when does lent start for catholics

Lent for Catholics begins on Ash Wednesday , which in 2026 falls on Wednesday, February 18.

When does Lent start for Catholics?

For Roman Catholics, Lent always starts on Ash Wednesday , 46 calendar days before Easter (40 fasting days plus 6 Sundays).

In 2026 , Ash Wednesday is February 18 , so that is the day Lent begins for Catholics.

In most Catholic parishes, you’ll see people attending Mass or services that day to receive ashes on their forehead as a sign of repentance and preparation for Easter.

Key quick facts

• Start of Lent (Catholics): Ash Wednesday
• Date in 2026: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

• Why this date moves: It depends on the date of Easter, which is set using a lunar-based formula (first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox).

• Length of the season: About 46 calendar days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, but traditionally counted as 40 fasting days (Sundays not counted as fast days).

Slight differences in “end date”

You might see slightly different explanations of when Lent “ends”:

• Some Catholic sources say Lent runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday evening (start of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper).

• Others describe it as ending with Holy Saturday , the day before Easter.

Both are describing the same liturgical period, just from two slightly different perspectives (end of Lenten liturgical season vs. end of Lenten fasting practices).

Mini “story-style” example

Imagine you’re a Catholic planning your year in early 2026. You check the parish bulletin and see that Ash Wednesday is February 18.

You mark that date as the start of your Lenten resolutions : maybe fasting, giving up a treat, adding daily prayer, or making time for confession and charity.

From that Wednesday onward, the rhythm of your weeks changes—Fridays with no meat, a more reflective tone at Mass, and a steady countdown toward Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026.

Forum-style / “trending topic” angle

Online Catholic forums and Christian discussion boards often phrase the question just like you did: “When does Lent start for Catholics this year?”
For 2026 , the shared answer across Catholic resources and apps (like Hallow, Ascension, EWTN, and general calendar sites) lines up clearly on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026 as the start.

TL;DR:
If you’re Catholic and planning for next Lent, circle Wednesday, February 18, 2026 —that’s when Lent starts for Catholics in 2026.

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