Once again this year we provide you with our traditional ACOD UGent holiday calendar. A laminated copy of the 2026 holiday calendar will be sent to all our members by internal post in the course of the month December. The various departments and services will also receive a copy of the calendar.
You can download a digital version of the calendar via this link.
All fixed closing days, public holidays and other days off are indicated on this clear calendar. All staff members (ATP, AAP, ZAP, and fellows, also from FWO, IWT, etc.) are entitled to leave according to the scheme described below. (Staff members in the "integratiekader" have a specific holiday scheme.)
Anyone who works full-time for the entire year 2026 is entitled to 39 days of holiday (36 days plus 3 extra days to compensate for the bridge days). If you work part-time or you only work for part of the year, the number of vacation days is reduced pro rata. The number of days you are entitled to does not depend on your employment in 2025. As soon as you start working at Ghent University, you are entitled to vacation days in proportion to the number of days you will normally be employed at Ghent University during that year.
The following 5 days are fixed closing days of UGent in 2026:
- Friday May 15, 2026 (Friday after Ascension Day)
- Monday July 20, and Wednesday July 22 to Friday July 24, 2026 (Ghent Festivities)
Ghent University is closed on these days. You are obliged to take a vacation day. These days are deducted from the vacation days you are entitled to.
Apart from this, the traditional free half-day off after New Year's in 2026 is on Friday, January 2.
The free full day off on Dies Natalis will be on Friday, March 20, 2026.
If you have any questions about the holiday arrangements, do not hesitate to contact us at ACOD@UGent.be