Baylor Christmas/New Year’s Holiday Hours, Closings

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Baylor University offices and most facilities will be closed during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays from Monday, Dec. 22, to Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The University will reopen Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. The first day of classes for the spring semester will begin Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026.

Below is holiday information about Baylor offices, facilities and public attractions.

Hurd Welcome Center, Campus Visits

On Winter Commencement weekend, the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and then closed for the Christmas break from Dec. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. 

Inside the Hurd Welcome Center, the Baylor Spirit Shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. Varsity Coffee will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, then closed for the holidays.

The Hurd Welcome Center will resume normal business hours Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. 

Baylor Undergraduate Admissions, housed in the Hurd Welcome Center, will resume offering on-campus tours on Jan. 5, 2026, when the University returns from the holiday break. To schedule an on-campus tour beginning after the first of the year, please register here. Guests also can walk in or call 254-710-TOUR (8687) or 1-800-BAYLOR-U, option 1-2, for assistance with on-campus tours.

During the holiday closure, prospective students and their families are welcome to take a self-guided tour by accessing the Baylor University Walking Tour, which allows visitors to see the beautiful Baylor campus at their own pace. From the comfort of their home, visitors also can discover Baylor University virtually through The College Tour, which featured Baylor in season 2 of the Amazon Prime streaming series. 

University Libraries

Baylor Libraries, including Moody Memorial and Jones libraries and Special Collections libraries, will be closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 4, 2026. Libraries will reopen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 5, 2026. Please see the Libraries’ calendar for specific opening hours and dates leading up to the first day of spring semester classes on Jan. 20, 2026. For Law Library hours, please visit the Baylor Law School website.

Campus Dining

Residential dining halls are closed during the holidays. Penland Crossroads will reopen starting Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m., then resume breakfast, lunch and dinner that week. Please check the Baylor Eats website for updated hours for residential dining in 2026.

Penland Market will be open with reduced hours during the winter break. Please check the Baylor Eats website for dates and hours of operations.

The Food Court in the SUB will be closed Dec. 20 through Jan. 4, 2026, with a limited reopening on Jan. 5.

All dining in the Baylor Sciences Building (BSB) will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 19, 2026, reopening Jan. 20, 2026. 

Starbucks at Moody Memorial Library will be closed Dec. 20 through Jan. 11, 2026, reopening Jan. 12, 2026, with limited hours and return to full schedule on Jan. 20, 2026.

The Store, Baylor’s on-campus food pantry located on the first floor of the Paul L. Foster Success Center, will close for the holidays and reopen Jan. 13, 2026.

Bill Daniel Student Center

The Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB) will be closed Dec. 20 through Jan. 5, 2026, reopening Jan. 6 during normal operating hours.

McLane Student Life Center

The McLane Student Life Center will be closed for the semester break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 11, 2026. The SLC will reopen Jan. 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and resume regular hours on Jan. 20.

Museums

The Mayborn Museum will be closed Dec. 24-25, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026, but otherwise open to the public during its regular hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Martin Museum of Art in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center is closed for the holidays and reopen Jan. 13, 2026. 

Baylor Health Services/Baylor Police Department

Baylor University students have access to a nurse line after hours, on weekends and holidays at 254-710-1010. In addition, Baylor Telehealth by Academic Life Care is a free, 24/7 resource available to Baylor students for mental and medical health support. Baylor also has a wealth of resources available for students' ongoing health and well-being, including the Title IX Office and the Baylor University Counseling Center. 

The Baylor University Police Department (BUPD) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is always available should the need arise. BUPD can be reached immediately in an emergency by calling 254-710-2222 or 9-1-1, through the BU Campus Guardian smartphone app or by using one of the 81 "blue light" emergency call boxes located across the campus and 152 emergency telephones, which are located in all building elevators. These phones are provided as an immediate means of communication to the Baylor Police Dispatcher during an emergency. 

End-of-Year Giving

The Baylor Office of University Advancement will be available by phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Dec. 22-23, Dec. 26 and Dec. 29-31 to process end-of-year gifts made by credit card. Please call 254-710-2561 or 800-229-5678, option 4. End-of-year online giving also is available on the Baylor giving website.

Bear Foundation offices will be closed from Dec. 22 to Jan. 4, 2026, reopening on Jan. 5. To contact the Bear Foundation during this holiday period, please email Bear_Foundation@baylor.edu.

Baylor Athletics

Over the holidays, Baylor women’s and men’s basketball teams will play a slate of games in the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion: 

• Thursday, Dec. 18 – WBB vs. Southern – 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 19 – MBB vs. Alcorn State – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 21 DOUBLEHEADER
  • MBB vs. Southern – Noon
  • WBB vs. Texas Tech – 3 p.m. (Big 12 home opener)
• Monday, Dec. 29 – MBB v. Arlington Baptist – 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 – MBB vs. Iowa State – 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 – WBB vs. Colorado – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 – MBB vs. Houston – Noon
• Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 – WBB vs. Kansas – 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the Baylor Athletics website.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.