Nowruz 2026

When Is Nowruz in 2026?

In 2026, Nowruz falls on March 20. The observance lasts 13 days (Sizdah Bedar on the 13th day). Because Nowruz follows a Solar Hijri calendar: the moment of the vernal (spring) equinox; typically March 20 or 21, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The exact instant of the equinox is a single moment in UTC; the corresponding local date varies by timezone. In Iran, Nowruz begins at the precise equinox moment (Tahvil-e Sal), so the celebration can begin on March 20 or 21 depending on the year and time of day. UNESCO inscribed Nowruz on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. Since Nowruz's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 March 20 2027 March 21 2028 March 20 2029 March 20 2030 March 20

What Time Does Nowruz Start in Your Time Zone?

Nowruz is calculated by the exact moment of the vernal equinox — the astronomical moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator. This moment occurs at the same instant worldwide, but falls on different calendar dates in different time zones. In 2026, the vernal equinox occurs on March 20 at 22:47 UTC, which is March 21 at 02:17 in Tehran (UTC+3:30). For communities in time zones where the equinox falls on March 20 local time, Nowruz may be observed on that date. The tahvil — the exact moment of the new year — is announced on Iranian radio and television to the minute, and families gather around the haft-sin table to greet the new year with embraces, sweets, and the recitation of poetry. For Iranians abroad, the question of whether to observe Nowruz at the moment of the equinox in Iran's time zone or in their local time zone is a perennial one. Most diaspora communities follow the local time zone calculation, meaning that an Iranian family in Los Angeles may celebrate Nowruz several hours after their relatives in Tehran — even though the astronomical equinox occurs at the same instant for both. The table below shows the observance date for Nowruz in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA March 20 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK March 20 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India March 20 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia March 20 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE March 20 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Nowruz

Nowruz — literally "new day" in Persian — is the Persian New Year, celebrated on or around March 21 each year to mark the arrival of spring and the vernal equinox. The festival has been observed for over 3,000 years, with roots in Zoroastrianism (the ancient religion of Persia) and the broader Indo-Iranian tradition. Today, Nowruz is the most important festival in Iran and is celebrated by Persian and Turkic communities worldwide, including in Afghanistan (where it is called Nawroz), the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), Azerbaijan, Kurdish regions of Iraq, Turkey, and Syria, and among the Persian and Central Asian diaspora. The festival's timing is precise: Nowruz falls on the day of the vernal equinox — the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are equal in length. This astronomical event can fall on March 20, 21, or 22 in the Gregorian calendar, depending on the year and the time zone. In Iran, Nowruz is calculated to the exact minute of the equinox — the tahvil — and families gather around a beautifully set table (the haft-sin) to greet the new year the moment the equinox occurs. Nowruz was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2009, and the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz in 2010. The festival's enduring appeal lies in its themes of renewal, reconciliation, and the triumph of light over darkness — themes that resonate far beyond the Persian world.

How Nowruz Is Celebrated

Nowruz is celebrated over 13 days, with each day having its own traditions. The centerpiece is the haft-sin ("seven S's") table, set with seven items that begin with the Persian letter "sin" (S) and that symbolize the new year's blessings: sabzeh (sprouts, for rebirth), samanu (sweet pudding, for affluence), senjed (dried lotus fruit, for love), sir (garlic, for medicine), sib (apples, for health and beauty), somaq (sumac berries, for the color of sunrise), and serkeh (vinegar, for patience and age). The table also includes a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl with a goldfish, and a copy of the Quran or the Shahnameh (the Persian national epic). The 13 days of Nowruz are filled with visiting — families visit the eldest relatives first, then work their way down the family hierarchy. Children receive eidi (cash gifts), and tea, sweets, and pastries are served at every visit. The most important pastries are nokhodchi (chickpea cookies), baklava, and nan-e berenji (rice cookies). On the 13th day — Sizdah Bedar — families leave their homes and spend the day outdoors in parks or the countryside, picnicking, playing games, and tying knots in the sabzeh (sprouts) to symbolize the discarding of bad luck. Young unmarried women tie knots in the grass in the hope of finding a husband in the coming year. Other Nowruz traditions include the fire-jumping of Chaharshanbe Suri, held on the last Tuesday evening before Nowruz. People light small fires in the streets and jump over them, reciting the phrase "sorkhi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to" — "your redness to me, my yellowness to you" — symbolically exchanging the fire's warmth for one's own paleness (illness or misfortune). In Afghanistan, the festival is celebrated with buzkashi (a sport in which horsemen compete for a goat carcass), and in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, traditional horse games and wrestling are held. Why Does Nowruz Move Every Year? Nowruz is calculated by the solar Hijri calendar used in Iran and Afghanistan, which tracks the sun's actual position through the zodiac signs. The new year begins at the moment the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries — the vernal equinox. This makes the Iranian solar calendar one of the most astronomically precise calendars in the world, more accurate than the Gregorian calendar in tracking the solar year. Because the equinox can fall on March 20, 21, or 22 depending on the year and time zone, Nowruz's exact Gregorian date varies. Most years, it falls on March 20 or 21. The Iranian calendar's months are tied to the zodiac signs, so the new year always begins with the sun's entry into Aries — a precise astronomical event. This is fundamentally different from the Islamic lunar calendar, which drifts backward through the seasons, or the Gregorian calendar, which keeps the equinox on (approximately) March 21 but uses fixed month lengths rather than astronomical events.

Calendar Calculation

Solar Hijri calendar: the moment of the vernal (spring) equinox; typically March 20 or 21

Traveling for Nowruz? Where to Go

Nowruz is a major travel period in Iran and Central Asia. In Iran, families travel to be with relatives for the 13-day festival, and intercity travel surges. The city of Shiraz — with its famous gardens in full spring bloom — is a popular destination for Nowruz trips. Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, hosts ceremonies recalling the Achaemenid kings' Nowruz celebrations. In Afghanistan, the city of Mazar-e-Sharif is the focal point of Nawroz celebrations, with the raising of the Janda (a sacred flag) at the Blue Mosque drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. UNESCO sites like Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan also draw Nowruz tourists. Top destinations for this holiday: Tehran: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Isfahan: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Shiraz: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Baku: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Samarkand: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for nowruz, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Tehran fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for Nowruz travel →]

Did You Know? Nowruz Facts & Trivia

Nowruz — meaning "new day" in Persian — has been observed for over 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously celebrated festivals in the world. The festival has roots in Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Persia, and marks the arrival of spring and the vernal equinox. The haft-sin table — set with seven items beginning with the Persian letter "sin" (S) — is the centerpiece of Nowruz. The seven items are sabzeh (sprouts), samanu (sweet pudding), senjed (dried lotus fruit), sir (garlic), sib (apples), somaq (sumac berries), and serkeh (vinegar), each symbolizing a different blessing. Nowruz is calculated by the exact moment of the vernal equinox — the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator. The tahvil — the precise moment of the new year — is announced on Iranian radio and television to the minute, and families gather around the haft-sin table to greet the new year. The 13 days of Nowruz culminate in Sizdah Bedar — the 13th day, when families leave their homes and spend the day outdoors in parks or the countryside. The tradition of leaving the house on the 13th day is meant to avoid bad luck associated with the number 13.