Arizona Important Dates 2026 to 27 for Parents
For 2026 to 27, Arizona's fall classes run Aug. 24 to Dec. 9 and spring classes run Jan. 13 to May 5. Family Weekend is Oct. 2 to 4, Homecoming week is Oct. 18 to 24, and the dorms close at noon on Dec. 18 and again on May 14, the day of commencement.
Always double check the official calendar
Schools sometimes change dates. University of Arizona academic calendar.
Booking tip
Arizona Family Weekend is Oct 2 to 4, 2026. Hotels near campus fill early, so book as soon as you know you're coming.
Move in & orientation
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 early move in (approved housing and campus groups)Approved housing and campus groupsHousing lists Aug. 15 as Early Move In for approved housing and campus groups only.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 early move in (approved housing and campus groups)Source: Move In, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Sat, Aug 15, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 move in for new studentsNew students living on campusHousing lists Aug. 18 to 20 as Move In for New Students. Students pick a move in day and time slot during online pre arrival check in through the My UAHome portal and print an unloading dash pass.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 move in for new studentsSource: Move In, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Tue, Aug 18 to Thu, Aug 20, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 move in for returning studentsReturning students living on campusHousing lists Aug. 21 to 22 as Move In for Returning Students.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 move in for returning studentsSource: Move In, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Fri, Aug 21 to Sat, Aug 22, 2026 |
Classes & breaks
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 first day of classesStudent Affairs lists Aug. 24 as the first day of classes. The Registrar's session table shows the fall regular session running 08/24/2026 to 12/09/2026. Housing notes fall rent is due the same day.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 first day of classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Mon, Aug 24, 2026 |
| Thanksgiving RecessStudent Affairs and Housing both list Thanksgiving Recess as Nov. 26 to 29 and note that dorms stay open.Add to calendar: Thanksgiving RecessSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Thu, Nov 26 to Sun, Nov 29, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 last day of classesDec. 9 is the last day of fall classes. Dec. 10 is Reading Day, with no classes or finals.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 last day of classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Wed, Dec 9, 2026 |
| Winter closure for residence hallsOn campus residentsHousing lists Dec. 18 as the day dorms close, with students out by 12 noon except those living in winter break housing. Dorms reopen Jan. 10, 2027 at 12 noon, and spring classes begin Jan. 13.Add to calendar: Winter closure for residence hallsSource: Dates & Deadlines, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Fri, Dec 18, 2026 to Sun, Jan 10, 202712 PM to 12 PM |
| Spring 2027 first day of classesSpring classes begin Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2027. The Registrar's session table shows the spring regular session running 01/13/2027 to 05/05/2027.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 first day of classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Wed, Jan 13, 2027 |
| Spring Break 2027Student Affairs lists Spring Break as March 6 to 14, with no classes.Add to calendar: Spring Break 2027Source: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Sat, Mar 6 to Sun, Mar 14, 2027 |
| Spring 2027 last day of classesMay 5 is the last day of spring classes. May 6 is Reading Day, with no classes or finals.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 last day of classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Wed, May 5, 2027 |
Finals
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 final examsFall finals run Dec. 11 to 17, after Reading Day on Dec. 10. Your student's own exam times come from the Registrar's final exam schedule, so wait for that before booking a flight home.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 final examsSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Fri, Dec 11 to Thu, Dec 17, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 final examsSpring finals run May 7 to 13, after Reading Day on May 6.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 final examsSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Fri, May 7 to Thu, May 13, 2027 |
Family weekend & homecoming
