when does lent start and end 2026

Lent in 2026 begins on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, and ends on Thursday, 2 April 2026 (Holy Thursday evening) in the Western Christian tradition.

Key dates for Lent 2026

• Start of Lent (Ash Wednesday): 18 February 2026.

• End of Lent (Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Thursday): 2 April 2026.

• Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026.

Quick context

• In most Western churches, Lent is the 40-day penitential season from Ash Wednesday up to the start of the evening Mass on Holy Thursday, excluding Sundays.

• Some Christians continue their personal Lenten fasts or disciplines through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, even though the liturgical season of Lent ends on Holy Thursday.

• In many Eastern/Orthodox traditions, Great Lent follows a slightly different calendar and counting method, often ending earlier (the Friday before Palm Sunday).

Mini “forum-style” note

“So if I’m marking my calendar for 2026, what should I write down?”

You’d block out 18 February–2 April 2026 as the core Lent window, with the understanding that the Easter celebration lands on 5 April 2026 , closing out the broader season.

TL;DR: Lent 2026 runs from 18 Feb 2026 (Ash Wednesday) to 2 Apr 2026 (Holy Thursday evening) , leading into Easter Sunday on 5 Apr 2026.

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