Imperial College Closure Days 2026: Full Schedule

Quick Answer:

Imperial College London’s main Easter closure runs from 2 to 8 April 2026, with the university reopening on 9 April 2026. It will also close for the Early May Bank Holiday on 4 May, the Spring Bank Holiday on 25 May and the Summer Bank Holiday on 31 August 2026.

The Christmas and New Year closure begins after the usual finishing time on 22 December 2026. The first full closure day is 23 December, and Imperial reopens on 4 January 2027.

Closure days are different from academic term breaks. Some libraries, accommodation services, security teams and essential research facilities may follow separate opening arrangements.

Key Takeaways

• Imperial’s Easter closure runs from 2 to 8 April 2026.
• The university reopens after Easter on Thursday, 9 April 2026.
• Bank holiday closures fall on 4 May, 25 May and 31 August 2026.
• The Christmas closure covers 23 December 2026 to 1 January 2027.
• Imperial reopens after Christmas on Monday, 4 January 2027.
• The published schedule includes 16 closure and public holiday dates in the 2026–2027 leave year.
• Closure days are not the same as academic term dates or student holidays.
• Libraries, laboratories, accommodation and other campus services may use different opening hours.
• Staff and students should check departmental arrangements before booking leave or travel.

What Are Imperial College Closure Days in 2026?

Imperial College closure days are fixed dates on which normal university operations stop or operate at a substantially reduced level. They include university-designated closure days and public holidays.

Imperial’s published schedule covers 16 days during the 2026–2027 leave year. The number and arrangement can change between leave years because public holidays fall on different weekdays.

For most staff, these are fixed non-working dates rather than annual leave dates chosen by the employee. However, people working in security, estates, accommodation, essential research and other operational roles may have different arrangements.

Part-time employees and staff working non-standard schedules should confirm how closure days apply to them with their department or HR team.

For students, a university closure does not automatically mean that every building, library or digital service is unavailable. Some facilities may remain accessible through Imperial ID-card entry, while others may close or use reduced opening hours.

Closure days should also not be confused with academic vacations. A student may be outside a teaching term while parts of the university remain open, or the university may be officially closed while a postgraduate researcher still has project responsibilities to manage before and after the closure.

What Is the Full Imperial College Closure Schedule for 2026?

Imperial College’s closure schedule is concentrated around Easter, the main bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year period.

Easter Closure Dates

Imperial closes at the usual finishing time on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. The closure covers the following working days and public holidays:

• Thursday, 2 April – university closure day
• Friday, 3 April – Good Friday
• Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday
• Tuesday, 7 April – university closure day
• Wednesday, 8 April – university closure day

The university reopens on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

Staff hoping to create an uninterrupted break before Easter would normally also need approved annual leave for Wednesday, 1 April, because the university does not close until the end of that working day. Leave approval remains subject to departmental requirements.

Christmas and New Year Closure Dates

Imperial closes at the usual finishing time on Tuesday, 22 December 2026.

Its published schedule includes:

• Wednesday, 23 December – university closure day
• Thursday, 24 December – university closure day
• Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day
• Monday, 28 December – substitute Boxing Day bank holiday
• Tuesday, 29 December – university closure day
• Wednesday, 30 December – university closure day
• Thursday, 31 December – university closure day
• Friday, 1 January 2027 – New Year’s Day

The weekend of 2–3 January follows the official closure period, and the university reopens on Monday, 4 January 2027.

Are Imperial College Closure Days the Same as Term Breaks and Holidays?

No, Imperial College closure days are not the same as academic term breaks or student holidays. Closure days are operational shutdowns affecting the whole university, while term breaks are based on the academic calendar.

A student may technically be on holiday while some university services remain open. Equally, the university may close during a period when students still have coursework, dissertation work or research commitments.

For example, the Easter closure takes place during the wider spring vacation period, but the official university shutdown only covers the dates between 2 and 8 April 2026.

Similarly, the Christmas closure overlaps with the winter break but does not necessarily reflect the exact period when teaching ends or resumes.

Students should therefore check:

• their department’s academic calendar
• any coursework or exam deadlines
• library and laboratory opening hours
• accommodation arrangements during closure periods

Relying on the university closure schedule alone can lead to confusion, especially for postgraduate researchers or students working on projects over the holidays.

What Are the Imperial College Term Dates Covering 2026?

Imperial College closure days and academic term dates serve different purposes. Term dates identify the university’s main teaching periods, while closure dates show when normal university operations stop.

The standard term dates covering calendar year 2026 are:

The Easter closure from 2 to 8 April therefore falls between the standard spring and summer terms. The Christmas closure begins after the 2026–2027 autumn term has ended.

These dates should be treated as the standard university calendar rather than a timetable for every individual course. Imperial Business School, the School of Medicine and programmes involving placements or clinical work may follow different dates.

Students should check their programme handbook, departmental calendar and examination timetable before arranging travel.

Are Imperial Libraries and Campus Services Open During Closure Days?

A university closure does not always mean that every Imperial facility is inaccessible. Opening arrangements depend on the campus, building and service involved.

During the Easter 2026 closure, Imperial states that the Abdus Salam Library and some campus libraries will remain open. However, individual opening times and access requirements may vary, and in-person library service desks will be closed during the university shutdown.

