Ramadan Mubarak: Campus Communities Prepare Support and Schedule Adjustments Ahead of February Start
Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET) or Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (ET) depending on moon sighting. Observant Muslims will spend the month fasting from dawn to sunset, praying, reflecting and breaking the fast each evening with iftar. As the month approaches, campus communities are emphasising support, flexibility and mutual respect for students and staff observing this sacred period.
What to expect on campus during Ramadan
During Ramadan many community members manage full academic and professional responsibilities while fasting. This can mean altered energy levels, changes to daily routines and different needs around mealtimes and prayer. Campuses are reminding colleagues and students to be mindful that some may be taking short breaks for prayer or quietly avoiding food and drink during daylight hours.
Practical adjustments being highlighted include increased tolerance for brief schedule changes, provision of quiet spaces for prayer and reflection, and awareness around communal events that involve food. Staff and students are encouraged to communicate with line managers, tutors and course leaders where fasting may affect attendance, deadlines or participation in physically demanding activities.
Community messages and personal reflections
Leaders and members of academic communities are extending warm greetings and goodwill for the month. A common sentiment being shared is “Ramadan Mubarak, ” a greeting offered to wish others a blessed month. Messages emphasize that Ramadan is a time for spiritual renewal, compassion and charity, and they call for patience and understanding across campus.
One academic reflected on the month as a kind of sustained spiritual retreat, balancing life between campus, home and local mosques. That reflection underlines how Ramadan blends personal devotion with communal life—students and staff often carve out time for extra prayers and community iftars while continuing teaching, research and coursework.
Practical guidance and wellbeing support
Those observing Ramadan are encouraged to plan ahead: adjust study timetables where possible, speak to tutors or managers about any foreseeable impacts on deadlines or shifts, and use available wellbeing resources if daytime fasting affects concentration or energy. Peers can help by offering flexibility around meeting times and by being considerate when planning events that include food during daylight hours.
For the wider campus community, simple acts of accommodation—such as offering water at meetings held after sunset, allowing brief prayer breaks or being mindful when scheduling early morning practical sessions—can significantly ease the experience for those fasting. The month also presents opportunities for interfaith dialogue and community-building activities that welcome participation and deepen mutual understanding.
As Ramadan approaches, campus leaders and community members are calling for compassion and unity: respecting religious observance, supporting wellbeing, and keeping channels of communication open so that study and work can continue smoothly while honouring the spiritual commitments of colleagues and classmates.
