The University of Washington follows several calendars which can provide you with much needed strategic communications considerations for your content. Below is a calendar, organized by month, with monthly themes, history and heritage months, and important dates that you can use to plan and coordinate your communications.
Academic year 2026-2027 strategic considerations
Monthly calendar
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Research Makes America A
- Hashtag
- #ResearchMakesAmerica
- Goal
- Show how UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous – and is worth supporting
- Content ideas
- New treatments improving Americans’ health; Research protecting U.S. from natural and human-made threats; Innovations making businesses more competitive; The return on investment to the economy from research; Improvements to population health from research; The importance of universities in the growth of the U.S.
- Advancement tags
- Research; Science; Technology; Engineering; Healthcare; Population Health; Law & Policy
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 9/4: Janmashtami (Hindu) B
- 9/7: Labor Day 1,2 B
- 9/11 – 9/13: Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (Jewish) 3,4 B
- 9/20 – 9/21: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish) 3,4 B
- 9/25 – 10/2: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish) 3,4,10 B
UW history
- 9/4: UW moves to Seattle campus (September 4, 1895) F
Academic calendar
- 8/22 – 9/29: Autumn Break D
- 9/1/2026 – 8/31/2027: Academic Year 2026-2027 D
- 9/30: Academic Year 2026-2027 begins D
- 9/30 – 12/18: Autum Quarter 2026 D
- 9/30: Instruction begins for Autum Quarter 2026 D
Admissions calendar
- 9/1: Application opens for first-year students E
- 9/10 – 11/15: Admissions application window for first-year students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 6/19 – 9/1: Real Dawgs Read F
- 9/1 – 12/31: Football home games F
- 9/3: Web Council September meeting F
- 9/6: Apple Cup F
- 9/9 – 9/16: Panhellenic Formal Recruitment F
- 9/22 – 9/25: Move-In Days F
- 9/23 – 10/2: Dawg Daze (series) F
- 9/27: First year convocation F
- 9/28: Fall Fling (Dawg Daze) F
- 9/30: Costco Scholarship Fund Breakfast F
Advancement calendar
- 9/11: Patriot Day G
- 9/17: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day G
Unofficial holidays
- 9/29: National Coffee Day F
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Husky Student Experience A
- Hashtag
- #HuskyExperience
- Goal
- Highlight how access to an excellent UW education prepares students for successful careers and lives
- Content ideas
- Scholarships that enable debt-free degrees; Students who are role models for prospective students; Career prep, including research and leadership opportunities; Alumni who got good jobs right after graduation; Students who graduate with no debt thanks to UW programs; Activities and internships that prepare students for careers
- Advancement tags
- Student Experience; Education; Academics; Scholarship; Leadership; Alumni; School Spirit
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 9/25 – 10/2: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish) 3,4,10 B
- 10/3: Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) 3,4 B
- 10/4: Simchat Torah (Jewish) 3,4 B
- 10/11: Navratri (Hindu) B
- 10/12: Indigenous Peoples Day B
- 10/20: Dussehra (Hindu) B
UW history
Academic calendar
Admissions calendar
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 9/1 – 12/31: Football home games F
- 9/23 – 10/2: Dawg Daze (series) F
- 10/1 – 12/31: Combined Fund Drive F
- 10/1: Web Council October meeting F
- 10/8: State of the
University
Address F - 10/18: Dawg Dash F
Advancement calendar
- 10/11: National Coming Out Day G
- 10/13: Indigenous Peoples Day G
Unofficial holidays
UWHR calendar
- 10/1 – 11/30: Open Enrollment J
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Collaborative Innovation A
- Hashtag
- #UWinnovates
- Goal
- Demonstrate value of bringing people together across disciplines and differences to solve complex problems
- Content ideas
- Projects tackling challenges in WA, nationally and globally; Start-up companies or new products created at/with the UW; Communities brought together to solve problems; Faculty working across disciplines to solve pressing problems; Industry partnerships that result in new products and services; Ways students are engaged in innovation, entrepreneurship
- Advancement tags
- Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Engineering; Research; Discovery & Exploration; Business; Community
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 11/8: Diwali (Hindu) B
- 11/10: Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 11/11: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 11/11: Veterans Day 1,2 B
- 11/26: Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í) 4 B
- 11/26: Thanksgiving Day 1,2 B
- 11/27: Native American Heritage Day 1,2 B
- 11/28: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá (Bahá’í) 4 B
UW history
- 11/4: Founding of the University of Washington (November 4, 1861) F
Academic calendar
Admissions calendar
- 9/10 – 11/15: Admissions application window for first-year students E
- 11/15: Application deadline for summer and autumn quarters for first-year students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 9/1 – 12/31: Football home games F
- 10/1 – 12/31: Combined Fund Drive F
- 11/5: Web Council November meeting F
- 11/6 – 11/7: UW Family Weekend F
- 11/11: Veterans Day Ceremony F
Advancement calendar
- 11/3: Election Day / Democracy Day (first Tuesday in November) G
- 11/20: Transgender Day of Remembrance G
