The first night of Passover in 2026 falls on Wednesday, April 1. This marks the start of the holiday at sundown, when families gather for the first Seder meal to retell the Exodus story from Egypt.

Passover 2026 Dates

Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 , and continues through nightfall on Thursday, April 9, 2026 for most Jews outside Israel (an eight-day observance). In Israel, it lasts seven days, ending April 8. Jewish holidays always start at sundown the evening before the calendar date listed.

  • First Seder : Evening of April 1 (all communities).
  • Second Seder : Evening of April 2 (Diaspora communities only).

Observance Differences

Location/Tradition| Duration| Seder Nights
---|---|---
Israel (all Jews)| 7 days (April 1–8)| April 1 only 3
Diaspora (Orthodox/Conservative)| 8 days (April 1–9)| April 1 & 2 7
Reform (outside Israel)| Often 7 days| April 1 only 7

These dates align across reliable Jewish sources like Chabad and My Jewish Learning, based on the Hebrew calendar's 15th of Nisan.

Why It Matters

Passover celebrates freedom from slavery, with rituals like eating matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs to symbolize affliction and haste. As we approach late March 2026, preparations like cleaning out chametz (leavened foods) are underway in Jewish homes worldwide. Imagine the glow of candles at the Seder table, reciting the Haggadah—it's a timeless story of liberation that unites generations.

TL;DR : First night is April 1, 2026 evening —Seder time! Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.