Tisha B'Av 2026

When Is Tisha B'Av in 2026?

In 2026, Tisha B'Av falls on July 22. The observance lasts 1 day (~25 hours, sundown to nightfall). Because Tisha B'Av follows a 9 Av, Hebrew lunisolar calendar; if 9 Av falls on Shabbat, the fast is observed on 10 Av, the exact Gregorian date shifts each year. Begins at sundown on 8 Av. When 9 Av falls on Shabbat (as in 2028), the fast is postponed to Sunday 10 Av. The fast shifts ~1 month later in Hebrew leap years. Observers read the Book of Lamentations (Eichah) and sit on low stools as a sign of mourning. Since Tisha B'Av's date changes from year to year, here are the dates for the next five years so you can plan ahead: Year Date 2026 July 22 2027 August 11 2028 July 31 2029 July 20 2030 August 9

What Time Does Tisha B'Av Start in Your Time Zone?

Tisha B'Av falls on the 9th of Av in the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. In 2026, Tisha B'Av begins at sunset on July 22 and ends at nightfall on July 23. As with all Jewish holidays, each day begins at sunset, so the festival spans two Gregorian dates. When the 9th of Av falls on a Saturday (Shabbat), the fast is delayed to Sunday (the 10th of Av) — since fasting is prohibited on Shabbat. In 2026, the 9th of Av falls on a Wednesday-Thursday, so the fast is observed on its normal date. The 25-hour fast — from sunset to nightfall (when three stars are visible) — means that the fast's duration varies by latitude. In Jerusalem in July, sunset is around 7:45 PM and nightfall is around 8:15 PM the next day — a fast of about 24.5 hours. In New York, sunset is around 8:15 PM and nightfall is around 8:50 PM — a fast of about 24.5 hours. In London, the fast can be longer because the sun sets later in summer; in Melbourne (winter in July), the fast is shorter. The table below shows the observance date for Tisha B'Av in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA July 22 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK July 22 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India July 22 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia July 22 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE July 22 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av — the Ninth of Av — is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, a day of fasting and mourning commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The First Temple (built by King Solomon) was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE; the Second Temple (built after the return from Babylonian exile) was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. Both destructions are traditionally said to have occurred on the same date — the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av) — making the day a focus of Jewish collective grief. Over the centuries, other tragedies have been associated with Tisha B'Av, deepening its significance as a day of mourning. According to tradition, the failure of the Bar Kokhba revolt against Roman rule in 135 CE — in which hundreds of thousands of Jews died and the city of Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Roman city — also occurred on Tisha B'Av. The expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290, the expulsion from France in 1306, the expulsion from Spain in 1492, and the beginning of World War I in 1914 (which led to the upheavals that would eventually produce the Holocaust) are also traditionally connected to the date. The day has thus become a focus for Jewish memory of suffering throughout history. Tisha B'Av is the culmination of the Three Weeks — a period of mourning that begins on the 17th of Tammuz (the date the walls of Jerusalem were breached before the destruction of the Second Temple). During the Three Weeks, observant Jews refrain from celebrations, weddings, haircuts, and (in the final nine days, called the Nine Days) from eating meat or drinking wine. On Tisha B'Av itself, a 25-hour fast is observed — no food or water from sunset to nightfall the following day — and additional restrictions (similar to Yom Kippur) prohibit bathing, wearing leather shoes, anointing with oils, and sexual relations.

How Tisha B'Av Is Celebrated

Tisha B'Av is observed as a day of mourning, with customs that mirror those of Jewish mourning practices. The day begins at sunset, when the congregation gathers in the synagogue for the evening service (Ma'ariv). The lights are dimmed, the curtains are removed from the Torah ark, and worshippers sit on low stools or on the floor — a traditional sign of mourning. The Book of Lamentations (Eichah in Hebrew) — a biblical book of five poems lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem — is read aloud in a mournful chant. Throughout the night and the following day, kinot (elegies) are recited — poems written over the centuries lamenting the destruction of the Temples and other Jewish tragedies. The kinot tradition includes poems written by some of the greatest Jewish poets, including Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi), and others. In modern times, some communities have added kinot commemorating the Holocaust, expanding the day's scope to include the tragedies of modern Jewish history. The recitation of kinot can last for several hours, with breaks for prayer and reflection. The day is also marked by the absence of normal synagogue practices. The Torah is not read in its usual way (a brief reading is done in the afternoon, but without the usual blessings). Tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries) — which are normally worn during morning prayers — are not worn at the morning service, but only at the afternoon service, symbolizing the absence of God's presence during the destruction. After the fast is broken at nightfall, the mood begins to shift toward hope — the following Sabbath is called Shabbat Nachamu ("Sabbath of Comfort"), named for the opening words of the Haftarah reading from Isaiah: "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Why Does Tisha B'Av Move Every Year? Tisha B'Av is fixed on the 9th of Av in the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. The Hebrew calendar's leap-month system (with Adar II added seven times in 19 years) keeps Tisha B'Av anchored in July or August. The earliest Tisha B'Av can fall is mid-July; the latest is mid-August. When the 9th of Av falls on Shabbat, the fast is delayed to Sunday (the 10th of Av), so the observed date can occasionally shift by a day.

Calendar Calculation

9 Av, Hebrew lunisolar calendar; if 9 Av falls on Shabbat, the fast is observed on 10 Av

Did You Know? Tisha B'Av Facts & Trivia

Tisha B'Av — the Ninth of Av — is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Both destructions are traditionally said to have occurred on the same date — the 9th of Av — making the day a focus of Jewish collective grief. Over the centuries, other tragedies have been associated with Tisha B'Av. According to tradition, the failure of the Bar Kokhba revolt against Roman rule in 135 CE — in which hundreds of thousands of Jews died — also occurred on Tisha B'Av. The expulsion of the Jews from England in 1290, the expulsion from France in 1306, and the expulsion from Spain in 1492 are also traditionally connected to the date. Tisha B'Av is observed with customs that mirror Jewish mourning practices. The lights in the synagogue are dimmed, the curtains are removed from the Torah ark, and worshippers sit on low stools or on the floor — a traditional sign of mourning. The Book of Lamentations — a biblical book of five poems lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem — is read aloud in a mournful chant. The 25-hour fast of Tisha B'Av — from sunset to nightfall (when three stars are visible) — is one of complete abstinence: no food, no water, no bathing, no leather shoes, no anointing with oils, and no sexual relations. The fast is similar in intensity to Yom Kippur, though Tisha B'Av is less widely observed by secular Jews.