Academic Calendar

Duke Academic Calendar 2026‑2027: Important Dates

By eriq elikplim
Duke academic calendar, important dates.

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The Duke Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 is your essential roadmap for every deadline from enrollment and tuition payment due dates to course add/drop windows, withdrawal cut‑offs, campus holidays, and final exam schedules.

The Duke academic calendar 2026‑2027 helps students lock in Duke semester dates, plan around the Duke registration deadlines, track the Duke exam schedule, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W,” ensuring seamless academic and financial planning at Duke.

Duke’s academic year unfolds in two main semesters: Fall and Spring…each comprising 14 instructional weeks plus a Reading Week and finals week (so when you’re wondering how long a semester is at Duke University, expect about 16 weeks total).

The calendar also features Summer Sessions (split into Session I and Session II, each 6 weeks) for accelerated or make‑up courses, with their own add/drop and fee deadlines.

Whether you’re mapping out your full‑term workload, squeezing in a Summer Session module, or registering during Priority Enrollment, the Duke University Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 keeps every key date—from orientation through commencement—right at your fingertips.

Duke Academic Calendar Fall 2026

  1. New undergraduate first-year student move-in day is on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
  2. New undergraduate first-year student orientation runs from Sunday, August 16, 2026, through Friday, August 21, 2026.
  3. New undergraduate transfer student move-in day and orientation begins on Monday, August 17, 2026.
  4. New graduate student orientation begins on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
  5. New undergraduate student Convocation is on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
  6. Fall semester classes begin on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., and the Drop/Add period continues.
  7. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and no classes are held.
  8. The Drop/Add period ends on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
  9. Founders’ Weekend runs from Thursday, September 24, 2026, through Sunday, September 27, 2026, with classes held on Thursday and Friday.
  10. Duke Fall break 2026 begins on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Classes resume on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
  11. The last day to report midsemester grades is on Friday, October 9, 2026.
  12. Shopping carts open for Spring 2027 on Monday, October 19, 2026.
  13. Registration for Spring 2027 begins on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
  14. The last day to withdraw with a “W” from Fall 2026 classes (undergraduates only) is on Friday, November 6, 2026.
  15. Registration for Spring 2027 ends on Monday, November 9, 2026.
  16. Drop/Add for Spring 2027 begins on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
  17. Thanksgiving recess begins on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 10:30 p.m., and graduate classes end at that time. Undergraduate classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m
  18. Graduate reading period runs from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
  19. Undergraduate classes end on Friday, December 4, 2026.
  20. Undergraduate reading period runs from Saturday, December 5, 2026, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
  21. Final examinations begin on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
  22. Final examinations end on Monday, December 14, 2026, at 10:00 p.m.

Duke Academic Calendar Spring 2027

  1. Spring semester begins on Wednesday, January 6, 2027, at 8:30 a.m., and a Monday class schedule is followed while Drop/Add continues.
  2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and no classes are held.
  3. The Drop/Add period ends on Wednesday, January 20, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
  4. Shopping carts open for Summer 2027 on Monday, February 8, 2027.
  5. Registration for Summer 2027 begins on Monday, February 15, 2027.
  6. The last day to report midsemester grades is on Friday, February 19, 2027.
  7. Duke Spring Break 2027 begins on Friday, March 5, 2027, at 7:00 p.m, and ends on Sunday, March 14, 2027. Classes resume on Monday, March 15, 2027, at 8:30 a.m.
  8. Shopping carts open for Fall 2027 on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  9. The last day to withdraw with a “W” from Spring 2027 classes (undergraduates only) is on Wednesday, March 24, 2027.
  10. Registration for Fall 2027 begins on Wednesday, March 31, 2027, while Summer registration continues.
  11. Optional make-up days are on Saturday, April 3, 2027, and Saturday, April 10, 2027.
  12. Registration for Fall 2027 ends on Thursday, April 8, 2027, while Summer registration continues.
  13. Drop/Add for Fall 2027 begins on Friday, April 9, 2027.
  14. Graduate classes end on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
  15. Graduate reading period runs from Thursday, April 15, 2027, through Sunday, April 25, 2027.
  16. Undergraduate classes end on Wednesday, April 21, 2027.
  17. Undergraduate reading period runs from Thursday, April 22, 2027, through Sunday, April 25, 2027.
  18. Final examinations begin on Monday, April 26, 2027.
  19. Final examinations end on Saturday, May 1, 2027, at 10:00 p.m.
  20. Commencement begins on Friday, May 7, 2027.
  21. Graduation exercises and conferring of degrees take place on Sunday, May 9, 2027.

Duke Academic Calendar Summer 2026

  1. Shopping carts open for Summer 2026 on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  2. Registration begins for Summer 2026 on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  3. Summer Term 1 classes begin on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
  4. Drop/Add for Summer Term 1 ends on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
  5. Memorial Day is observed with no classes on Monday, May 25, 2026.
  6. The last day to withdraw with a W from Summer Term 1 classes (undergraduates only) is Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
  7. Juneteenth is observed with no classes on Friday, June 19, 2026.
  8. Summer Term 1 classes end on Monday, June 22, 2026.
  9. Summer Term 1 reading period runs until 7:00 PM, and final examinations begin at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
  10. Summer Term 1 final examinations end on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
  11. Summer Term 2 classes begin on Monday, June 29, 2026.
  12. Drop/Add for Summer Term 2 ends on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
  13. Independence Day is observed with no classes on Friday, July 3, 2026.
  14. The last day to withdraw with a W from Summer Term 2 classes (undergraduates only) is Monday, July 27, 2026.
  15. Summer Term 2 classes end on Friday, August 7, 2026, according to the Duke academic calendar 2025-2026.
  16. Summer Term 2 reading period runs until 7:00 PM, and final examinations begin at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
  17. Summer Term 2 final examinations end on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:00 PM.

For more on the Duke Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Duke University Calendar website.

eriq elikplim
eriq elikplimhttps://acadcalendar.com
Eric Elikplim is the lead editor of AcadCalendar.com. Eriq draws on 10 years of experience in edtech and project management. He has collaborated directly with multiple universities, establishing processes to cross-check term dates, registration deadlines, and exam schedules. Beyond calendar data, Eriq contributes thought leadership on academic productivity: he has authored articles on semester planning, and consulted with student organizations to refine reminder features and user experience.

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