Formal Hall Dates

Formal Hall Dates for the 2026/27 academic year - Jump to:

• Michaelmas Term

Formal Halls FAQs

What are formals?

Formal Halls are fancy dinners (usually) held in the New Dining Hall. They are typically 3 courses (starter, main, dessert), with wine and soft drinks. There is usually an address by the Principal or presiding Fellow as appropriate. Semi Formals are the same but with 2 courses (main and dessert) and without wine or soft drinks, and are slightly cheaper. Formal Halls are entirely optional to attend.

When are formals and what time do they start?

Regular Formal Halls - Open to UG and PG students. They are every Tuesday in the Undergraduate 8 week term. There is no drinks reception and they begin at 7:30pm in the New Dining Hall.

Postgraduate Formal Halls - Open only to PG students. They are on some Friday (see exact dates below). There is a drinks reception in the Great Hall at 7pm and dinner is served in the New dining Hall at 7:30pm.

Special Formals - They can be held on other days but these are typically by invitation i.e. a subject or course specific formal dinner. The location and timing may vary.

Is there a dress code/do I have to wear a gown?

No, there is no dress code. Homerton does not require students to wear a gown and is accepting of gender diverse clothing and traditional dress. Most people opt for smart wear (usually suits or dresses) but there really is no restrictions apart from appropriate clothes in a public setting!

How much are tickets and can I bring guests?

Tickets costs £20 for Homerton students, and £24 for Guests. There is usually the option to book 2 guest tickets for a formal. For larger bookings you may ask others to book on your behalf or contact the MCR for assistance.

How do I book tickets?

Tickets can be booked on the UPay app and will typically come out 8 days in advance at 6pm, e.g. for a Tuesday formal on 30 April, tickets will be available at 6pm on Monday 22 April. Note that this is typical and can vary for some formals, always check UPay for exact details. Make sure to be there on time to book (and with credit on your UPay account!) as tickets typically sell out very fast! If you don’t manage to get a ticket, there are sometimes people selling them on the MCR chat.

How do I specify dietary requirements?

Dietary requirements can be entered on UPay at the time of booking and it is best to get this right at the time as it is a hassle for catering to change the requirements on the day! But if you really need to change requirements, you can email catering@homerton.cam.ac.uk to explain the change.

The dates below are correct at time of writing for Michaelmas Term 2025, please always check UPay for the most up to date information! *Themed formals are denoted with an asterisk.