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Family Weekend 2026Family Weekend 2026 runs Oct. 2 to 4, per the university's parents and families page. The Family Weekend calendar lists Friday, Oct. 2 events including a golf tournament, Fall Fest, a BASC resource fair, Jazz Under the Stars, Bear Down Friday's and volleyball vs. Iowa State, and the Family Weekend site lists an 8 p.m. football kickoff. Questions go to Parent & Family Programs at (520) 621-0884 or UAFamily@email.arizona.edu.Add to calendar: Family Weekend 2026Source: Information for Parents and Families, University of Arizona | Fri, Oct 2 to Sun, Oct 4, 2026 |
| Homecoming 2026Arizona Alumni lists Homecoming as Oct. 18 to 24, 2026. The week opens with the Lighting of A Mountain on Oct. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m., and the Wildcat for Life Tailgate is on the UA Mall on Oct. 24.Add to calendar: Homecoming 2026Source: Homecoming, Arizona Alumni | Sun, Oct 18 to Sat, Oct 24, 2026 |
Move out
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Dorms close for summer (spring move out deadline)On campus residentsHousing lists May 14, 2027 as the day dorms close, with all residents out by 12 noon except those living in summer housing. Student Affairs lists the same date. Housing FAQs note that dorms close at 12 p.m. on the Friday at the end of each semester and that students with extenuating circumstances should talk with their Community Director in advance.Add to calendar: Dorms close for summer (spring move out deadline)Source: Dates & Deadlines, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Fri, May 14, 202712 PM |
Commencement
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Commencement 2027Graduates and guestsThe university commencement ceremony is listed for Friday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Casino Del Sol Stadium. The Commencement office notes all dates and times are subject to change. Questions: Commencement@arizona.edu or (520) 621-3644.Add to calendar: Commencement 2027Source: Commencement, University of Arizona | Fri, May 14, 20277:30 PM |
Other dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Dorm front desks start accepting mail and packagesOn campus residentsHousing says mail and packages will not be accepted at the dorms until Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Packages without the student's name go back to the sender, and adding the room number helps desk staff tell the student a delivery arrived.Add to calendar: Dorm front desks start accepting mail and packagesSource: Mail, Housing & Residential Life, University of Arizona | Tue, Aug 18, 2026 |
| Labor Day, no classesNo classes on Labor Day.Add to calendar: Labor Day, no classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 |
| Homecoming football game vs. Iowa StateThe College of Information Science lists its all day Homecoming tent on the UA Mall on Oct. 24, 2026, before the Iowa State vs. Arizona football game. Kickoff time was not listed on the pages we checked.Add to calendar: Homecoming football game vs. Iowa StateSource: Homecoming 2026: InfoSci Tent on the U of A Mall, University of Arizona | Sat, Oct 24, 2026 |
| Veterans Day, no classesNo classes on Veterans Day.Add to calendar: Veterans Day, no classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 Reading DayNo classes or finals on Reading Day.Add to calendar: Fall 2026 Reading DaySource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Thu, Dec 10, 2026 |
| Winter 2026 sessionStudents taking winter session coursesThe optional winter session runs between fall and spring semesters, per the Registrar's session dates table.Add to calendar: Winter 2026 sessionSource: Session Dates, Office of the Registrar, University of Arizona | Mon, Dec 21, 2026 to Tue, Jan 12, 2027 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, no classesNo classes on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.Add to calendar: Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, no classesSource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 |
| Spring 2027 Reading DayNo classes or finals on Reading Day.Add to calendar: Spring 2027 Reading DaySource: Important Dates, Student Affairs, University of Arizona | Thu, May 6, 2027 |
How the Arizona calendar is built
The University of Arizona uses fall and spring semesters, with a short winter session from Dec. 21 to Jan. 12 for students who want extra credits. The Registrar says academic calendars follow Arizona Board of Regents policy and are approved five years in advance, so the big dates are set well ahead. Each semester ends with a Reading Day, a day with no classes and no exams, and then a week of finals.
Two offices publish the dates families care about most. The Student Affairs important dates page lists classes, holidays and finals. Housing & Residential Life lists the move in days and the exact hours the dorms close and reopen. When the two overlap, they agree.
