Thrive, Connect & Celebrate at UAlbany
October invites UAlbany students to come together, get involved and celebrate belonging across campus.
This month, we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month (through October 15), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 12), Diwali (October 18) and International Pronouns Day (October 21). Explore a more comprehensive list of Heritage, Cultural and Religious Observances.
As always, students are invited to explore Thrive UAlbany resources and use the University Events Calendar to stay informed about what is happening across campus and to discover opportunities to participate in and celebrate all that October has to offer.
Click a link below to skip to that section of the page:
Heritage, Cultural & Religious Observances
UAlbany acknowledges and observes various heritage months and cultural identity recognition days to celebrate the rich tapestry of the campus community.
The list is not exhaustive. Faculty and staff should continue to consult with their students to ensure that any holidays and observances are recognized and accommodated per the New York State Education Law 224-A. Members of our campus community may request accommodations for cultural and religious observances.
We have made every effort to ensure the information is accurate and inclusive. If you have any additions or corrections, email us at [email protected].
observances
Month-long Heritage & Cultural Observances
October 2026
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Ends October 15
- LGBTQ+ History Month
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Filipino American Heritage Month
- Italian American Heritage Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
November 2026
- Native American Heritage Month
- National Native American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month
January 2027
- Poverty in America Awareness Month
February 2027
- Black History Month
- American History Month
- Human Relations Month
March 2027
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
- Greek American Heritage Month
- Gender Equality Month
- Irish American Heritage Month
- Ethnic Equality Month
- National Women's History Month
April 2027
- Community Service Month
- Earth Month
- Arab American Heritage Month
- Celebrate Diversity Month
- Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month
May 2027
- National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Highlighting AAPI Faculty & Research: Learn more about AAPI faculty and research at UAlbany.
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Indian Heritage Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Mental Health Month
- National Military Appreciation Month
June 2027
- National Immigrant Heritage Month
- National Caribbean American Heritage Month
- Black Music Month
- Pride Month
- Celebrating Pride Month: Learn more about UAlbany's queer and trans community.
July 2027
- French American Heritage Month
- Disability Pride Month
September 2027
- Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15 to October 15
Day-long Heritage & Cultural Observances
October 2026
- German-American Day: October 6
- World Mental Health Day: October 10
- National Coming Out Day: October 11
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: October 12
- LGBTQ+ Spirit Day: October 16
- Diwali: October 18
- International Pronouns Day: October 21
- Ace Week (formerly Asexual Awareness Week): October 25 to 31
- Intersex Awareness Day: October 26
- National Immigrants Day: October 28
- Halloween: October 31
November 2026
- Black Solidarity Day: November 2
- Election Day: November 3
- Veterans Day: November 11
- Transgender Awareness Week: November 13 to 19
- International Day for Tolerance: November 16
- International Education Week: November 16 to 20
- Transgender Day of Remembrance: November 20
- National Day of Mourning /Thanksgiving: November 26
December 2026
- World AIDS Day: December 1
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities: December 3
- Human Rights Day: December 10
- Las Posadas: December 16 to 24
- International Migrants Day: December 18
- Christmas: December 25
- Hanukkah/Chanukah: December 14 to December 22
- Kwanzaa: December 26 to January 1
January 2027
- New Year's Day: January 1
- Emancipation Proclamation: January 1
- World Braille Day: January 4
- Korean American Day: January 13
- Makar Sankranti or Magh: January 14
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 19
- Indian Republic Day: January 26
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day: January 27
February 2027
- National Freedom Day: February 1
- Kashmir Solidarity Day: February 5
- National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: February 7
- Valentine’s Day: February 14
- Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week: February 15 to 21
