Ghent University opens academic year 2026-2027

On Friday 18 September, the 2026–2027 academic year opened with the formal opening ceremony in the Ufo building.

During this ceremony, Rector Petra De Sutter officially opened the new academic year.

Rewatch the whole ceremony

For the first time: a welcome on the first day of classes

This year, for the first time, Friday’s official opening will be followed by a welcome on the first day of classes. On Monday 21 September, Rector Petra De Sutter and Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert visited several faculties to personally welcome first-year students to Ghent University.

This way, they were also there at the moment when the academic year truly begins for thousands of new students: their first day of classes at university.

Take a look back at the opening ceremony 2026-2027

Take a look at the photo album of the opening ceremony 2026-2027.