This guide provides a detailed schedule of the USC holiday calendar for 2025-2026, detailing all campus-wide holidays, academic recesses, and university office closures.
Whether you’re a student or employee at the University of Southern California, you’ll find key dates for both academic breaks and observed holidays, all aligning with the official USC academic calendar 2025-2026.
Table of Contents
USC Holiday Calendar Fall 2025
Below are all the USC holiday schedules for fall 2025 during the fall semester, including academic breaks when classes are not in session.
- Labor Day Holiday is Monday, September 1, 2025. There are no classes, and USC offices are closed.
- USC Fall Break 2025 is from Thursday, October, to Friday, October 10, 2025. There are no classes; the campus remains open, but most students have a long weekend. The USC Fall Recess is scheduled right after midterms, which is perfect for catching up on assignments or a quick getaway. Classes resume on Monday, October 13, 2025, after the University of Southern California Fall recess.
- Veterans Day Holiday is on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. There are no classes.
- USC Thanksgiving Break 2025 is from Wednesday, November 26, to Sunday, November 30, 2025. The Thanksgiving Break spans an entire five-day period, giving you ample time to visit family or attend USC’s own Thalians Ball events. Friday, November 28, is a paid USC holiday for employees. Classes resume on Monday, December 1, 2025.
- USC Winter Break 2025 is from Thursday, December 18, 2025, to Sunday, January 11, 2026. As the fall semester winds down, the University of Southern California students transition into USC winter recess 2025–2026, which includes official holidays such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The Christmas 2025 holiday is on Thursday, December 25, 2025, and New Year’s Day 2026 is on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Friday, December 26 to Wednesday, December 31, 2025, are paid USC Holiday period, according to the USC employee holiday calendar. During the USC Winter Break 2025, university offices are closed, and most staff and faculty are off.
USC Holiday Calendar Spring 2026
Once the spring semester of 2026 begins, USC will offer another set of holidays during which classes are suspended:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is on Monday, January 19, 2026. There are no classes, with USC offices closed. MLK Day 2026 is the first official university holiday after the Winter Recess.
- Presidents’ Day Holiday is on Monday, February 16, 2026. There are no classes and the campus is closed.
- USC Spring Break 2026 is from Sunday, March 15, 2026, to Sunday, March 22, 2026. It’s a full week off for USC students.
USC Holiday Calendar Summer 2026
Although summer sessions are shorter, USC still observes federal holidays during USC Summer Session 2026:
- Memorial Day Holiday is Monday, May 25, 2026. There are no summer classes, and campus offices are closed.
- Juneteenth Holiday is on Friday, June 19, 2026. USC formally recognizes Juneteenth as a campus holiday; most summer classes are suspended on this day. Juneteenth 2026 is USC’s newest federal observance, recognized as a paid holiday for employees and a day off for summer session students.
- Independence Day Holiday is Friday, July 3, to Saturday, July 4, 2026. USC offices are closed; no summer classes. Independence Day 2026 falls on a weekend, but USC officially observes it on Friday, July 3, allowing a long weekend.
USC Employee Holidays 2025-2026
While academic calendars focus on student breaks, USC employees follow an official Paid University Holiday schedule.
Below are the USC holidays 2025-2026 for which the university grants paid leave to staff:
- Labor Day 2025: Monday, September 1, 2025.
- Thanksgiving 2025: Thursday – Friday, November 27 – 28, 2025.
- Christmas Day 2025: Thursday, December 25, 2025.
- Winter Recess 2025 (Paid Leave): Friday, December 26 – Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
- New Year’s Day 2026: Thursday, January 1, 2026.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2026: Monday, January 19, 2026.
- Presidents’ Day 2026: Monday, February 16, 2026.
- Memorial Day 2026: Monday, May 25, 2026.
- Independence Day 2026 (Observed): Friday, July 3, 2026.
- Labor Day 2026: Monday, September 7, 2026.
For more on the USC Employee Holiday calendar, visit the University of Southern California Employee Gateway Website.
USC Holiday Calendar 2025-2026 FAQs
What dates constitute USC’s Fall Recess 2025?
USC Fall Recess runs Thursday–Friday, October 9 – 10, 2025. No classes are held on these days.
When is USC’s Thanksgiving break in 2025?
USC Thanksgiving break occurs from Wednesday – Sunday, November 26 – 30, 2025. Note that Thursday–Friday, November 27 – 28, are paid university holidays for staff.
How long is USC’s Winter Recess 2025–2026?
Winter Recess begins Thursday, December 18, 2025, and extends through Sunday, January 11, 2026. This includes the paid holiday period from Friday, December 26, to Wednesday, December 31, 2025, for employees.
Does USC observe Juneteenth as a holiday in 2026?
Yes, Juneteenth Holiday falls on Friday, June 19, 2026. USC recognizes this as a campus holiday with no summer classes held on this date.
When is Independence Day observed at USC in 2026?
Independence Day 2026 is Saturday, July 4, but USC officially observes the holiday on Friday, July 3, 2026. Classes and most offices are closed on July 3, 2026.
Does USC remain open during breaks?
No, USC (University of Southern California) does not completely close down during academic breaks and university holidays. However, its operations are significantly reduced and modified.
Classes: No regular classes are held on official holidays or during designated academic recesses (e.g., Fall Recess, Spring Break, Winter Recess).
Administrative Offices: Many administrative offices (like the Registrar, Financial Aid, and various departmental offices) will be closed on official university holidays and often have reduced hours or closures during longer breaks (e.g., the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day).
Libraries: Libraries generally remain open but with reduced hours during breaks. They are typically closed on major holidays. For example, during Spring Break, Leavey Library might have 24-hour access for part of the break, while others have significantly shorter hours or are closed.
Dining Services: On-campus dining locations will have highly limited hours or be completely closed during breaks and holidays. Some dining halls or quick-service restaurants may shut down entirely, while others offer very restricted service.
Residence Halls: This is a crucial distinction: Residence halls and suites generally close for extended breaks like Winter Recess, requiring students to vacate.
Apartment buildings typically remain open during these longer breaks.
Recreational Facilities: These facilities also operate on reduced schedules during breaks.