Fall 2026
- Aug. 15: early move in, only for approved housing and campus groups
- Aug. 18 to 20: move in for new students
- Aug. 21 to 22: move in for returning students
- Aug. 24: first day of classes
- Sept. 7: Labor Day, no classes
- Oct. 2 to 4: Family Weekend
- Oct. 18 to 24: Homecoming week, with the Iowa State game on Saturday, Oct. 24
- Nov. 11: Veterans Day, no classes
- Nov. 26 to 29: Thanksgiving Recess, dorms stay open
- Dec. 9: last day of classes
- Dec. 10: Reading Day
- Dec. 11 to 17: final exams
- Dec. 18: dorms close at 12 noon, except for students in winter break housing
The Thanksgiving Recess listed by the university starts on Thursday. Wednesday, Nov. 25 is not shown as a day off, so check your student's class schedule before booking a Tuesday flight.
Spring 2027
- Jan. 10: dorms reopen at 12 noon
- Jan. 13: first day of classes
- Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, no classes
- March 6 to 14: spring break
- May 5: last day of classes
- May 6: Reading Day
- May 7 to 13: finals
- May 14: dorms close at 12 noon, except for students in summer housing
- May 14: university commencement at 7:30 p.m., Casino Del Sol Stadium
Booking around the moments that matter
Winter break flights. Finals run through Thursday, Dec. 17, and Housing wants everyone out by noon the next day. A student whose last exam lands on the 17th has very little time to pack. Wait for your student's own exam times on the Registrar's final exam calendar before you buy a ticket, and aim for Dec. 18 or later if the last exam is late in the week.
Spring break. The break runs from Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 14, so your student gets both weekends. Dorms are not listed as closing for spring break, but confirm with Housing if your student plans to stay in Tucson.
Family Weekend. Oct. 2 to 4 in 2026, run by Parent & Family Programs. Friday alone has a golf tournament, Fall Fest, Jazz Under the Stars and a volleyball match, and the football kickoff is listed for 8 p.m. For 2027, watch the Family Weekend site for dates and book a room as soon as they post.
Commencement. The main ceremony is Friday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m., and the dorms close at noon that same day. If your graduate lives on campus, have them ask their Community Director well ahead of time about the timing, as Housing suggests for anyone with extenuating circumstances.
What to double check
The Commencement office and the university catalog both say dates are subject to change. Before you lock in nonrefundable travel, recheck the Student Affairs important dates, Housing dates and deadlines, and the official academic calendar. For add, drop and withdrawal deadlines on specific classes, your student can use the Registrar's Dates & Deadlines tool.
Questions about Arizona dates
When is University of Arizona Family Weekend 2026?
Family Weekend 2026 is Oct. 2 to 4. Friday, Oct. 2 is packed with events such as Fall Fest and Jazz Under the Stars, and the Family Weekend site lists an 8 p.m. football kickoff. Questions go to Parent & Family Programs at (520) 621-0884.
When does fall 2026 move in start at the University of Arizona?
New students move in Aug. 18 to 20, 2026 and returning students Aug. 21 to 22. Approved housing and campus groups can arrive Aug. 15, and classes begin Aug. 24.
When do the dorms close for winter break, and when do they reopen?
Dorms close Friday, Dec. 18, 2026 at 12 noon, except for students in winter break housing. They reopen Jan. 10, 2027 at 12 noon, and spring classes start Jan. 13.
When are fall 2026 finals?
Fall finals run Dec. 11 to 17, after the last day of classes on Dec. 9 and Reading Day on Dec. 10. Check your student's own exam times before booking a flight, since the dorms close at noon on Dec. 18.
Are the dorms open over Thanksgiving?
Yes. Student Affairs and Housing list Thanksgiving Recess as Nov. 26 to 29, 2026 with the dorms open, so your student can stay in Tucson.
When is spring break 2027?
Spring break runs March 6 to 14, 2027, with no classes.
When is University of Arizona commencement 2027?
The university commencement ceremony is Friday, May 14, 2027 at 7:30 p.m. at Casino Del Sol Stadium. The Commencement office says dates and times are subject to change; reach it at (520) 621-3644.
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