Religious observances which may impact on university activities in 2026/27
This is to advise of the dates of various key religious festivals which are likely to be observed by both staff and students in the course of this academic year. As always, this is not meant to be an exhaustive or complete list of all religious activities, but it concentrates on those where religious obligations may have an impact on aspects of our life and activities together.
The agreed policy is that any requests from students to be absent during term-time for necessary religious observance should be considered by Departments/Faculties as they arise, although the position is that the university is happy to consider such requests for absence for religious reasons as long as they are made sufficiently in advance, and appropriate alternative arrangements should be made to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by their religious observance (see the Timetable Policy at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/governancezone/Assets/Teaching/Timetable-Policy.pdf). Staff members are advised to inform their line managers as soon as possible in advance if they are likely to need leave for religious reasons at any point in the year.
August 2026
September & October 2026
Some of the Jewish festivals in these months will occur during Welcome Week and the first teaching week of the new academic year, when it will be difficult for new students to make requests in advance if the need for absence is in their first few weeks at King’s, so some flexibility and understanding will be required.
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Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year festival): sunset on Friday 11 September to nightfall on Sunday 13 September. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing may request the Friday off, to be certain of being home by sunset.
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Yom Kippur (holiest Jewish festival): sunset on Sunday 20 September to nightfall on Monday 21 September. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing will request time off, which may affect enrolment activities.
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Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah (Jewish): sunset on Friday 25 September to nightfall on Sunday 4 October. Work and travel must be avoided for the days at the start and end of the festival, so those observing may request time off either for 25-26 September and 2 October, or for the whole period. This may therefore affect teaching in the first week of Semester I.
November 2026
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Diwali (Hindu, Jain Festival of Lights)/Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhi): Sunday 8 November. Time off for observance may be requested, but is not required.
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Birthday of Guru Nanak (Sikhi): Tuesday 24 November. Time off for observance should not be required.
December 2026
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Rohatsu/Bodhi Day (Buddhist): Tuesday 8 December. Observance may involve overnight meditation and/or fasting, which may affect those observing.
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Hanukkah (Jewish): sunset on Friday 4 December to nightfall on Saturday 12 December. Work does not need to be avoided, but those observing may request time off or to leave early on the first day in particular, to be certain of being home by sunset.
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Christmas (Christian): Friday 25 December. King’s is likely to close for the holiday break at the end of the day on Wednesday 23 December and re-open on Monday 4 January.
February 2027
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Ramadan (Muslim holy month): on or around Sunday 7 February to on or around Monday 8 March. Work does not need to be avoided, but those observing may be fasting during daylight hours, which may particularly affect those on placement. Friday prayers are especially important, which will therefore affect 12, 19, 26 February, and 5 March.
March & April 2027
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Purim (Jewish): sunset on Monday 22 March to nightfall on Tuesday 23 March. Work and travel should be avoided, so time off for observance may be requested.
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Holi (Hindu): Monday 22 March. Time off for observance should not be required.
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Eid al-Fitr (Muslim, end of Ramadan): on or around Monday 8 March, depending on sighting of the moon. Time off for observance may be requested.
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Easter (Catholic & Protestant Christian): Sunday 28 March. Teaching in Semester II pauses after Thursday 25 March for the vacation period (due to the Good Friday bank holiday on Friday 26 March), and resumes on Monday 19 April.
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Vaisakhi (founding Sikhi festival): Wednesday 14 April. Time off for observance may be requested, although this will be in the vacation period.
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Pesach (Jewish): sunset on Wednesday 21 April to nightfall on Thursday 29 April. Work and travel must be avoided on the first two days and the last two days (21 and 22 April, and 28 and 29 April), which will affect the final week of teaching for Semester II (after the vacation period).
May & June 2027
If there are instances where the required observance of a religious festival coincides with either ongoing teaching or exams, please advise such clashes to Faculties / Departments and the Examinations Office AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY, copying in the relevant Chaplain, so that appropriate alternative arrangements can be made:
Christian (Orthodox): Fr Alexander Fostiropoulos (alexander.fostiropoulos@kcl.ac.uk)
Buddhist: Hogets Baerndal (hogets.baerndal@kcl.ac.uk)
Jewish: Rabbi Dr Harrie Cedar (harrie.cedar@kcl.ac.uk)
Muslim: Imam Abdul Choudhury (abdul.choudhury@kcl.ac.uk) or Romana Kazmi (rashida.kazmi@kcl.ac.uk)
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Easter (Orthodox Christian): Sunday 2 May. Those observing may request time off on Friday 30 April (Holy Friday).
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Eid al-Adha (Muslim): Monday 17 May. Those observing may request time off, although it is not required.
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Vesak (holiest Buddhist day): Thursday 20 May. Time off for observance may be requested, although it is not required.
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Shavuot (Jewish): sunset on Thursday 10 June to nightfall on Saturday 12 June. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing will request time off for the Thursday and Friday (exams are scheduled to end the previous week, so should not be affected).
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Ashura (Shia Muslim): Monday 14 June to Tuesday 15 June. Work should be avoided as far as possible, so those observing may factor this into their annual leave planning.