The Wake Forest academic calendar for 2026 operates across two distinct academic years, with Spring 2026 beginning Monday, January 12, 2026 (part of the 2025-2026 academic year) and Fall 2026 starting Monday, August 24, 2026 (part of the 2026-2027 academic year).
Wake Forest University’s Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, maintains separate calendars for undergraduate programs, professional schools, and summer sessions, with critical deadlines including spring break from Saturday, March 7 through Sunday, March 15, 2026, and commencement on Monday, May 18, 2026.
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Wake Forest Academic Calendar Spring 2026
Spring 2026 classes at Wake Forest University begin Monday, January 12, 2026, and conclude Wednesday, April 29, 2026, spanning a 15-week instructional period.
The Office of the University Registrar, located in Reynolda Hall, Room 110, publishes this calendar for all undergraduate students enrolled at the Reynolda Campus.
Key Spring 2026 Dates
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 12, 2026 | Monday | Classes begin |
| January 19, 2026 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (no classes) |
| January 21, 2026 | Wednesday | Last day to drop a full-term class |
| February 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Last day to drop with a grade of “W” |
| March 7-15, 2026 | Saturday-Sunday | Spring break |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Last day to drop with a grade of “W.” |
| April 29, 2026 | Wednesday | Classes end |
| April 30-May 3, 2026 | Thursday-Sunday | Reading days |
| May 4-9, 2026 | Monday-Saturday | Final examinations |
| May 11, 2026 | Monday | Final grades due for May degree candidates (noon) |
| May 18, 2026 | Monday | Commencement |
| May 19, 2026 | Tuesday | Final grades due for non-degree candidates (noon) |
Spring 2026 Add/Drop Deadlines
Students must complete course registration changes by Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to add full-term classes.
The drop deadline without academic penalty occurs Tuesday, February 17, 2026, giving students 36 days from the semester start to finalize their course schedule.
After this date, students may withdraw from courses until Friday, March 20, 2026, with a grade of “W” recorded on their transcript.
Spring Break 2026 Schedule
Wake Forest University’s spring break 2026 runs Saturday, March 7, through Sunday, March 15, 2026, providing a 9-day academic recess. This break occurs approximately halfway through the 15-week semester, falling during week 9 of instruction. The university resumes classes on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Wake Forest Academic Calendar Fall 2026
Fall 2026 classes begin Monday, August 24, 2026, and end Monday, December 7, 2026, completing a standard 15-week semester. This semester marks the start of the 2026-2027 academic year at Wake Forest University.
Key Fall 2026 Dates
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 24, 2026 | Monday | Classes begin |
| September 1, 2026 | Tuesday | Last day to drop a full-term class |
| September 7, 2026 | Monday | Labor Day Holiday (no classes) |
| September 29, 2026 | Tuesday | Last day to drop with a grade of “W” |
| October 10-13, 2026 | Saturday-Tuesday | Fall break |
| October 27, 2026 | Tuesday | Last day to drop with a grade of “W.” |
| November 25-29, 2026 | Wednesday-Sunday | Thanksgiving holiday |
| December 7, 2026 | Monday | Classes end |
| December 8, 2026 | Tuesday | Reading day |
| December 9-12, 2026 | Wednesday-Saturday | Final examinations |
| December 13, 2026 | Sunday | Reading day |
| December 14-15, 2026 | Monday-Tuesday | Final examinations |
| December 18, 2026 | Friday | Final grades due (noon) |
Fall 2026 Registration Timeline
Wake Forest University opens undergraduate registration for summer courses on Monday, March 16, 2026, with staggered start times. Students with 55 or more completed credit hours begin registration at 8:00 AM, while students with 54 or fewer credit hours start at 8:30 AM. Registration remains open continuously after 8:30 AM through each session’s add/drop period.
