The 2026–27 academic calendar will feature a few notable changes from prior years.
Next year, the academic year will begin on a Wednesday, rather than the Tuesday after Labor Day. Due to the shortened first week, fall break will be later than usual, and the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week will follow a standard meeting pattern instead of a Friday schedule.
“When Labor Day falls on Sept. 6 or 7, the Fall Term begins on the Wednesday prior to Labor Day on Sept. 1 or 2,” University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote to The Daily Princetonian. In 2026, Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7.
Classes will still be held on Labor Day.
Currently there is no information on how add/drop, a period of around two weeks in which students have time to modify their class schedule, will fit in the calendar. Information about Fall 2025 add/drop was released over three years in advance.
“There have not been any decisions/changes made to add drop,” Morrill wrote.
“You need the two weeks,” Sofia Clark ’28 told the ‘Prince.’ “You need to figure out if you like the class or not. [The two-week period] gives me time to explore.”
The change to Thanksgiving week might be significant for students’ travel plans. Currently, the week of Thanksgiving begins with a Monday schedule followed by a Friday schedule. Next year, it will be a Monday schedule followed by a Tuesday schedule. Significantly fewer students take Friday classes than Tuesday classes: In Fall 2023, nearly 70 percent of the undergraduate population were in class on Tuesday at 11:50 a.m.
With this change, many students will now have to travel on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when flights are often more expensive.
“[I] live in California, so having the actual day to travel back on Tuesday is kinda nice,” Vivian Golub ’29 said. “I feel opposed to all this.”
Fall break in 2026 will take place from Oct. 17–25, compared to the Oct. 11–19 break scheduled for this semester.
“The calendar reform committee made the decision to have at least six full weeks of class before the midterm break,” Morrill said. “In the Fall 2026 semester, the first week of classes is three days, followed by six full weeks of class before the fall break.”
Reading Period will begin and end on a Tuesday instead of beginning and ending on a Friday to accommodate the differences.
“There is no change in the structure of the calendar, simply the application of the rule,” Morrill continued.
Hayk Yengibaryan is a head News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif. and typically covers breaking news and profiles. He can be reached at hy5161[at]princeton.edu.
Nikki Han is an assistant News editor and a contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’ She runs the Faculty, Graduate Students, and Alumni coverage area.
Caitlyn Tablada is an assistant News editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from New York, N.Y. and typically covers student life.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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