Spring 2026 key dates for students
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2026) — As the Spring 2026 semester begins, students are encouraged to mark their calendars and plan ahead. The following key dates will help students stay on track throughout the semester.
January
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Jan. 12: Classes begin
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Jan. 16: Last day to add a class
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Jan. 19: Academic holiday — Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes)
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Jan. 25: Last day to downgrade a meal plan
February
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Feb. 28: Returner cancellation deadline for 2026-27 housing and dining application (penalty fees begin)
March
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March 16-21: Spring Break (no classes)
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March 30-April 21: Priority registration for summer sessions and Fall 2026
April
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April 1: Last day to apply for a May 2026 undergraduate or graduate degree
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April 29: Last day of classes
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April 30-May 1: Reading days
May
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May 4-7: Final exams
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May 8-9: Commencement ceremonies
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May 18: Summer session begins
Find the full academic calendar here.
For additional student resources, visit the Student Success website.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.