Fall Break and Holiday Schedule
Fall break 2026 spans Saturday, October 10, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026, providing a 4-day academic pause. The Thanksgiving holiday extends from Wednesday, November 25, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, giving students a full week away from campus before final examinations begin in December.
Wake Forest Academic Calendar Final Examination Schedule
The university operates a structured final examination schedule based on course meeting times. Students cannot have more than 2 final examinations within a 24-hour period, and those with scheduling conflicts may reschedule one examination.
Spring 2026 Final Exam Schedule
| Exam Date | 9:00 AM Exam (Class Meets) | 2:00 PM Exam (Class Meets) | 7:00 PM Exam (Class Meets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 (Monday) | MTH/STA/BUS block | 12:00 MWF | ACC 111 block/Alt ACC 221 block |
| May 5, 2026 (Tuesday) | 11:00 TR | 11:00 MWF, WF | 8:00 TR; 5:00 MWF, MW, WF, MF |
| May 6, 2026 (Wednesday) | 9:30 WF; 10:00 MWF | 9:30 TR | ACC 221 block/Alt ACC 111 block |
| May 7, 2026 (Thursday) | 2:00 TR | 2:00 MWF, MW, WF, MF | |
| May 8, 2026 (Friday) | 12:30 TR | 12:30 MW, WF, MF; 1:00 MWF | 8:00 MWF, WF; 5:00 TR |
| May 9, 2026 (Saturday) | 9:00 MWF | 3:30 TR, WF |
Fall 2026 Final Exam Schedule
The Fall 2026 examination schedule follows a rotation system where exams scheduled on days 5-6 in the current year move to days 1-2 the following year. Exams scheduled on days 1-4 shift to days 3-6, respectively.
Reading days for the 2025-2026 academic year occur Saturday, December 6 through Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Fall 2025) and Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3, 2026 (Spring 2026). These non-instructional days provide students with dedicated study time before final examinations.
Summer 2026 Session Dates
Wake Forest University operates three summer sessions in 2026: Summer Session I, Summer Session II, and Full Summer. Each session maintains a distinct academic calendar with separate registration, refund, and examination schedules.
Summer Session I 2026
Summer Session I begins Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and concludes Monday, June 29, 2026. Final examinations occur on Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Students must add courses by Friday, May 29, 2026, to enroll in this session.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Classes begin | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 |
| Last day to add courses | Friday, May 29, 2026 |
| Tuition due | Monday, June 1, 2026 |
| Last day to drop with no record | Monday, June 8, 2026 |
| Juneteenth Holiday (no classes) | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
| Last day to drop with “W” | Tuesday, June 16, 2026 |
| Classes end | Monday, June 29, 2026 |
| Final examinations | June 30-July 1, 2026 |
| Final grades due | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (noon) |
Summer Session II 2026
Summer Session II starts Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and ends Thursday, August 6, 2026. Final examinations take place on Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026. The add deadline falls on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
Full Summer Session 2026
The Full Summer session runs Wednesday, May 27, through Thursday, August 6, 2026, spanning both Summer Session I and II. Students may add courses until Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and must complete withdrawals by Friday, July 10, 2026, to receive a “W” grade.
Wake Forest University Campus Locations and Academic Structure
Wake Forest University operates on a 340-acre campus at 1834 Wake Forest Road in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (coordinates 36.1366° N, -80.2785° W). The Reynolda Campus serves 5,490 undergraduate students and 9,322 total students across undergraduate and graduate programs.
School-Specific Calendars
The university maintains separate academic calendars for seven distinct schools:
- Wake Forest College (undergraduate): Follows the standard Reynolda Campus calendar
- School of Business: Shares the undergraduate calendar
- School of Law: Operates independent JD and LLM program calendars
- School of Medicine: Maintains dual-campus calendars for Winston-Salem and Charlotte locations
- School of Professional Studies: Publishes a separate calendar for non-traditional programs
- School of Divinity: Independent academic calendar
- Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Reynolda Campus-based graduate calendar
Charlotte Medical Campus
The Wake Forest School of Medicine operates a secondary campus at The Pearl development in Charlotte, North Carolina. This campus enrolled its inaugural class in 2025 and maintains a distinct calendar from the primary Winston-Salem medical campus.
