Religious festivals
There is no automatic right to time off for religious obligations, but the University will try to make reasonable adjustments where it can. It is your responsibility to contact your course leader as soon as possible if there is a conflict. The University's Faith & Spirituality Senior Advisor can help and advise.
Religious festivals calendar
This page shows all of the important religious observance dates for the six main religions practised in the United Kingdom. If any of the dates on this page are incorrect or if you wish to add any, please contact the University's Faith & Spirituality Team.
Buddhist
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wesak (Buddha Day) |
05/05 | 23/05 | 12/05 | 08/04 | 08/04 | 08/04 |
Christian
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Good Friday |
07/04 | 29/03 | 18/04 | 03/04 | 26/03 | 14/04 |
|
Big Friday (Eastern and Greek Orthodox) |
14/04 | 03/05 | 20/04 | 05/04 | 28/03 | 16/04 |
|
Easter Sunday |
09/04 | 31/03 | 20/04 | 05/04 | 28/03 | 16/04 |
|
Easter Sunday (Greek and Eastern Orthodox) |
16/04 | 05/05 | 20/04 | 12/04 | 02/05 | 16/04 |
|
Christmas Day |
25/12 | 25/12 | 25/12 | 25/12 | 25/12 | 25/12 |
|
Christmas Day (Eastern Orthodox) |
07/01 | 07/01 | 07/01 | 07/01 | 07/01 | 07/01 |
|
Epiphany (Catholic) |
06/01 | 06/01 | 06/01 | 06/01 | 06/01 | 06/01 |
Hindu
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Krishna Janmashtami |
06/09 | 26/08 | 15/08 | 03/09 | 25/08 | 12/08 |
|
Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) |
12/11 | 01/11 | 20/10 | 08/11 | 29/10 | 17/10 |
Muslim
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ramadan month begins |
22/03 | 10/03 | 28/02 | 17/02 | 17/02 | 27/01 |
|
Eid-ul-Fitr |
21/04 | 09/04 | 30/03 | 19/03 | 09/03 | 26/02 |
|
Eid-ul-Adha |
28/06 | 16/06 | 06/06 | 26/05 | 16/05 | 04/05 |
|
Ashura |
27/07 | 16/07 | 05/07 | 25/06 | 14/06 | 02/06 |
Dates provided on the Islamic Calendar have been scientifically calculated. However, these have to be confirmed by sighting the moon and there can be a discrepancy of up to two days for each festival.
Jewish
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pesach - Passover (first 2 days) |
05/04 to 07/04 | 22/04 to 24/04 | 12/04 to 14/04 | 01/04 to 03/04 | 21/04 to 23/04 | 10/04 to 12/04 |
|
Pesach - Passover (final 2 days) |
11/04 to 13/04 | 28/04 to 30/04 | 18/04 to 20/04 | 07/04 to 09/04 | 27/04 to 29/04 | 17/04 to 19/04 |
|
Shavuot (Pentecost Festival of weeks) |
25/05 to 27/05 | 11/06 to 13/06 | 01/06 to 03/06 | 21/05 to 23/05 | 10/06 to 12/06 | 30/05 to 01/06 |
|
Rosh Hashanah |
15/09 to 17/09 | 02/10 to 04/10 | 22/09 to 24/09 | 11/09 to 13/09 | 01/10 to 03/10 | 20/09 to 22/09 |
|
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) |
24/09 to 25/09 | 11/10 to 12/10 | 01/10 to 02/10 | 20/09 to 21/09 | 10/10 to 11/10 | 29/09 to 30/09 |
|
Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
26/09 to 06/10 | 16/10 to 23/10 | 06/10 to 13/10 | 25/09 to 06/10 | 15/10 to 22/10 | 04/10 to 11/10 |
|
Shemini Atzeret |
06/10 to 07/10 | 23/10 to 24/10 | 13/10 to 14/10 | 06/10 to 07/10 | 22/10 to 23/10 | 11/10 to 12/10 |
|
Simchat Torah |
07/10 to 08/10 | 24/10 to 25/10 | 14/10 to 15/10 | 07/10 to 08/10 | 23/10 to 24/10 | 12/10 to 13/10 |
Sikh
| Festival | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Guru Gobind Singh's birthday |
05/01 | 17/01 | 16/01 and 27/12 | 15/01 | 04/01 and 23/12 | |
|
Vaisakhi/Baisakhi |
14/04 | 13/04 | 14/04 | 14/04 | 14/04 | 14/04 |
|
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev |
16/06 | 16/06 | 16/06 | 16/06 | 16/06 | 16/06 |
|
Bandi Chhor Divas |
12/11 | 01/11 | 20/10 | 08/11 | 29/10 | 17/09 |
|
Birthday of Guru Nanak |
27/11 | 15/11 | 05/11 | 24/11 | 14/11 | 02/12 |
|
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur |
24/11 | 24/11 | 24/11 | 24/11 | 24/11 | 24/11 |
|
Holla Mohalla |
08/03 to 10/03 | 25/03 to 27/03 | 14/03 to 16/03 | 04/03 to 06/03 | 23/03 to 25/03 | 11/03 to 13/03 |
Religious obligations during times of study or work
The University has had a long-standing commitment to respond appropriately to the needs presented by its different faith communities. We have a policy that allows a student, whose scheduled examination timetable conflicts with the requirements of their religious belief, to follow the mitigating circumstances procedures and submit a request to defer their examination to the next available opportunity.
We have highlighted festivals for which students and staff might reasonably ask for adjustments to their work or study in order to meet their religious obligations. The University also encourages staff, where possible, not to hold mandatory field trips and to avoid setting deadlines for assessments on these solemn holy days and festivals in order that such conflicts may be avoided.
This list of dates has been chosen to represent the diversity of our community and is not an exhaustive list. Students and staff from faith groups whose holy days are not included here may still be able to apply for adjustments.
The University's Faith & Spirituality Senior Advisor, Hamad, can help and advise around religion or belief in the context of assessments. To get in touch with Hamad, please email faith@kingston.ac.uk.
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