University of Wisconsin–Madison Academic Calendar 2026-27

The 2026–27 academic year includes fall 2026 and spring/summer 2027. Fall semester instruction begins on September 2, 2026, with the last class day on December 9, 2026, followed by a study day and a December exam period. Spring semester begins on January 19, 2027, with a spring recess in March and spring exams in early May, then two spring commencement dates on May 7 and May 8, 2027. Summer 2027 includes observed Memorial Day and observed Independence Day.

Dates verified on 2026-06-06 against the official source: secfac.wisc.edu. Always confirm with UW–Madison before making travel plans.

Works with Google Calendar, Outlook and Apple Calendar

UW–Madison key dates 2026-27

EventDateTypeAdd
Fall semester instruction beginsSep 2, 2026term
Labor Day (no instruction)Sep 7, 2026holiday
Thanksgiving recessNov 26, 2026 – Nov 29, 2026break
Last class day — Fall 2026Dec 9, 2026term
Study dayDec 10, 2026other
Exam period — Fall 2026Dec 11, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026exam
Commencement (no exams) — December 2026Dec 13, 2026commencement
Martin Luther King Jr. DayJan 18, 2027holiday
Spring semester instruction beginsJan 19, 2027term
Spring BreakMar 20, 2027 – Mar 28, 2027break
Classes resumeMar 29, 2027term
Last class day — Spring 2027Apr 30, 2027term
Study dayMay 1, 2027other
Exam period — Spring 2027May 2, 2027 – May 7, 2027exam
Commencement (Doctoral & Medical Professional)May 7, 2027commencement
Commencement (Bachelor's, Master's, Law)May 8, 2027commencement
Memorial Day (observed)May 31, 2027holiday
Independence Day (observed)Jul 4, 2027holiday

When is UW–Madison spring break 2027?

UW–Madison spring break 2027 is Mar 20, 2027 – Mar 28, 2027. Add it to your calendar with one click above so it never sneaks up on you.

UW–Madison academic calendar 2026-27 — FAQ

When is UW–Madison spring break 2027?

UW–Madison spring break 2027 runs Mar 20, 2027 – Mar 28, 2027.

When is UW–Madison commencement 2027?

Commencement (no exams) — December 2026 is Dec 13, 2026.

How do I add the University of Wisconsin–Madison 2026-27 calendar to Google Calendar or Outlook?

Use the "Add all to calendar" button on this page to download an .ics file with every key date, or click the Google/Outlook icons next to any single date. You can also install the free Text to Calendar Chrome extension and highlight any dates on UW–Madison's website to turn them into events instantly.

Turn any schedule into calendar events

The free Text to Calendar extension lets you highlight any dates — a syllabus, an email, UW–Madison's website — and turn them into Google or Outlook calendar events in one click.

More: all academic calendars · turn a class schedule into calendar events · free text → .ics generator