UWHR calendar
- 10/1 – 11/30: Open Enrollment J
Messaging theme
- Theme
- This is UW A
- Hashtag
- #ThisIsUW
- Goal
- Celebrate 2026 student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments to elicit pride in their communities
- Content ideas
- UW community members having a positive impact; Awards and honors recognizing excellence; Stories that performed well and deserve to be featured again; Graduates who have lined up jobs thanks to their degrees; Graduates who have overcome barriers thanks to the UW; Annual awards honorees
- Advancement tags
- School Spirit; Community; Alumni; Student Experience; Leadership; Athletics; Arts
Important date(s)
- 12/5 – 12/12: Hanukkah (Chanukah) (Jewish) 4 B
- 12/25: Christmas Day (Christian) 1,2 B
Academic calendar
- 9/1/2026 – 8/31/2027: Academic Year 2026-2027 D
- 9/30 – 12/18: Autum Quarter 2026 D
- 12/11: Last day of instruction for Autum Quarter 2026 D
- 12/12 – 12/18: Final examinations for Autum Quarter 2026 D
- 12/19/2026 – 1/3/2027: Winter Break D
Admissions calendar
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for transfer students E
- 12/15: Application opens for summer and autumn quarters for transfer students E
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for postbaccalaureate students E
- 12/15: Application opens for summer and autumn quarters for postbaccalaureate students E
- 12/31: Test score deadline for summer and autumn quarters for first-year students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 9/1 – 12/31: Football home games F
- 10/1 – 12/31: Combined Fund Drive F
- 12/1 – 12/3: Makers Fair F
- 12/3: Web Council December meeting F
Advancement calendar
- 12/1: World AIDS Day G
- 12/7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day G
Unofficial holidays
- 12/11: International Mountain Day F
- 12/23: Festivus F
- 12/31: New Year’s Eve F
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Our Public Promise A
- Hashtag
- #UWserves
- Goal
- Emphasize the UW’s commitment to the people of the state as WA’s leading public research university
- Content ideas
- Commitment to expanding educational access for WA students; Life-saving and life-changing patient care for WA patients; Partnerships with WA communities, tribes, businesses; How UW makes college more affordable and accessible; Projects that have direct benefits in communities; Students participating in service-learning projects
- Advancement tags
- Community; Education; Healthcare; Population Health; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Philanthropy; Leadership
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 1/1: New Years Day 1,2 B
- 1/7: Orthodox Christmas (Christian Orthodox) B
- 1/18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1,2 B
UW history
- 1/4: Dubs’ birthday F
Academic calendar
- 9/1/2026 – 8/31/2027: Academic Year 2026-2027 D
- 12/19/2026 – 1/3/2027: Winter Break D
- 1/4 – 3/19: Winter Quarter 2027 D
- 1/4: Instruction begins for Winter Quarter 2027 D
Admissions calendar
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for transfer students E
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for postbaccalaureate students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 1/7: Web Council January meeting F
- 1/11 – 4/26: 2027 Washington Legislative Session F
- 1/18 – 1/22: MLK Week F
Advancement calendar
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Proven Impact A
- Hashtag
- #UWdiscovers
- Goal
- Demonstrate real-world benefits of UW research for people, families and communities
- Content ideas
- Tangible outcomes: a new product, policy, treatment or cure; Someone who is benefitting from UW research or scholarship; Creative works with a “wow” factor or community impact; Benefits of research on a community’s health and well-being; A business that is utilizing UW research to grow, succeed; Students working on impactful research projects
- Advancement tags
- Research; Discovery & Exploration; Science; Technology; Healthcare; Population Health; Engineering
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 2/6: Lunar New Year B
- 2/7: Beginning of Ramadan (Islamic) 4,6 B
- 2/10: Ash Wednesday (Christian) B
- 2/10: Beginning of Lent (Christian Orthodox) B
- 2/15: Presidents’ Day 1,2 B
- 2/26 – 3/1: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í) 4 B
Academic calendar
Admissions calendar
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for transfer students E
- 12/15/2026 – 2/28/2027: Admissions application window for postbaccalaureate students E
- 2/28: UW FAFSA + WASFA priority date E
- 2/28: Application deadline for summer and autumn quarters for transfer students E
- 2/28: Application deadline for summer and autumn quarters for postbaccalaureate students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 1/11 – 4/26: 2027 Washington Legislative Session F
- 2/1 – 6/30: Awards of Excellence F
- 2/4: Web Council February meeting F
- 2/10 – 2/11: Makers Fair F
Unofficial holidays
- 2/2: Groundhog Day F
- 2/14: Valentine’s Day F
- 2/22: National Walk Your Dog Day F
- 2/25: Mardi Gras F
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Research Makes America A
- Hashtag
- #ResearchMakesAmerica
- Goal
- Show how UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous – and is worth supporting
- Content ideas
- New treatments improving Americans’ health; Research protecting U.S. from natural and human-made threats; Innovations making businesses more competitive; The return on investment to the economy from research; Improvements to population health from research; The importance of universities in the growth of the U.S.
