when do we start fasting 2026
For Ramadan fasting in 2026, most astronomical and Islamic charity sources indicate that the first day of fasting is expected to be Wednesday, 18 February 2026 in many countries, with Ramadan beginning the evening before.
Because Islamic months follow the moon sighting , the exact start can differ slightly:
- Some authorities expect Ramadan to begin the evening of Tuesday 17 February 2026 , so fasting starts Wednesday 18 February.
- National and local councils may confirm the date a day before, depending on whether they follow local or global crescent sighting.
If you want a practical rule of thumb:
- Mark Wednesday 18 February 2026 as the likely first fasting day.
- Check your local mosque or Islamic council the night of Tuesday 17 February 2026 for the final announcement, because in some regions Ramadan might be declared a day earlier or later based on actual sighting.
Ramadan is then expected to run until around 19–21 March 2026 , with Eid al-Fitr likely around 20 March 2026 , again subject to moon sighting.
Quick Scoop
- Likely first day of fasting (Ramadan 2026): Wednesday 18 February 2026.
- Ramadan likely begins: evening of 17 or 18 February 2026 (depending on moon sighting and local practice).
- Expected end of Ramadan: evening of 18–19 March 2026 , with Eid around 20 March 2026 in many calendars.
Always follow your local mosque or Islamic authority for the final confirmed date , as religious start times depend on verified crescent sightings, not just calculations.
Mini sections
1. Why dates seem different
Different organizations list slightly different spans for Ramadan 2026, but they all cluster around the same window:
- Islamic Relief Worldwide: Ramadan expected to begin Tuesday 17 February 2026 , with fasting continuing until around 18 March 2026.
- Other educational and relief sites: first fast expected on Wednesday 18 February 2026 , ending about 19 March 2026 with Eid around 20 March.
The variation comes from:
- Whether they state the evening of the start vs the first fasting morning.
- Whether they assume a 29- or 30-day lunar month for that year.
2. Global vs local sighting
In 2026, many calendars say Ramadan will start on 18 February or 19 February , depending on the crescent visibility and method (local sighting, global sighting, or astronomical calculation).
Some mosques, like those in Europe or North America, publish timetables using calculated dates but still note that final confirmation depends on moon sighting.
A simple example: a timetable in the Netherlands states that Ramadan begins Tuesday night 17 February and that the first fast is likely 18 February 2026 , but it still adds that the final decision awaits the moon.
Story-style illustration
Imagine it’s Tuesday evening, 17 February 2026. Families are watching announcements from their local mosque. In most cities, the imam steps up after maghrib and says that the new crescent has been confirmed, so taraweeh will start that night and the first fasting day will be tomorrow, Wednesday 18 February.
In a different country a time zone away, another council might wait for clearer reports and could, in theory, begin a day later; but the majority of global timetables in 2026 are aligned on that 18 February first fast expectation.
Quick SEO-style notes
- If you’re searching “when do we start fasting 2026 ,” most updated Ramadan 2026 pages agree on Wednesday 18 February 2026 as the first fast in many regions, pending moon sighting.
- For latest news and confirmation, Islamic news outlets and community centers tend to publish final decisions in the two or three days before Ramadan, often emphasizing that fasting lasts about 29–30 days with dawn-to-sunset hours varying by latitude.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.