Other arrangements can include:

• All-hours security remaining available across Imperial sites
• Restricted access to buildings that are not operating normally
• Essential research and operational work continuing where authorised
• Ethos Sports Centre closing on university closure days and bank holidays
• Campus cafés and catering outlets closing or using reduced hours
• Student support teams operating limited or emergency arrangements

Students and staff should not rely on the main university closure calendar to determine whether a particular facility is open. They should check the current library, sports centre, catering, accommodation or departmental page before travelling to campus.

Christmas service arrangements may also differ from Easter arrangements. Updated opening hours are often published separately by each service, so they should be checked again closer to the Christmas closure.

Who Is Affected by the Imperial College Closure Schedule?

The closure schedule affects staff, students, researchers, visitors and people using Imperial’s campus facilities, although the practical impact differs between groups.

Staff

Most administrative and academic offices close during the published periods. Staff should complete time-sensitive HR, recruitment, payroll, purchasing and administrative requests before the relevant departmental deadlines.

Essential employees may still be required to work. Local arrangements can apply to security, estates, accommodation, animal care, clinical services and research that cannot safely be paused.

Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Students

Teaching may already have ended before a closure begins, but students can still be affected by reduced access to libraries, study spaces, academic offices and support services. Coursework deadlines and examination preparation should be checked separately because they are governed by academic timetables rather than the closure calendar.

Postgraduate Researchers

Postgraduate researchers do not always follow undergraduate vacation periods. Research students should discuss laboratory access, supervision, equipment monitoring and safety arrangements with their department before a closure begins.

Visitors and Campus Users

Visitors should confirm that the relevant building, department or facility will be open before travelling. Normal reception services and public access may not be available even where authorised staff or students can enter using an Imperial ID card.

What Should Be Checked Before Planning Leave or Travel?

Before booking travel or submitting annual leave, staff and students should confirm:

• The university’s official closing and reopening dates
• Department-specific working arrangements
• Course, examination and coursework deadlines
• Library and study-space opening hours
• Laboratory and research-building access
• Campus accommodation arrangements
• Student support availability
• Sports centre and catering opening hours
• Public transport services during bank holidays
• Any planned building maintenance or restricted access

International students should also consider travel-document requirements and avoid assuming that administrative teams will be available to answer urgent enquiries during a closure.

Checking these details before making a non-refundable booking can reduce the risk of missed deadlines, unavailable facilities or unexpected campus-access restrictions.

Conclusion

Imperial College London’s main 2026 closures cover Easter from 2 to 8 April, three bank holidays and the Christmas period from 23 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. The university reopens after Easter on 9 April and after Christmas on 4 January 2027.

Closure days are different from academic term dates, and not every Imperial service follows an identical schedule. Staff, students and visitors should therefore check official university, departmental and facility-specific information before arranging leave, travel, research work or campus visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Imperial College close for Easter in 2026?

Imperial College closes after the usual finishing time on 1 April 2026. The Easter closure runs from 2 to 8 April, and the university reopens on 9 April.

When is the Imperial College Christmas closure in 2026?

The Christmas closure begins after the usual finishing time on 22 December 2026. The university remains closed from 23 December to 1 January and reopens on 4 January 2027.

How many closure days does Imperial College have?

Imperial’s published schedule includes 16 university closure days and public holidays during the 2026–2027 leave year. The number and arrangement may change each year depending on when public holidays fall.

Are Imperial College closure days the same as term holidays?

No, closure days and academic term holidays are different. Closure days affect normal university operations, while term dates determine teaching and academic periods.

Are Imperial College libraries open during closure days?

Some libraries may remain open with reduced hours or restricted access during university closures. Students should check the relevant library’s current opening schedule before travelling.

Can staff take annual leave around Imperial closure days?

Staff may request annual leave before or after closure periods to create a longer break. Approval depends on departmental staffing needs and the employee’s available leave entitlement.

Can students access the campus during university closures?

Access may be available to authorised students and researchers in certain buildings. However, reception desks, support services, cafés, sports facilities and departmental offices may be closed or operate reduced hours.

How We Checked This Information?

This guide was reviewed using official Imperial College London sources rather than third-party academic calendars or general holiday websites.

The Easter, bank holiday, Christmas and reopening dates were checked against Imperial’s official university closure days schedule. This page also confirms that the university closes after the usual finishing time on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, and reopens on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

The Easter arrangements were cross-checked using Imperial’s Easter closure guidance for 2026, which provides additional information for staff and departments preparing for the shutdown.

Academic teaching periods were checked separately against Imperial’s official term dates. This was necessary because university closure days are not the same as student vacations or academic term dates. Some courses, including certain Business School, Medicine and placement-based programmes, may follow different calendars.

Last checked: 2 July 2026

Opening hours and departmental arrangements can change. Staff, students and visitors should confirm the latest information on the relevant Imperial College London service or department page before travelling to campus or making non-refundable bookings.

Sources Used

• Imperial College London – University closure days
• Imperial College London – Term dates
• Guidance for Imperial Easter Closure 2026
• Easter campus closure information
• Ethos Easter opening hours
• Support over the winter closure
• Access and Opening Hours Policy
• Out-of-hours building access