Baccalaureate: A Service of Blessings
2025-05-24 20:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Guests are to be seated by 7:45 p.m. Graduates wear their caps and gowns and will receive instructions for processing and sitting together as a class.
A longstanding Luther tradition, Baccalaureate is a ceremony of music, blessings, and prayers for graduates and their families. Reflecting the “rooted and open” nature of our Lutheran college and its ministries, this service is for all students, families, and guests, across denominations and faith traditions. A freewill offering will be taken and designated to local and global charities in honor of the senior class.
A livestream of Baccalaureate can be viewed at luther.edu/commencement.

“Ring the Bell” Reception
2025-05-24 21:00 - 22:00 | Bentdahl Commons
Graduates and families will process from Baccalaureate toward Bentdahl Commons. Graduates are invited to commemorate their Luther student experience by ringing the Luther Bell and joining their families and guests for post-baccalaureate treats and fellowship.

Commencement
2025-05-25 09:00 - 11:00
Ine Eriksen Søreide, the first woman to serve as Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will give the 2025 commencement address.
Read more about Ine Eriksen Søreide.
No tickets are required for the outdoor ceremony. Please be seated by 8:45 a.m.

Summer session I and Summer Term begins
2025-06-02

Summer session I ends
2025-06-27

Summer session II begins
2025-06-30

Summer session II ends
2025-07-25

Orientation of new international students
2025-08-20 08:00 - 2025-08-22 17:00 | Luther College

Summer Term ends
2025-08-22

First-year students arrive
2025-08-30 | Luther College

Welcome Week
2025-08-30 - 2025-09-06
View the welcome week schedule

Orientation of new students
2025-08-30 08:00 - 2025-09-02 17:00, 2026-08-29 - 2026-09-01 | Luther College

Welcome Week: A Luther Welcome
2025-08-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Mandatory for all new students, families invited
Luther traditions begin as the college welcomes you to the community.

Returning students arrive
2025-08-31, 2026-08-30 - 2026-09-01 | Luther College

Welcome Week Worship
2025-08-31 09:30 - 10:30 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
New students, returning students, families, and all members of the Luther College community are invited to a special worship service to begin the academic year. All faith backgrounds and denominations are welcome to attend. Interested students are invited to participate in worship by singing in a pick-up choir that will rehearse prior to worship at 8:45 a.m. Everyone else is invited to a time of coffee fellowship at 8:45 a.m. in the CFL Lobby.

Fall semester classes begin
2025-09-03, 2026-09-02 | Luther College

Center Stage Series: Laura Loge & Steven Luksan
2025-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Noble Recital Hall
Crossings Concert: Musical Migrations
Join Luther College for a special night exploring the lives and works of Norwegian American composers as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to North America. Pianist-composer Steven Luksan and soprano Laura Loge share newly uncovered works that blend cultures and showcase the challenges, humor and poetry of adjusting to a new home.
Presented in collaboration with the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Folk Art School, this concert is supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Carol Birkland and Tom Woxland.
learn more and PURCHASE TICKETS

Family Weekend
2025-09-19 - 2025-09-21
Learn more and see the schedule of events

River Trip on the Upper Iowa with Recreational Services
2025-09-19 16:30 - 18:00 | Dahl Centennial Union, Outside Main Entry
Students and their families are welcome to join rec services for Canoeing and Kayaking down the Upper Iowa river! Come cool off and explore Decorah from the water. Meet in front of the Union at 4:30 p.m. and we will start on campus and end at Palisades. Boats, lifejackets, paddles and transportation back to campus will be provided. Please register to reserve a boat and record your lifejacket size. Be sure to wear clothes that can get wet and sturdy shoes/sandals that can get dirty. All skill levels are welcome!
view the full family weekend schedule

"30 Years and Ten Surprises: A Teaching Life at Luther"
2025-09-19 19:30 - 20:30 | Dahl Centennial Union, Mott/Borlaug
Emerita English Professor Nancy K. Barry will reflect on ten reasons why Luther can change a student’s life for the good.
Mott-Borlaug Room, Dahl Centennial Union
view the full family weekend schedule

Coffee in the Union
2025-09-20 08:30 - 09:30 | Dahl Centennial Union, Williams Lounge, 1st floor
Luther’s Parent and Family Council invites parents and families to start the day by enjoying some coffee and mingling with one another. President Brad Chamberlain and his wife, Julie (Torkelson) Chamberlain ’96, also parents to two Luther students will be there too!
view the full family weekend schedule

Experiential Learning Showcase - Oral Presentations
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:00 | Dahl Centennial Union, Mott/Borlaug
Please note: in addition to the presentation, posters will be displayed throughout the first floor of Sampson Hoffland and Valders Concourse all weekend.
Experiential learning is an integral part of a Luther education. Internships and research are two popular avenues for students to pursue experiential learning. This showcase includes a variety of internships and research projects completed by Luther students from September 2024 through summer 2025. The goal of the Showcase is for students to share what they are learning and experiencing beyond our campus, increasing awareness of these valuable opportunities for fellow Luther students, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. Learn more.
view the full Family Weekend schedule

Luther Trails Hike
2025-09-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Meet in Front of Dahl Centennial Union
Come for a leisurely hike on the trail system through Luther’s native habitats, including oak woodlands and tallgrass prairies. Luther land stewardship interns will talk about their stewardship work that maintains and improves the quality of our natural areas, including tree plantings, prairie and woodland management, and ongoing projects such as non-native invasive species control. This is a great approximately 90-minute hike for those who want to enjoy the fall weather and native habitats in Iowa’s driftless region. Wear footwear appropriate for light hiking.
Meet in front of Dahl Centennial Union (hike will begin promptly after group gathers at 10 a.m.)
view the full Family Weekend schedule

Lawn Games hosted by Student Senate
2025-09-20 10:30 - 14:00 | Dahl Centennial Union, Outside Main Entry
Student Senate will host lawn games in front of the Union.
view the full Family Weekend schedule

Secrets of the Library Mini Escape Room
2025-09-20 10:30 - 16:30 | Preus Library, room 212
Through rumors and whispered stories from other students, you’ve heard that someone recently hid a mysterious “key” somewhere in Preus Library. As you follow the clues, you are led to Group Study Room 212. What answers await within? Can you discover this hidden key?
30-minute time-slots available for small groups/families.
sign up
view the full Family Weekend schedule

Showcase Lunch with Bon Appétit
2025-09-20 11:00 - 14:00 | Dahl Centennial Union, Cafeteria
Families are invited to enjoy a showcase of Luther’s new fresh and local seasonal flavors with Cafe Bon Appétit, offering an expanded menu and a galore of tasty made-from-scratch items. The lunch will be provided by Bon Appetit, Luther’s new dining partner.
view the full family weekend schedule

River Trip on the Upper Iowa with Recreational Services
2025-09-20 13:00 - 14:30 | Dahl Centennial Union, Outside Main Entry
Students and their families are welcome to join rec services for Canoeing and Kayaking down the Upper Iowa river! Come cool off and explore Decorah from the water. Meet in front of the Union at 1 p.m. and we will start on campus and end at Palisades. Boats, lifejackets, paddles and transportation back to campus will be provided. Please register to reserve a boat and record your lifejacket size. Be sure to wear clothes that can get wet and sturdy shoes/sandals that can get dirty. All skill levels are welcome!
view the full family weekend schedule

Ballroom & Swing Family Weekend Showcase
2025-09-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Center for the Arts, 219 (CFA Studio 2)
Join the Luther College Ballroom & Swing Team for a Family Weekend showcase. Members of our competitive team, from newcomers to our most advanced dancers, will give a demonstration of both smooth and rhythm dances in which we compete. We look forward to displaying our vast array of talented ballroom dancers and showing off what our newcomers have learned in just a few short weeks. We will end the showcase by inviting friends and family to join us on the floor to learn the basic moves for Hustle, a popular social dance that is easy to both teach and learn, and enjoy some social dancing for all ages and experience levels.
All are welcome!
view the full Family Weekend schedule

SAC Hop Soda Shoppe
2025-09-20 20:30 - 22:30 | Dahl Centennial Union, Marty’s
Come cool off with free soda and ice cream at the SAC Hop Soda Shoppe during Family Weekend. Join us for another great year of music and dancing with live music by Luther’s Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Band! Students and their families, faculty, and staff are all welcome.
Hosted by the the Student Activities Council (SAC)

Family Weekend Disc Golf Outing
2025-09-21 13:00 - 14:30
LC Disc Golf Club will hold our second tournament of the semester this weekend. It will be a standard three bracket tournament, free for all. Bring your friends, bring your families, and enjoy a fun afternoon disc golfing! We have discs for everyone.
Meet below Towers at tee pad 1, right across from Lindeman Pond

Equestrian Club Open House
2025-09-21 15:00 - 17:00
AMF Équitation
2538 307th Ave
Ridgeway, IA.
Join us for our fall open house! The open house is a fundraiser to help support the cost of horses and the equestrian club as we hope to compete in the ISHA circuit this spring. This event will offer the opportunity to take a guided horse ride around the arena, pet the horses, learn more about horses, and groom ponies. Riding ponies will cost $5, along with other donations.
view the full Family Weekend schedule

Royal Visit 2025: Public Dedication & Ribbon Cutting, Vesterheim Commons
2025-10-06 11:15 - 11:45 | Vesterheim Museum Commons
learn more

Royal Visit 2025: Celebration Convocation - CFL Main Hall
2025-10-06 13:15 - 14:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Tickets available at the Luther Ticket Office in the Center for Faith and Life or at tickets.luther.edu.
Watch via livestream
learn more

End of first half of semester
2025-10-17, 2026-03-20, 2026-10-16, 2027-03-19 | Luther College

Fall vacation
2025-10-18 08:00 - 2025-10-22 17:00, 2026-10-17 08:00 - 2026-10-21 17:00 | Luther College

Ask Luther: Zoom Panel for Parents on Oct. 28
2025-10-28 19:30 - 20:30 | via Zoom
You’re invited to join us for a special Zoom panel on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., designed for parents and families to connect, ask questions, and hear helpful updates from campus leadership. The panel will be moderated by Megan Buckingham, Director of Alumni and Engagement, and will include:

Dr. Julie Thornton, Dean of Student Life

Dr. Kate Elliott, Dean of Student Success

Representatives from Luther’s Parents and Family Council

We invite you to share your thoughts and questions in advance. Whether you’re looking for updates or simply want to stay connected, we look forward to seeing you there!
Join us via Zoom on Oct 28

Center Stage Series: Jaerv + The OK Factor
2025-10-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Through folk-inspired songs that are fresh, playful, intricate and joyous, the Minneapolis-based string duo The OK Factor and Swedish quintet Jaerv will have audiences tapping their feet and smiling in their seats.
Learn more and purchase tickets
The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum.

Last day to withdraw from full semester classes with "W""
2025-10-31 | Luther College

Center Stage Series: Lorelei Ensemble
2025-11-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
The Grammy-nominated Lorelei Ensemble delivers bold and inventive programs that champion the extraordinary range of the human voice. At turns eerie and hypnotic, razor-sharp and precise, resonant and dissonant, this riveting performance features a cinematic backdrop and a cautionary tale in the era of climate change.
purchase tickets
The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum.

Thanksgiving vacation
2025-11-26 08:00 - 2025-11-30 17:00, 2026-11-25 08:00 - 2026-11-29 17:00 | Luther College

Last day of classes
2025-12-12 | Luther College

Final examinations
2025-12-15 08:00 - 2025-12-18 17:00 | Luther College

Winter Break
2025-12-19 08:00 - 2026-01-04 17:00

J-Term Begins
2026-01-05 | Luther College

J-Term Ends
2026-01-28 | Luther College

J-term Break
2026-01-29 08:00 - 2026-02-03 17:00 | Luther College

Spring semester classes begin
2026-02-04 | Luther College

Last day to add or drop (without a "W") full semester classes
2026-02-13, 2026-09-11, 2027-02-12 | Luther College

Center Stage Series: Catalyst Quartet
2026-02-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Hailed by “The New York Times” as “invariably energetic and finely burnished,” the Grammy-winning Catalyst Quartet is in wide demand around the world. Known for its unequaled unity and execution, the ensemble is equally committed to celebrating composers of color whose works have been overlooked by the traditional canon.
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum.

Center Stage Series: Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: Great American Crooners
2026-02-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Get ready for a stylish evening of timeless tunes and world-class talent. Relive classics like “Moon River,” “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” alongside incredible true stories about the superstar velvety voices who made them famous.
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum.

Spring vacation
2026-03-21 08:00 - 2026-03-29 17:00, 2027-03-20 08:00 - 2027-03-29 17:00 | Luther College

Easter vacation
2026-04-03 08:00 - 2026-04-06 17:00, 2027-03-26 08:00 - 2027-03-29 17:00

Last day to withdraw from full semester class with "W"
2026-04-09, 2026-10-30, 2027-04-06

Center Stage Series: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
2026-04-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
Enjoy a musical whirlwind through genres that’s funny, thought-provoking and played entirely on ukuleles. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is always surprising, so come without expectations — except the expectation to laugh.
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Center Stage Series is made possible by the generous support of major season sponsors, including Decorah Bank and Trust, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Kurtich Endowment for Campus Programming, Minnesota Public Radio, Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies and Vesterheim Museum.

Learning @ Luther Showcase (no classes)
2026-05-08, 2027-05-07

Last day of classes
2026-05-15, 2026-12-11, 2027-05-14

Final examinations
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-05-21 17:00, 2026-12-14 - 2026-12-17, 2027-05-17 - 2027-05-20

Saturday Showcase Concert with Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra
2026-05-23 13:30 - 15:30 | Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
The Saturday Showcase Concert with Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra will take place in the Center for Faith and Life main hall at 1:30 p.m..
Watch the livestream on the Music Department YouTube Channel

Commencement
2026-05-24 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-05-23 09:00 - 11:00
Speaker: To be announced
No tickets are required for the outdoor ceremony. Please be seated by 8:45 a.m.

Summer session I and Summer Term begins
2026-06-01 | Luther College

Summer session I ends
2026-06-26, 2027-06-25 | Luther College

Summer session II begins
2026-06-29 | Luther College

Summer session II ends
2026-07-24 | Luther College

Orientation of New International Students
2026-08-19 - 2026-08-21 | Luther College Campus

Summer Term ends
2026-08-21 | Luther College

First Year Students Arrive
2026-08-29 | Luther College

Family Weekend
2026-09-18 08:00 - 2026-09-20 17:00

Homecoming
2026-10-02 - 2026-10-04 | Luther College

J-Term Begins
2027-01-04

J-Term Ends
2027-01-27

J-Term Break
2027-01-28 - 2027-02-03

Spring Semester Classes Begin
2027-02-04

Summer Term / Summer Session I Begins
2027-06-01 | Luther College

Summer Session 2 Begins
2027-06-28 | Luther College

Summer Session 2 Ends
2027-07-23 | Luther College

Summer Session 3 Begins
2027-07-26 | Luther College

Summer Term / Summer Session 3 Ends
2027-08-20 | Luther College
