when does ramadan
Ramadan in 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, 17 February 2026, with the first full day of fasting on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, subject to local moon sighting.
When does Ramadan start?
Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan does not have a fixed Gregorian date and moves about 10–11 days earlier each year.
For 2026, several Islamic organizations and calendars indicate that Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of 17 February 2026 (so fasting begins at dawn on 18 February), though exact dates can differ slightly by country and by whether calculations or physical moon sighting are used.
- Many timetables list: start at sundown on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
- Others frame it as “Ramadan 2026 begins Wednesday, 18 February 2026,” referring to the first full fasting day.
- All note that final confirmation depends on the local sighting of the new crescent moon.
A simple way to think of it: you can mark your calendar around 17–18 February 2026, then check your local mosque or Islamic authority as the date approaches for the confirmed start night.
When does Ramadan end in 2026?
End dates also vary slightly between organizations, again due to moon‑sighting and calculation differences.
- Some calendars give Ramadan ending at sundown on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, with Eid al‑Fitr on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
- Others extend to around Saturday, 21 March 2026.
In practice, Muslims will celebrate Eid al‑Fitr when the new moon of the next month (Shawwal) is declared in their locality.
Why dates differ (forum-style quick scoop)
If you’ve seen forum or social media discussions arguing about “the real” start of Ramadan, it usually comes down to three main approaches:
- Local moon sighting
- Following another country’s sighting (e.g., Saudi Arabia)
- Astronomical calculations published in advance
Different communities pick one of these, so two countries—or even two mosques in one city—can start and end a day apart.
An example you might see in forum threads:
“My local mosque is starting on Tuesday night, but my cousin’s mosque in another city is starting on Wednesday—both say they’re following ‘authentic’ methods.”
Both can be acting in good faith, just with different fiqh (legal) opinions on how to interpret moon‑sighting and calculations.
Key points at a glance
- Expected start (evening): 17 February 2026.
- First full fasting day: 18 February 2026.
- Expected end: around 18–21 March 2026, depending on method and location.
- Exact dates: always confirmed locally by your mosque or Islamic authority close to the time.
Information gathered from public data available on the internet and portrayed here.