Lent starts on Ash Wednesday each year; in 2026, that day is Wednesday, February 18.

Quick Scoop: What day does Lent start?

For most Western Christians (Catholic, Anglican, many Protestant churches), Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday , which falls 46 calendar days before Easter (40 fasting days plus 6 Sundays).

  • In 2026 , Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18.
  • It runs through Holy Week and concludes before Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • Many churches mark the start of Lent with receiving ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance.

There is also Orthodox Lent (Great Lent) , which starts a bit later because many Eastern churches use a different calendar:

  • In 2026 , Orthodox Lent begins on Monday, February 23.

Why the date changes

Lent’s start date moves every year because it is tied to Easter , which is set as the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

  • Once the date of Easter is set, Ash Wednesday is counted back about six and a half weeks.
  • That’s why some years Lent begins in February , other years in early March.

A simple way to remember:

Find Easter Sunday → count 46 days back → that Wednesday is when Lent starts.

What actually “starts” on that day?

On Ash Wednesday, Christians traditionally begin a period of:

  • Fasting or self-denial (for example, giving up certain foods, drinks, or habits).
  • Prayer and reflection focused on the life, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus.
  • Almsgiving/charity , such as helping the poor or volunteering.

Even though the calendar span is about 46 days , the classic “40 days of Lent ” excludes Sundays, which are treated as small celebrations of the Resurrection rather than fast days.

Mini forum-style note

Many online discussions around “what day does Lent start” in 2026 point to February 18 for Western churches and highlight that Orthodox Lent starts February 23 , which can confuse people comparing calendars.

If you’re planning to fast or take on a Lenten practice in 2026 , you’d typically begin on the morning of Wednesday, February 18 (or Monday, February 23 if you follow the Orthodox calendar).

TL;DR:

  • Lent starts on Ash Wednesday.
  • In 2026 (Western churches) : Wednesday, February 18.
  • In 2026 (Orthodox) : Monday, February 23.

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