- Advancement tags
- Research; Science; Technology; Engineering; Healthcare; Population Health; Law & Policy
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 2/26 – 3/1: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í) 4 B
- 3/2 – 3/20: Bahá’í Fasting Period (Bahá’í) 4 B
- 3/5: Lailat al-Qadr (Islamic) 4,6 B
- 3/6: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) 6 B
- 3/10: Eid al-Fitr (Islamic) 4,6 B
- 3/21: Naw‑Rúz (Bahá’í New Year) (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 3/22: Holi (Hindu) 8 B
- 3/23: Purim (Jewish) 4 B
- 3/26: Good Friday (Christian) B
- 3/28: Easter (Christian) B
Academic calendar
- 9/1/2026 – 8/31/2027: Academic Year 2026-2027 D
- 1/4 – 3/19: Winter Quarter 2027 D
- 3/12: Last day of instruction for Winter Quarter 2027 D
- 3/13 – 3/19: Final examinations for Winter Quarter 2027 D
- 3/20 – 3/28: Spring Break D
- 3/29 – 6/11: Spring Quarter 2027 D
- 3/29: Instruction begins for Spring Quarter 2027 D
Admissions calendar
- 3/1 – 3/15: Admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter for first-year students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 1/11 – 4/26: 2027 Washington Legislative Session F
- 2/1 – 6/30: Awards of Excellence F
- 3/1 – 4/30: Cherry Blossoms F
- 3/1 – 5/1: New Huskies F
- 3/1 – 4/30: Husky 100 F
- 3/4: Web Council March meeting F
- 3/19 – 3/21: UW Converge F
- 3/19: Match Day F
Advancement calendar
- 3/8: International Women’s Day G
- 3/31: Transgender Day of Visibility G
Unofficial holidays
- 3/17: St. Patrick’s Day F
- 3/23: National Puppy Day F
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Husky Student Experience A
- Hashtag
- #HuskyExperience
- Goal
- Highlight how access to an excellent UW education prepares students for successful careers and lives
- Content ideas
- Scholarships that enable debt-free degrees; Students who are role models for prospective students; Career prep, including research and leadership opportunities; Alumni who got good jobs right after graduation; Students who graduate with no debt thanks to UW programs; Activities and internships that prepare students for careers
- Advancement tags
- Student Experience; Education; Academics; Scholarship; Leadership; Alumni; School Spirit
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 4/15: Rama Navami (Hindu) B
- 4/21 – 4/29: Passover (Pesach) (Jewish) 3,4,11 B
- 4/21: 1st Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 4/29: 9th Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 4/30: Orthodox Good Friday (Christian Orthodox) B
Academic calendar
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 1/11 – 4/26: 2027 Washington Legislative Session F
- 2/1 – 6/30: Awards of Excellence F
- 3/1 – 4/30: Cherry Blossoms F
- 3/1 – 5/1: New Huskies F
- 3/1 – 4/30: Husky 100 F
- 4/1: Web Council April meeting F
Unofficial holidays
Messaging theme
- Theme
- Collaborative Innovation A
- Hashtag
- #UWinnovates
- Goal
- Demonstrate value of bringing people together across disciplines and differences to solve complex problems
- Content ideas
- Projects tackling challenges in WA, nationally and globally; Start-up companies or new products created at/with the UW; Communities brought together to solve problems; Faculty working across disciplines to solve pressing problems; Industry partnerships that result in new products and services; Ways students are engaged in innovation, entrepreneurship
- Advancement tags
- Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Engineering; Research; Discovery & Exploration; Business; Community
History and heritage celebration(s)
- Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month C
- Jewish American Heritage Month C
- Mental Health Awareness Month G
Important date(s)
- 5/2: Orthodox Easter (Christian Orthodox) B
- 5/2: 12th Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 5/17: Eid al-Adha (Islamic) 4,6 B
- 5/24: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 5/29: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) 3,4 B
