African American | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. African American employees will likely request to have this day off. |
| 1/1/27 | Gantan-sai | Fri | Shinto | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday) |
| 1/7/27 | Feast of the Nativity/Theophany/Epiphany | Thurs | Orthodox Christian | Religious accommodations: Many Eastern Orthodox employees will probably request this day off. |
| 2/6/27 | Lunar New Year | Sat | Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Chinese employees may request this day off. |
| 2/7-3/8, 2027 | Ramadan | Sun-Mon | Islam | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines during this time. Be sensitive to the fact that students and employees celebrating Ramadan will be fasting during the day (continuously for 30 days) and will likely have less stamina as a result. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply). |
| 2/10/27 | Ash Wednesday, Lent begins | Wed | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant) | (food accommodation as requested) |
| 3/1-3/19, 2027 | ‘Alá’ (Loftiness) | Mon-Fri | Bahá’í | 19-day fast, sunrise to sunset each day, Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the date. Bahá’ís students and employees may be fasting. |
| 3/10/27 | Eid al-Fitr | Wed | Islam | (date can vary by a day) Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If employees ask for this day off, it should be granted. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if re |
| 3/15-5/1, 2027 | Great Lent begins/Clean Monday | Mon-Sat | Orthodox Christian | Note: Students and employees may be fasting. |
| 3/21/27 | Palm Sunday | Sun | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant) | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Orthodox Christian employees that work on Suns may ask for this day off. |
| 3/22-3/23, 2027 | Purim | Mon-Tues | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays; however, some sources indicate that Jews should not go about their ordinary business at Purim out of respect for the festival. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (kosher restrictions apply). |
| 3/22/27 | Holi – Festival of Colors | Mon | Hinduism | (date may vary) Note: Celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water. |
| 3/26/27 | Good Friday | Fri | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant) | Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested. Meat (fish not considered meat) is prohibited during meals for some. |
| 3/28/27 | Easter | Sun | Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant) | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Christian employees that work on Suns may ask for this day off. |
| 4/7/27 | Annunciation | Wed | Orthodox Christian | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities |
| 4/19/27 | Mahavir-Jayanti | Mon | Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism | Religious accommodation may be requested. |
| 4/21-4/29, 2027 | Pesach/Passover | Wed-Thurs | Judaism | (first two and last two days) Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply—the use of leavening is prohibited so, for example, matzah is eaten in place of bread.) |
| 4/21/27 | Ridván (1st day) of Most Great Festival | Wed | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the 1st day, 9th day, and 12th day of Ridván as work is suspended for Baha’is. |
| 4/25/27 | Orthodox Palm Sunday | Sun | Orthodox Christian | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, activities. Orthodox Christian employees that work on Sundays may ask for this day off. |
| 4/29/27 | Ridván (9th day) | Thurs | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the 1st day, 9th day, and 12th day of Ridván as work is suspended for Baha’is. |
| 4/30/27 | Orthodox Great Friday | Fri | Orthodox Christian | Recommended Accommodations: Great Friday is a strict day of fasting for many Greek Orthodox Christians in the United States. It is suggested to avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. |
| 5/2/27 | Orthodox Easter/Pascha | Sun | Orthodox Christian | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Orthodox Christian employees that work on Sundays may ask for this day off. |
| 5/2/27 | Ridván (12th day) | Sun | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the 1st day, 9th day, and 12th day of Ridván as work is suspended for Baha’is. |
| 5/3-5/4, 2027 | Yom HaSho’ah | Mon-Tues | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Academics and work are permitted. Provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply). |
| 5/16-5/17, 2027 | Eid al-Adha | Sun-Mon | Islam | (date can vary by a day)Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first day. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply). Date details: Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice. |
| 5/24/27 | Declaration of the Báb | Mon | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for Baha’is. |
| 5/29/27 | Ascension of Baha’u’lláh | Sat | Bahá’í | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for Baha’is. |
| 6/10-6/12, 2027 | Shavuot | Thurs-Sat | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday. Provide food accommodation as requested. (Kosher restrictions |
| 8/11-8/12, 2027 | Tisha B’ Av | Wed-Thurs | Judaism | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Jewish students and employees may be fasting all day. |
| 8/15/27 | The Dormition of the Theotokos | Sun | Orthodox Christian | Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities |