During winter break, most campus residence halls close and residents must leave the buildings. For those students moving out permanently at winter break, move-out instructions will be sent directly to you via email. Below is a summary of what you need to know if you’re returning in January.
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- Winter break closure dates
- Residence halls that will be closed
- Buildings that will remain open
- Prepare your room for winter closure
- What if I need a place to stay during winter break?
- Emergency winter break housing
- Other campus resources
- Questions about winter break?
Winter break closure dates
Residents are not allowed to reside in residence halls during semester break due to energy curtailment. However, residents are allowed to leave their belongings in the halls over the semester break at their own risk.
Winter break dates 2026–27
Closure date: All residence halls, with the exception of Martinez Commons, will close on Saturday, December 19, 2026, by 10 a.m.
Re-open date: Residents may move back into residence halls on Thursday, January 14, 2027, at 9 a.m.
Residence halls that will be closed
These residence halls will be closed during winter break:
- Blackwell Hall
- Clark Kerr
- Foothill
- Stern
- Units 1, 2, and 3
Buildings that will remain open
The following buildings will remain open during winter break:
- Channing-Bowditch
- Clark Kerr Apartments
- Enclave
- Helen Diller Anchor House
- Ida L. Jackson House
- Intersection
- Manville
- Martinez Commons Apartments
- New Sequoia
- Panoramic Berkeley
- University Village
- Wada
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Prepare your room for winter closure
Be sure to complete the tasks listed below before you leave for winter break.
- Turn off and unplug room lights, computers, alarm clocks, timers, televisions, power strips, etc. Please do not unplug your refrigerator.
- Make sure your room is clean, vacuumed, and that all perishable food and trash is properly thrown away.
- Close windows, curtains, and lock your door.
- Take critical items with you: any medicine, important documents, and valuables. Also, be sure to secure your bicycle.
- Pick up your mail.
Every room will be inspected by residential staff after closing to ensure compliance with checkout procedures.
What if I need a place to stay during winter break?
If you think you will need to find housing over winter break, we suggest that you look into options as soon as possible. The Basic Needs Center, in collaboration with the Student Advocate’s Office, has created the Resources for Winter Break Housing Applicants guide, which includes a list of temporary housing options, emergency food resources, Basic Needs Center support, and more.
- If you want to discuss off-campus Winter Break Housing options, you can request a meeting with the Student Advocate’s Office (SAO).
Emergency winter break housing
The Emergency Winter Break Housing program is a campus program that provides emergency housing for current campus housing residents with limited financial resources and no other housing options during the winter break. Students who participate in this program will be provided with accommodations at a nearby hotel for the duration of winter break. The hotel room will likely include daily breakfast, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, and access to a pay-for-use laundry facility. Space is currently limited to only 20 rooms, so be sure to explore other options as well, such as those listed in the Resources for Winter Break Housing Applicants.
To qualify for the emergency housing program, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a current residence hall resident who will continue living in the residence hall for the spring semester; the program is not intended for re-enrollment or graduating students.
- Need housing for the entire duration of the winter break period, December 20, 2025, to January 15, 2026. Partial housing cannot be offered via this program; you must stay for the whole winter break period.
- Have very limited financial resources and no other options for winter break housing.
Applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria will be prioritized for emergency winter break housing:
- Berkeley Hope Scholars Students.
- Students experiencing violence or safety concerns at home.
- International students who are in situations where their home country is experiencing a disaster, crisis, or geopolitical conflict that represents a safety concern for travel.
If you will experience homelessness or unsafe housing during this time period and can not afford alternatives, please complete the emergency winter break housing application. Please note that the priority application deadline is October 31 at 11:59 p.m. The priority decision notification date is November 12.
If you have any questions regarding the winter break application process, please reach out to winterhousing@berkeley.edu.
Other campus resources
- If you need housing due to sexual violence/sexual harassment (SVSH) or intimate partner violence, please reach out to PATH to Care at ptcadvocates@berkeley.edu or access their Support for Survivors instead of completing the Emergency Winter Break Housing application form.
- If you are experiencing housing insecurity, please contact the Basic Needs Center by completing the Basic Needs Center Assistance Form.
Questions about winter break?
If you have additional questions, please contact your unit’s front desk.