FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

Rice University's Fall 2026 semester kicks off on August 24, 2026, with classes meeting across its 300-acre campus at 6100 Main Street in Houston. The date is part of an officially approved academic calendar adopted by the Faculty Senate on August 28, 2024, and the Office of the Registrar has confirmed no changes to the calendar as of early 2026. Faculty are required to upload course syllabi by the first day of classes so that students can review them and make informed decisions during the add/drop period. All students — even those not yet registered — can view posted syllabi through the university's ESTHER system. The full Fall 2026 course schedule is published at courses.rice.edu. Students, faculty, and staff can find the complete semester calendar, including holidays, exam periods, and registration deadlines, on the Office of the Registrar's website at registrar.rice.edu/calendars/fall-semester-2026.