when did lent start

Lent in 2026 started on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 (Ash Wednesday).

Quick scoop: When did Lent start?

• Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday in Western churches (Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, etc.).

• For 2026 , Ash Wednesday fell on 18 February , so that is the start of Lent.

• Lent then runs for about six weeks, leading up to Easter Sunday on 5 April 2026.

A bit of context

• Lent is a Christian season of prayer, fasting, and reflection that recalls the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

• The calendar count is actually about 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, but Sundays are not counted as fast days, which is why it is described as 40 days.

• Different denominations may mark the end slightly differently (Maundy Thursday vs Holy Saturday), but they agree that in 2026 the season starts on 18 February.

TL;DR: If you’re asking “when did Lent start” this year (2026) , the answer is Wednesday 18 February 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.