- President’s Day: February 16
- Lunar New Year: February 17
March 2027
- International Women’s Day: March 8
- Harriet Tubman Day: March 10
- St. Patrick’s Day: March 17
- Ugadi: March 19
- Naw-Ruz (Persian New Year): March 20
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: March 21
- International Transgender Day of Visibility: March 31
April 2027
- Passover/Pesach: April 1 (evening) to April 9 (ends at nightfall)
- World Autism Awareness Day: April 2
- Easter: April 5
- International Asexuality Day: April 6
- Day of Silence: April 10
- Earth Day: April 22
- Gathering of Nations: April 24 to 26
- Lesbian Visibility Day: April 26
May 2027
- International Labor Day (May Day): May 1
- Constitution Memorial Day: May 3
- Cinco de Mayo: May 5
- National Day of Prayer: May 7
- Mother’s Day: May 10
- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia: May 17
- Agender Pride Day: May 19
- Harvey Milk Day: May 22
- Pansexual Visibility Day: May 24
- May Revolution Day: May 25
- Memorial Day: May 25
June 2027
- Pulse Night of Remembrance: June 12
- Puerto Rican Day Parade: June 14
- National Children’s Day: June 14
- Juneteenth: June 19
- Father’s Day: June 21
- Stonewall Riots Anniversary: June 28
July 2027
- Independence Day: July 4
- Non-Binary Awareness Day: July 14
- International Drag Day: July 16
- Pioneer Day: July 24
- Parents’ Day: July 26
- International Friendship Day: July 30
August 2027
- International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: August 9
- International Youth Day: August 12
- World Humanitarian Day: August 19
- Women’s Equality Day: August 26
- Individual Rights Day: August 29
September 2027
- Slovakia Constitution Day: September 1
- National Suicide Prevention Week: September 6 to 12
- Labor Day: September 7
- Brazil Independence Day: September 7
- Patriot Day: September 11
- Rosh Hashanah: September 11 (evening) to September 13 (ends at nightfall)
- International Day of Democracy: September 15
- Mexican Independence Day: September 16
- Bisexual Awareness Week: September 16 to 23
- Yom Kippur: September 20 (evening) to September 21 (ends at nightfall)
- Autumnal Equinox: September 22
- Saudi National Day: September 23
Major Religious Holidays & Observances
The UAlbany community is enriched by the diverse faiths and traditions of our students, faculty and staff. The Registrar's Office has provided a list of some of the upcoming major religious holidays and observances.
Thrive UAlbany
Thrive UAlbany provides is campus-wide network connecting students to people, programs and resources that help them stay healthy, feel supported and reach their goals.
Thrive brings together health, career readiness, financial wellness and belonging to help students make the most of their UAlbany experience, both now and beyond graduation.
thrive-ualbany
Great Dane Dialogue
Amidst a polarized political landscape, ongoing international conflicts and heightened tensions on college campuses nationwide, UAlbany continues to embrace its responsibility as an educational institution to foster meaningful dialogue. Learn about Free Speech on Campus at UAlbany.
The Great Dane Dialogue is our campus-wide initiative to promote civil discourse, strengthen civic engagement and equip students with the skills to navigate disagreement with empathy, respect and purpose.
great-dane-dialogue
Talking Traditions
In building an inclusive community, it's important to understand and celebrate our friends' traditions, identities and holidays, even if — or maybe, especially if — we come from different backgrounds. View this video to learn more about Building an Inclusive Community.
In the Talking Traditions campaign, students, administrators and faculty share what their traditions mean to them. The Great Dane Dialogue team explores heritage and cultural awareness, providing our community with an understanding of the inclusive Great Dane community.
Talking Tradition videos
- Free Speech on Campus at UAlbany
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Jewish High Holy Days
- LGBTQ+ History Month
- Diwali
- Black Solidarity Day
- Native American Heritage Month
- Kwanzaa
- Lunar New Year
- Black History Month
- Black History Month Video 2
- Ramadan
- Ash Wednesday
- Holi
- Women's History Month
- Eid al-Fitr
- Easter
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award
Inclusive Excellence is a core institutional priority and intrinsic to our goal of becoming the nation's leading public research university that demonstrates excellence in fostering campus environments where students, faculty and staff thrive.
UAlbany is a proud recipient of the Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award for nine consecutive years.
University Events Calendar
university-events-calendar
You can also access videos, audio and presentations from the Division of Inclusive Excellence's previous events.