2025-2026 List of Religious Holidays

Rider University fully supports the right of students and faculty to observe religious holidays. Below is information on important religious holidays and on Rider University policies regarding class attendance and students’ responsibilities to make up missed work.

Per university policy, the University Academic Policy Committee encourages all faculty to honor the desire of students to observe major religious holidays by permitting students to make up work missed on the day or days in question, including any tests or examinations. This position is endorsed with the understanding that students are responsible for all class work missed.

Faculty observing these holidays are encouraged to communicate with students via Canvas and/or email if they plan on cancelling the class meeting to observe the holiday. Students who are missing class to observe the holiday need to email the professor prior to missing class and request the opportunity to make arrangements to complete any missed work.

Please note these holidays occurring during the 2025-2026 academic year:

  • Rosh Hashanah will be observed from sundown Monday, September 22, 2025 through sundown on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
  • Navaratri will begin on Monday, September 22, 2025 and ends on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
  • Yom Kippur will be observed from sundown Wednesday, October 1, 2025 though sundown on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
  • Sukkot will be observed from sundown Monday, October 6, 2025 through Monday, October 13, 2025.
  • Diwali will be observed on Sunday, October 19, 2025 through Thursday, October 23, 2025.
  • Guru Nanak Jayanti will be observed on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
  • Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur will be observed on Monday, November 24, 2025.
  • Hanukkah will be observed from sundown on Sunday, December 14, 2025 through sundown on Monday, December 22, 2025.
  • Christmas Eve will be observed Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
  • Christmas will be observed Thursday, December 25, 2025.
  • Kwanzaa will be observed Friday, December 26, 2025 through Thursday, January 1, 2026.
  • New Year will be observed Thursday, January 1, 2026.
  • Lunar New Year will be observed Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Hola Mohalla will be observed beginning Wednesday, March 4, 2026 and ends on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • Ramadan will be observed beginning the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 and ends in the evening of Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • Passover will be observed beginning at sundown on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 and ends on the evening of Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • Good Friday will be observed on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Easter will be observed on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • Hajj Days will begin in the evening of Sunday, May 24, 2026 and ends in the evening of Friday, May 29, 2026.
  • Day of Arafah will begin in the evening of Monday, May 25, 2026 and ends in the evening of Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
  • Eid al-Adha will begin in the evening of Tuesday, May 26, 2026 and ends in the evening of Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
  • Islamic New Year will begin in the evening of Tuesday, June 16, 2026 and ends in the evening of Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Please note the exact dates of Islamic holidays cannot always be determined in advance, due to the nature of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

Your sensitivity is greatly appreciated. If there are other important religious holidays which may affect class attendance or offerings, please contact the Provost's office, or send an email to vpaa@rider.edu.