Ramadan 2026

When Is Ramadan in 2026?

In 2026, Ramadan falls on February 18. The observance lasts 29–30 days. Because Ramadan follows a 9th month of the Hijri lunar calendar; begins at sighting of the new moon (1 Ramadan), lasts 29–30 days until 1 Shawwal, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. The start shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar sets a fixed civil date, but local moon sightings across the Muslim world can shift the start by ±1 day. Because the Hijri year (354 days) is shorter than the Gregorian, two Ramadans can occasionally fall in a single Gregorian year (next in 2030, with a second Ramadan beginning ~December 26, 2030). Since Ramadan's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 February 18 2027 February 8 2028 January 28 2029 January 16 2030 January 6

What Time Does Ramadan Start in Your Time Zone?

Because Ramadan follows the lunar Hijri calendar, the month's start and end are determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon, and the date shifts backward by about 11 days each Gregorian year. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin at sunset on February 18 and end at sunset on March 19, with Eid al-Fitr on March 20. As with Eid al-Fitr, the start date can vary by a day between Saudi Arabia (which follows the Umm al-Qura astronomical calendar) and communities in South Asia and Southeast Asia that rely on local sightings. The fasting day itself — from dawn (Fajr prayer) to sunset (Maghrib prayer) — varies enormously by latitude and season, which is why Ramadan feels so different in different years. Because the lunar calendar drifts through the seasons, a Ramadan that falls in a Northern Hemisphere summer means 16- to 18-hour fasts in places like London or New York, while a winter Ramadan means fasts of just 9 or 10 hours. In 2026, with Ramadan in late February and March, fasts will be relatively moderate — roughly 12 to 14 hours in most of the world. Muslims in extreme latitudes, where the sun barely sets in summer, follow special rulings that allow them to follow the times of Mecca or the nearest moderate-latitude country. The table below shows the observance date for Ramadan in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA February 18 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK February 18 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India February 18 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia February 18 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE February 18 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and for nearly two billion Muslims it is the holiest time of the year. The month commemorates the moment in 610 CE when the Prophet Muhammad, meditating in a cave on Mount Hira outside Mecca, received the first revelations of the Qur'an from the angel Jibril (Gabriel). Those revelations, continued over the remaining 23 years of Muhammad's life, became the holy book of Islam — and Ramadan became the month in which Muslims re-encounter that text through intensified prayer, fasting, and reflection. The central obligation of Ramadan is the sawm, the dawn-to-dusk fast. From the first light of dawn — marked by the suhoor meal eaten in the dim hours before sunrise — until the fourth call to prayer of the day at sunset, Muslims abstain from all food, all drink (including water), sexual relations, and any behavior considered sinful or unspiritual. The fast is broken each evening with a meal called iftar, traditionally starting with dates and water in imitation of the Prophet's practice, followed by a fuller meal shared with family and community. But Ramadan is not just about food. The fast is meant to train the believer in discipline and empathy — to give a physical sense of what hunger means so that generosity toward the poor becomes instinctive rather than abstract. Mosques fill for tarawih, the special nightly prayers in which the entire Qur'an is recited over the course of the month. The last ten nights of Ramadan are considered especially sacred, with Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, believed to fall on one of the odd-numbered nights — commemorating the night the first revelations came down.

How Ramadan Is Celebrated

Ramadan feels different from other months in any Muslim-majority city. The daily rhythm inverts: daytime is quieter, with reduced hours at offices and schools, while evenings explode into communal life. As sunset approaches, families gather around the iftar table. In many households, the spread includes dates and laban (a yogurt drink) to break the fast, followed by soup — often lentil or harira — and then a main meal that varies enormously by region. In Egypt, the table might include mahshi (stuffed vegetables) and qatayef (sweet stuffed pancakes). In Indonesia, kolak — a coconut milk dessert with bananas and palm sugar — is essential. After iftar, the streets come alive. In Cairo, the massive musahharati drummers walk the streets before dawn calling people to wake for suhoor. In Istanbul, the Ottoman-era tradition of drummers making the same rounds persists in older neighborhoods. Markets and night bazaars open after the tarawih prayers and stay open until the small hours, selling sweets, clothes, toys, and Ramadan decorations. Cairo, Istanbul, and Mecca erect enormous fanous — colorful Ramadan lanterns — that turn the streetscapes into glowing spectacles. Charity intensifies during Ramadan. Mosques and wealthy families set up free iftar tents on street corners where passersby can break their fast. Many Muslims pay their annual zakat — the obligatory alms — during this month because good deeds are believed to be multiplied in reward. The final days of Ramadan are marked by a particular intensity, as worshippers spend the last ten nights in itikaf, a spiritual retreat in the mosque, hoping to catch Laylat al-Qadr. Why Does Ramadan Move Every Year? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. That gap means Ramadan drifts backward through the Gregorian calendar at the rate of about 11 days per year, completing a full cycle through the seasons every 33 years. If you are old enough to have experienced a summer Ramadan in 2014-2018, you will experience a winter Ramadan in the mid-2030s, and the cycle will continue. The start of Ramadan is declared when the new crescent moon is sighted — either physically or astronomically calculated. Saudi Arabia's Umm al-Qura calendar fixes the dates years in advance, which is why we can list the start of Ramadan through 2030 in our table. But communities that rely on physical sighting (ru'yat al-hilal) may begin a day later if clouds obscure the moon. This is why, on any given year, you may see Ramadan start in Saudi Arabia on one date and in Pakistan or India on the next.

Calendar Calculation

9th month of the Hijri lunar calendar; begins at sighting of the new moon (1 Ramadan), lasts 29–30 days until 1 Shawwal

Traveling for Ramadan? Where to Go

Ramadan travel has a different character from Eid travel. The most common pattern is umrah travel to Mecca, which surges during Ramadan because the rewards of pilgrimage are believed to be multiplied during the holy month. Saudi Arabia issues special Ramadan umrah visas, and the Grand Mosque in Mecca reaches some of its highest occupancy of the year. For non-pilgrimage travel, many Muslims time family visits for the final ten days of Ramadan or for the Eid al-Fitr that immediately follows. Top destinations for this holiday: Mecca: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Istanbul: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Cairo: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Dubai: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Marrakech: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for ramadan, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Mecca fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for Ramadan travel →]

Did You Know? Ramadan Facts & Trivia

The crescent moon — used to determine the start and end of Ramadan — is so significant that several countries maintain official moon-sighting committees. Saudi Arabia's moon-sighting announcement is broadcast live on television and is watched by Muslims worldwide. The iftar — the meal that breaks the fast at sunset — traditionally begins with the eating of dates, in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad's practice. Saudi Arabia exports over 1.2 million tons of dates annually, with peak demand during Ramadan. Tarawih — the special nightly prayers during Ramadan — involve the recitation of the entire Qur'an over the course of the month. The prayers can last from one to three hours, depending on the reciter's pace and the length of the Qur'an sections read each night. Some Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, reduce working hours during Ramadan. In Saudi Arabia, both public and private sector workers typically work six-hour days during the holy month.