Ramadan in 2026 is expected to start around the evening of Tuesday 17 February or Wednesday 18 February 2026, with the first day of fasting for most communities likely falling on Wednesday 18 February 2026 (and in some places possibly Thursday 19 February), depending on local moon sighting and calculation methods.

Key dates at a glance

  • Expected start (evening):
    • Many global calendars: evening of Tuesday 17 February 2026.
* Some calculation-based sources: evening of Wednesday 18 February 2026.
  • First fasting day:
    • Most projections: Wednesday 18 February 2026.
* Some regions (e.g., UAE official moon-sighting) may start Thursday 19 February 2026.
  • Expected end of Ramadan: between evening of 19–21 March 2026, depending on country and whether the month is observed as 29 or 30 days.
  • Eid al‑Fitr is therefore expected around 19–21 March 2026.

Because Islamic months are based on the crescent moon, final dates are always confirmed close to the time by official religious authorities in each country.

Why the dates differ

  • Islamic calendar is lunar , about 10–11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan shifts earlier each year.
  • Some countries use local moon sighting , some follow regional/global announcements , and others use astronomical calculations.
  • That’s why you see:
    • “Evening of 17 February” and “first fast 18 February” in many international calendars.
* UAE specifically announcing the start on Thursday 19 February 2026 after confirmed moon sighting.

* Islamic websites listing “expected to begin Wednesday, February 18, 2026.”

What this means for you

  • For planning (work, school, travel), it’s safe to assume fasting will start around 18–19 February 2026 and last about 29–30 days.
  • Closer to the date, check:
    • Your country’s official Islamic council or ministry of religious affairs.
    • A trusted local mosque or Islamic center (they’ll announce the exact start night and Eid).

If you tell me your country or city, I can narrow down how your local authorities are most likely to start Ramadan 2026, based on regional practice.

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