Ramadan 2026: Start Date, Fasting Rules & Eid

Few events on the Islamic calendar spark as much global anticipation as Ramadan, the month of dawn-to-sunset fasting. Astronomical projections from Muslim Hands USA (Islamic relief organization) place the start of the holy month around February 17–19, 2026, though the exact date will depend on the sighting of the crescent moon. This year’s Ramadan also coincides with Lent, creating a rare interfaith moment of shared fasting.

Expected start date: February 17–19, 2026 ·
Expected end date: March 18–19, 2026 ·
Duration: 29 or 30 days ·
Islamic year: 1447 AH ·
Eid al-Fitr date: March 19–20, 2026 (dependent on moon sighting)

The six key facts below show the calendar window most organizations agree on, even if the exact dates hinge on the moon.

What are Ramadan dates for 2026?

Expected start date

• Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, 17 February 2026, with the first day of fasting on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, according to Muslim Hands USA.
• Embrace Relief (humanitarian NGO) also gives the same start window: evening of February 17, first fast February 18.
• However, Moonsighting.com (visibility model) projects the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH as Thursday, 19 February 2026, based on a North America visibility model.

Expected end date

• Ramadan 2026 is expected to end on the evening of Thursday, 19 March 2026, reports Embrace Relief.
• Muslim Aid gives a slightly earlier end around 18 March, reflecting different moon sighting expectations.

Why dates vary by location

• Different organizations publish slightly different expected dates because moon sighting and visibility criteria vary by authority and region, notes Embrace Relief.
• Local mosque announcements and national moon sighting committees are recommended sources for final confirmation (Embrace Relief).

The pattern: The date range is tight — only a day or two of variation — yet that small margin reflects the decentralized nature of Islamic calendar keeping. For travelers or interfaith planners, the window is reliable; for the devout, the moon sighting keeps tradition alive.

What day does fasting begin in 2026?

First day of fasting

• Fasting begins at dawn on the first day of Ramadan. The first day of fasting is expected to be February 18 or 19, 2026 (Muslim Hands USA).
• If the crescent moon is not visible on the 29th of Sha’ban, Sha’ban completes 30 days and Ramadan begins the following day (Muslim Hands USA).

Suhoor and iftar times

• Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) ends at the Fajr prayer time, and iftar (breaking fast) begins at Maghrib (sunset). Fasting hours vary by geographic location — for instance, Muslims in northern latitudes experience longer fasts in Ramadan 2026 because it falls in late winter (Embrace Relief).

The trade-off: The February–March timing means moderate fasting hours globally, but the moon-dependent start means communities may begin on different days. The result is a two- or three-day global “Ramadan start period” rather than a single synchronized date.

Is there a 2nd Ramadan in 2026?

No second Ramadan in a single year

• There is only one Ramadan per Islamic year. The Islamic calendar is lunar, so Ramadan shifts about 10–12 days earlier each Gregorian year (Embrace Relief). No second Ramadan occurs in 2026.

Why the question arises

• The question likely comes from the fact that in some Gregorian years, the Islamic calendar moves enough that Ramadan appears “twice” in a single Gregorian year — for example, in 2030 Ramadan will occur twice in the Gregorian calendar. That does not happen in 2026 (Wikipedia (general reference)).

The catch: The confusion is understandable — the lunar calendar drifts, so every 33 Islamic years, a person experiences Ramadan twice in one Gregorian year. But 2026 is not that year. Stick with the single February–March window.

Can husband and wife have intimacy during Ramadan?

Rules during fasting hours

• Sexual intercourse is forbidden during fasting hours (dawn to sunset) (Wikipedia (religious rulings)).
• Kissing and touching are allowed if both partners can control themselves, according to Islamic scholarship (Islamic Relief UK (faith guidance)).

Permissible intimacy after iftar

• Intimacy is permitted after iftar until dawn. Couples are encouraged to maintain a normal marital relationship during the night hours (Islamic Relief UK).

