If you're trying to pin down the Muslim holidays 2026 dates — whether to book annual leave, plan a family Umrah, or simply know when Ramadan starts — you're in the right place. This guide lays out every major Islamic observance for the year, matched to both Hijri years that fall within it, 1447 AH and 1448 AH.

A quick note before we dive in: Islamic dates are set by the sighting of the crescent moon, so every date below can shift by a day depending on your country and local mosque announcement. The figures here follow the Umm al-Qura calendar, the standard reference used across Saudi Arabia and widely cited internationally. Most of 2026's major dates have already been confirmed by official moon-sighting announcements as the year has progressed; the remaining ones are noted as expected.

Why 2026 Spans Two Hijri Years

The Islamic calendar is lunar, made up of 12 months of 29 or 30 days, totaling 354–355 days a year — about 10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. That gap means each Gregorian year opens partway through one Hijri year and closes partway through the next.

In 2026, the year opens in the final months of 1447 AH and transitions into 1448 AH around Muharram, in mid-June. That's also why Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj all drift roughly 10–11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar every year — a pattern anyone who's tracked these dates for a few years will recognize.

Muslim Holidays 2026: The Full Date List

Here's the complete rundown, ordered chronologically through the year. Dates through mid-August have been confirmed by official moon-sighting announcements; the remainder are best estimates pending confirmation.

Dates confirmed via official Umm al-Qura / Supreme Court moon-sighting announcements where available; the remaining date is a best estimate. Local moon sighting committees (e.g. in Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, or the UK) may observe a date one day earlier or later than Saudi Arabia.

Ramadan 2026: The Month of Fasting

Ramadan 2026 began on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (1 Ramadan 1447 AH) and ran for 30 days per the Umm al-Qura calendar, ending on March 19. During this month, well over a billion Muslims worldwide fast from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib), abstaining from food, drink, and other daytime intake.

Beyond fasting, Ramadan is a month of increased prayer, Quran recitation, charity (Zakat and Sadaqah), and community iftars — the meal that breaks the fast each evening. If you manage a team or run a business with Muslim colleagues or customers, expect adjusted work hours, earlier evening plans, and higher footfall around iftar time in many cities.

Laylat al-Qadr — The Night of Power

Falling on one of the odd nights in the last ten days of Ramadan — most commonly observed on the 27th night, which fell around March 15, 2026 — Laylat al-Qadr is considered the holiest night of the Islamic calendar, marking the night the first verses of the Quran were revealed. Many Muslims spend the night in extended prayer (Qiyam al-Layl).

Eid al-Fitr 2026: Celebrating the End of Ramadan

Hajj and Eid al-Adha 2026

The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and the main rites take place over just a few days in Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Hijri year. In 2026, the core Hajj days fell between May 25 and May 27, after Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court confirmed the sighting of the Dhul-Hijjah crescent on May 17.

Day of Arafah

Falling on 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1447 AH, the Day of Arafah was observed on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. It is considered the most significant day of the Hajj — pilgrims gathered at the plain of Arafah for a day of prayer and reflection. Many Muslims who weren't performing Hajj that year chose to fast on this day.

Eid al-Adha — The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha fell on 10 Dhul-Hijjah 1447 AH, corresponding to Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as confirmed by Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court and moon-sighting committees across the Muslim world. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and is marked by communal prayer, the ritual sacrifice of livestock (Udhiyah), and distributing meat to family, neighbors, and those in need. In many countries, Eid al-Adha comes with public holidays spanning three or four days.

The New Hijri Year: 1448 AH Began

Islamic New Year (1 Muharram)

The Hijri year 1448 AH began on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, confirmed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in line with the Umm al-Qura calendar. Unlike the Gregorian New Year, this is a quiet, reflective occasion for most Muslims rather than a festive one — many mark it with prayer and reflection on the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina, the event from which the calendar takes its name.

Day of Ashura

Falling on 10 Muharram 1448 AH, Ashura was observed on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Ashura holds deep significance across the Muslim world. Many Sunni Muslims fast on this day (often alongside the 9th) commemorating the day Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites were saved from Pharaoh, while for Shia Muslims it marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala, observed with mourning gatherings and processions.

Mawlid al-Nabi: The Prophet's Birthday

Mawlid al-Nabi, commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad, falls on 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH, expected around Tuesday, August 25, 2026 per the Umm al-Qura calendar (some South Asian moon-sighting authorities may observe it a day later, on August 26). Observance varies widely: some communities hold public celebrations, processions, and Quran recitations, while others mark it more privately or don't observe it at all — it's worth knowing your community's practice rather than assuming.

How These Dates Are Actually Calculated

It helps to understand the two systems at play, because it explains why you'll sometimes see slightly different dates from different sources:

• Astronomical calculation (Umm al-Qura): Saudi Arabia's civil calendar, and the reference most global sites (including this one) use for advance planning, since it can be projected months or years ahead.
• Local moon sighting: Many countries and communities — including moon-sighting committees in Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, and parts of the UK and US — confirm the start of each month only once the crescent is physically sighted, which can shift a date by a day compared to the calculated calendar.

The practical takeaway: use the dates in this guide with confidence for anything through mid-2026 since they've already been confirmed by official moon-sighting announcements, and check back with your local mosque or national moon-sighting authority closer to Mawlid al-Nabi for final confirmation.

Planning Around the Muslim Holidays 2026 Calendar

For Work & School

If you manage a team, expect requests for time off around Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and possibly shorter or flexible hours from Muslim colleagues during Ramadan. Blocking these dates on a shared calendar early — even as tentative "TBC, pending moon sighting" entries — avoids last-minute scheduling clashes.

For Travel & Umrah/Hajj

Flights and hotels in Mecca, Medina, and connecting hubs filled up fastest around Ramadan (for Umrah) and the Hajj season in late May 2026. If a family pilgrimage is on your radar for a future year, registering interest and booking accommodation several months ahead is standard practice, since demand consistently outstrips last-minute availability.

For Family & Community Events

Weddings, reunions, and community events are often deliberately scheduled around Eid, when extended family is already gathered and in a celebratory mood — but the same demand means venues and caterers book out early. Penciling in a date as soon as the expected Eid window is known, then confirming once the moon is sighted, tends to work better than waiting for certainty.

Frequently Asked Questions About Muslim Holidays 2026