Critical Wake Forest Academic Calendar Policies
Course Withdrawal Policy
Students may drop full-term classes without record until the published drop deadline. After this date, withdrawals receive a “W” grade notation on transcripts. The withdrawal deadline for Spring 2026 is Friday, March 20, 2026, and for Fall 2026 is Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Final Examination Conflicts
The university policy states students cannot have more than 2 final examinations scheduled within any 24-hour period. Students with 3 or more exams in 24 hours receive permission to reschedule one examination. Students must contact instructors and the Office of the University Registrar to arrange alternate testing.
Weather Delay Procedures
In the event of weather-related delays, the 9:00 AM final examination block moves back by the number of hours the university delays opening. A 10:00 AM opening shifts 9:00 AM exams to 10:00 AM, with 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM blocks starting at designated times. A 2-hour delay moves 9:00 AM exams to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM exams to 3:00 PM, while 7:00 PM exams start on time.
Comparing the Wake Forest Academic Calendar to the North Carolina Universities
Wake Forest University’s 2026 calendar structure differs from that of peer institutions in North Carolina. Duke University, located 30 miles southeast in Durham, publishes multi-year calendars 18 months in advance, while Wake Forest releases calendars 6-8 months ahead. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill maintains a chancellor-approved 4-year calendar providing extended planning visibility.
Academic Year Structure Comparison
| University | Spring 2026 Start | Fall 2026 Start | Semester Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest | January 12, 2026 | August 24, 2026 | 15 weeks |
| Duke University | January 13, 2026 | August 24, 2026 | 14-15 weeks |
| UNC Chapel Hill | January 13, 2026 | August 18, 2026 | 15 weeks |
Wake Forest enrolls 9,322 total students compared to Duke’s 16,000+ enrollment and UNC’s 32,000+ student population. The smaller institution size allows Wake Forest to maintain average class sizes below 50 students across undergraduate programs.
Study Abroad and International Programs
Wake Forest University ranks #3-4 nationally for study abroad participation rates among doctoral universities (Open Doors 2021 report). The Center for Global Programs & Studies, located in Reynolda Hall Room 116, coordinates international academic experiences aligned with the Wake Forest academic calendar.
Students planning Spring 2026 study abroad programs must coordinate with semester dates beginning Monday, January 12, 2026. Fall 2026 international programs align with the Monday, August 24, 2026, semester start. More than 50% of Wake Forest undergraduate students participate in study abroad programs before graduation.
Contact Information for Wake Forest Academic Calendar Questions
The Office of the University Registrar publishes and maintains all official academic calendars for Wake Forest University. Students may contact the registrar at:
Office of the University Registrar
Reynolda Hall, Room 110
1834 Wake Forest Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
Phone: 336-758-5207
Email: registrar@wfu.edu
The registrar’s office handles questions about registration deadlines, withdrawal policies, final examination schedules, and academic calendar exceptions. Students should verify all dates with official university publications, as calendar information may change.
Wake Forest Academic Calendar 2026-2027 Academic Year Overview
The 2026-2027 academic year begins with the Fall 2026 semester on Monday, August 24, 2026, and continues through Spring 2027. The university follows a two-semester system with optional summer sessions between academic years.
Students receive final grades for Fall 2026 by Friday, December 18, 2026, at noon. Spring 2027 calendar dates will be published by the Office of the University Registrar approximately 6-8 months before the semester begins, following the university’s standard publication timeline.
The complete academic calendar, including detailed examination schedules, holiday observances, and school-specific variations, remains available through the Wake Forest University registrar’s website and official academic publications distributed to enrolled students at Wake Forest University’s Reynolda Campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
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