Passover 2026

When Is Passover in 2026?

In 2026, Passover falls on April 1. The observance lasts 7–8 days (Seder on nights 1 and 2 in Diaspora, night 1 in Israel). Because Passover follows a 15–22 Nisan (7 days in Israel, 8 in Diaspora), Hebrew lunisolar calendar; begins at sundown with the Seder, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. Begins at sundown on 14 Nisan. The Diaspora observes 8 days, Israel 7 days. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar with a 19-year leap cycle (7 leap years), Passover shifts ~1 month later in leap years (e.g., 2027, 2030). Since Passover's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 April 1 2027 April 21 2028 April 10 2029 March 30 2030 April 17

What Time Does Passover Start in Your Time Zone?

Passover begins at sunset on the 15th of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. In 2026, Passover begins at sunset on Wednesday, April 1 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, April 9 (with the seder held on the nights of April 1 and April 2 outside Israel). As with all Jewish holidays, the sunset-to-sunset structure means that Passover effectively spans two Gregorian dates each day — what is "the first night of Passover" in Jerusalem may still be "the day before Passover" in Los Angeles. The first seder is held on the evening that begins the holiday — so in 2026, the first seder is the evening of Wednesday, April 1. Because Jewish days begin at sunset, families in different time zones start their seders at different clock times, all keyed to local sunset. This can lead to logistical puzzles for families gathering across continents — a seder in New York starts several hours after the corresponding seder in Tel Aviv, and the Passover Hagaddah's rituals proceed at the same evening pace in both locations. The table below shows the observance date for Passover in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA April 1 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK April 1 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India April 1 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia April 1 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE April 1 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Passover

Passover — Pesach in Hebrew — is the eight-day (seven in Israel) festival commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, an event described in the biblical book of Exodus that is perhaps the single most important narrative in Jewish identity. The story tells how Moses, at God's command, demanded that Pharaoh release the Israelites from bondage. When Pharaoh refused, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt, the last of which was the death of every firstborn son. The Israelites were instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so that the angel of death would "pass over" their homes — hence the English name of the holiday. After the final plague, Pharaoh finally released the Israelites, who left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have time to rise. This is the origin of matzah — the flat, cracker-like unleavened bread that is the central food of Passover. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea, which parted to let them through and then closed upon the pursuing Egyptian army, and began their 40-year journey through the desert to the Promised Land. Passover is a festival of freedom above all else. The story is retold each year not as ancient history but as a living memory: in every generation, Jews are taught, each person is obligated to see themselves as if they personally had come out of Egypt. The Exodus narrative has been a touchstone for oppressed people throughout history, from African-American spirituals ("Go Down, Moses") to Latin American liberation theology. The festival's emphasis on freedom from slavery and the dignity of every person gives it a universal resonance that extends far beyond the Jewish community.

How Passover Is Celebrated

The heart of Passover is the seder — the ritual meal held on the first (and, outside Israel, second) night of the festival. The word "seder" means "order," and the meal follows a set sequence of 15 steps laid out in the Haggadah, the book that guides the ritual. The seder plate holds six symbolic foods: zeroah (a roasted bone, recalling the Passover sacrifice), beitzah (a roasted egg, symbolizing mourning and the cycle of life), maror (bitter herbs, recalling the bitterness of slavery), charoset (a paste of apples, nuts, and wine, symbolizing the mortar Israelite slaves used), karpas (a vegetable dipped in salt water, representing tears), and chazeret (a second bitter herb). The seder is interactive and family-centered. The youngest child present asks the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah) — "Why is this night different from all other nights?" — and the answer is the retelling of the Exodus story. Three pieces of matzah are placed on the table, the middle one (the afikoman) is broken and hidden, and the children search for it after the meal — the seder cannot conclude until it is found. Four cups of wine are drunk at prescribed points, and a fifth cup (the Cup of Elijah) is left for the prophet Elijah, who tradition says visits every seder. For the entire eight days of Passover, observant Jews eat no chametz — any food made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt that has been allowed to ferment and rise. This means no bread, no pasta, no beer, no most baked goods. Instead, matzah is eaten in every form — plain, as matzah ball soup, as matzah brei (a kind of pancake), and as matzah meal in cakes and cookies. Homes are thoroughly cleaned before Passover to remove every trace of chametz, and many families have separate dishes, pots, and pans used only during the holiday. The Passover diet has become a recognizable cultural marker — "kosher for Passover" labels appear on packaged foods worldwide. Why Does Passover Move Every Year? Passover's date is fixed in the Hebrew calendar (the 15th of Nisan), but the corresponding Gregorian date shifts each year because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar — its 354-day lunar year is corrected by leap months added seven times in 19 years, which keeps Passover in the March-April window. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE detached the Christian Easter calculation from the Jewish Passover, but the two are still connected: Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, which often (but not always) coincides with the Passover season. The 15th of Nisan is the night of the full moon — the full moon of the first spring month. This makes astronomical sense, since the Israelites, according to the biblical narrative, left Egypt at midnight on the 15th of Nisan, and the bright full moon would have lit their way. The earliest Passover can fall is March 25; the latest is April 24.

Calendar Calculation

15–22 Nisan (7 days in Israel, 8 in Diaspora), Hebrew lunisolar calendar; begins at sundown with the Seder

Traveling for Passover? Where to Go

Passover is one of the three pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh Regalim) in the Jewish calendar, when Israelites historically traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, the travel pattern centers on family seders — Jews often fly or drive long distances to be with parents and extended family for the seder nights. In Israel, the entire week of Passover is a major vacation period, with families traveling to the Galilee, the Negev, and Eilat. Many diaspora Jews also travel to Israel for Passover, when hotels and restaurants offer kosher-for-Passover meals and the country's rhythm shifts to the holiday. Top destinations for this holiday: Jerusalem: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Tel Aviv: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. New York City: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Miami: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Rome: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for passover, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Jerusalem fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for Passover travel →]

Did You Know? Passover Facts & Trivia

The Passover seder — the ritual meal held on the first (and, outside Israel, second) night of Passover — follows a 15-step sequence laid out in the Haggadah. The word "seder" literally means "order" in Hebrew, reflecting the structured nature of the meal. Passover's dietary restrictions are among the strictest in Judaism: no chametz (leavened food) may be eaten or even owned during the 8-day festival. Many observant households have separate dishes, pots, and pans used only during Passover, and the entire home is thoroughly cleaned to remove every trace of chametz. The Afikoman — a piece of matzah broken and hidden during the seder — must be found by the children before the seder can conclude. The tradition encourages children to stay engaged throughout the long ritual and rewards them with a small gift or money for finding the Afikoman. The phrase "Next year in Jerusalem" — traditionally sung at the end of the Passover seder — expresses the Jewish yearning for return to the land of Israel. The phrase has become a popular Jewish cultural expression, used at the end of Yom Kippur as well.