- 5/31: Memorial Day 1,2 B
UW history
- 5/1: National Decision day F
Academic calendar
Admissions calendar
- 5/1: National College Decision Day E
- 5/1 – 6/30: Admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter for transfer students E
- 5/1 – 6/30: Admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter for postbaccalaureate students E
Finance calendar
- 7/1/2026 – 6/30/2027: Fiscal Year 2027 H
UMAC event calendar
- 2/1 – 6/30: Awards of Excellence F
- 3/1 – 5/1: New Huskies F
- 5/6: Web Council May meeting F
- 5/11 – 5/13: Makers Fair F
- 5/19: OMA&D’s Annual Celebration Gala F
Advancement calendar
- 5/1: International Workers’ Day G
- 5/5: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls G
Unofficial holidays
- 5/1: Windermere Cup (first weekend of May) F
- 5/5: Cinco de Mayo F
- 5/5: National Teachers Day (Tuesday on the first full week of May) F
- 5/9: Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May) F
Accessibility events
Messaging theme
- Theme
- This is UW A
- Hashtag
- #ThisIsUW
- Goal
- Celebrate 2026-27 student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments to elicit pride in their communities
- Content ideas
- UW community members having a positive impact; Awards and honors recognizing excellence; Stories that performed well and deserve to be featured again; Graduates who have lined up jobs thanks to their degrees; Graduates who have overcome barriers thanks to the UW; Annual awards honorees
- Advancement tags
- School Spirit; Community; Alumni; Student Experience; Leadership; Athletics; Arts
History and heritage celebration(s)
Important date(s)
- 6/6: Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year) (Islamic) 4 B
- 6/11: Shavuot (Jewish) 3,4 B
- 6/19: Juneteenth 1,2 B
Academic calendar
- 9/1/2026 – 8/31/2027: Academic Year 2026-2027 D
- 3/29 – 6/11: Spring Quarter 2027 D
- 6/4: Last day of instruction for Spring Quarter 2027 D
- 6/5 – 6/11: Final examinations for Spring Quarter 2027 D
- 6/11: UW Tacoma Commencement D
- 6/12 – 6/20: Summer Break D
- 6/12: UW Seattle Commencement D
- 6/13: UW Bothell Commencement D
- 6/21 – 8/20: Summer Full-Term 2027 D
- 6/21 – 7/21: Summer A-Term 2027 D
- 6/21: Instruction begins for Summer Full-Term 2027 D
- 6/21: Instruction begins for Summer A-Term 2027 D
Admissions calendar
- 5/1 – 6/30: Admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter for transfer students E
- 5/1 – 6/30: Admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter for postbaccalaureate students E
Finance calendar
UMAC event calendar
- 2/1 – 6/30: Awards of Excellence F
- 6/1 – 9/30: Real Dawgs Read F
- 6/3: Web Council June meeting F
Advancement calendar
- 6/12: Loving Day G
- 6/27: Helen Keller Day G
Unofficial holidays
Footnotes
- Class not in session.
- If a federal holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), it is generally observed on the nearest workday – Monday for a Sunday holiday and Friday for a Saturday holiday. Please check with your employer for additional details.
- These holidays (or dates within holidays) are designated non-work (observance) days.Some of these dates are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual sighting of the moon and therefore there may be some variance by day.
- All Jewish, Islamic, and Bahá’í holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.
- Date not fixed.
- October 7 & 8 primary observation days.
- Begins evening of March 3 and ends the evening of March 4.
- April 1-2 and 8-9 primary obligation days.
- September 26-27 primary observation days.
- April 21-22 and 28-29 primary obligation days.
Sources
- UMAC Monthly Message Guide
- Washington State Council of Presidents
- US Library of Congress
- University of Washington Academic Calendars
- Admissions dates and deadlines
- Internal UMAC Calendar
- Internal Advancement Calendar
- Finance, Planning, and Budgeting Calendar
- ATS Calendar
- UWHR Calendar