What this means: For married couples, the rule is clear: no intimacy during fasting hours, but full permissibility at night. The key is self-control during the day, not avoidance of marital intimacy altogether.

What day is Eid supposed to be in 2026?

Eid al-Fitr date

• Eid al-Fitr is expected on March 19 or 20, 2026 (Embrace Relief).
• Muslim Aid projects Eid on March 19, 2026.

Moon sighting confirmation

• The exact date depends on the sighting of the new moon. Official confirmation comes from national moon sighting committees or local mosques (Embrace Relief).
• Eid marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with communal prayers, feasting, and charity.

The implication: Eid 2026 is likely to be March 19 for many, but expect a two-day window. Travelers and event planners should plan for March 19–20 flexibility.

When is fasting month 2026 in the Islamic calendar?

Islamic year 1447 AH

• Ramadan 2026 corresponds to the 9th month of the Islamic year 1447 AH (Embrace Relief).
• The Islamic calendar is lunar, so dates shift annually by about 10–11 days.

Corresponding Gregorian dates

• Ramadan 1447 AH spans February 17/18/19 to March 18/19, 2026. Fasting month in the Islamic calendar is always Ramadan, the same month every lunar year.

Why this matters: Understanding the lunar shift helps Muslims and non-Muslims alike predict future Ramadan dates. In 2027, Ramadan will begin around February 7–9.

Timeline: Ramadan 2026 key dates

• February 17, 2026 – Astronomical new moon; possible first day of Ramadan if moon sighted at sunset
• February 18, 2026 – Most likely first day of Ramadan
• February 19, 2026 – Alternative first day of Ramadan (if moon not sighted on 17th)
• March 18, 2026 – Possible last day of Ramadan (29-day month)
• March 19, 2026 – Most likely last day of Ramadan / Eid al-Fitr
• March 20, 2026 – Alternative Eid al-Fitr date

Muslim Hands USA and Embrace Relief both anchor these dates. Moonsighting.com provides an alternative visibility model that shifts the start by one day.

The pattern: The timeline shows a narrow window, emphasizing that the moon sighting rather than a fixed date determines the start—a reminder that community observation still overrides astronomical prediction.

Clarity: What is confirmed and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Ramadan 2026 will occur in February–March 2026 (Embrace Relief).
• Fasting lasts 29 or 30 days (Muslim Aid).
• Eid al-Fitr follows the last day of Ramadan (Embrace Relief).
• Sexual intercourse is forbidden during fasting hours (Wikipedia).
• There is only one Ramadan in 1447 AH (Embrace Relief).

What’s unclear / subject to moon sighting

• Exact start date (February 17, 18, or 19) (Muslim Hands USA).
• Exact end date (March 18 or 19) (Muslim Aid).
• Eid date (March 19 or 20) (Embrace Relief).
• Number of days (29 or 30) — depends on the lunar cycle (Moonsighting.com).

“Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion. The exact start is always a moment of unity when communities come together to look for the moon.”

— Islamic Relief spokesperson, via Islamic Relief UK (faith guidance)

“The global alignment of Ramadan with Lent in 2026 is a rare confluence that has drawn interfaith attention.”

— Al Jazeera reporter (international news outlet)

“Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan starts about 10–12 days earlier each year, cycling through all seasons over a 33-year period.”

— Wikipedia entry on Ramadan (general reference)

The implication: The split between confirmed and uncertain underlines that while the window is reliable, the exact dates remain a matter of local lunar observation—a practice that preserves community engagement.

For Muslims in the US, UK, India, and beyond, the key takeaway is clear: plan for a February 18 start and a March 19 Eid, but wait for your local moon sighting announcement. For non-Muslims observing the interfaith Lent alignment, the overlap offers a unique chance to share the experience of fasting. The trade-off between astronomical prediction and local tradition is not a bug — it is the feature that keeps community and faith at the center of the calendar.

For a detailed fasting timetable tailored to different cities, see detailed fasting timetable.

Frequently asked questions