When Is Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha 2026?
متى عيد الفطر وعيد الأضحى 2026؟ — تنبؤات رؤية الهلال
Understanding the Two Eids
Islam has two major holidays (Eids), both determined by the lunar calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is based on actual moon sighting rather than a fixed formula, the Gregorian dates of these holidays shift each year and can vary by 1-2 days between countries.
Eid al-Fitr
عيد الفطر
When: 1 Shawwal (the 10th month) — the first day after Ramadan ends.
How determined: By sighting the crescent moon of Shawwal on the 29th evening of Ramadan. If sighted, Eid is the next day. If not, Ramadan is completed to 30 days and Eid is the day after.
Significance: "Festival of Breaking the Fast." Marks the end of the month-long Ramadan fast. Celebrations include the Eid prayer (Salat al-Eid), charitable giving (Zakat al-Fitr), family gatherings, feasting, and gift-giving.
Duration: Typically celebrated for 1-3 days, depending on the country and local customs.
Eid al-Adha
عيد الأضحى
When: 10 Dhul Hijjah (the 12th month) — during the annual Hajj pilgrimage season.
How determined: By sighting the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on the 29th evening of Dhul Qi'dah. Eid al-Adha follows on the 10th day of the new month.
Significance: "Festival of the Sacrifice." Commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Muslims worldwide perform the qurbani (sacrifice) and distribute meat to family, friends, and the poor.
Duration: Celebrated for 3-4 days. The 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Day of Arafah) is a day of fasting for non-pilgrims.
Why Eid Dates Vary by Country
It is extremely common for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to be celebrated on different days in different countries. This causes practical complications for the global Muslim community — families split across countries may celebrate on different days, and businesses must plan for varying holiday schedules.
The reasons for this variation are the same as for the start of any Islamic month: different countries use different methodologies (moon sighting committees vs. calculated calendars), different scholarly positions on shared night, and the physical reality that the crescent moon is visible in different parts of the world at different times.
Predict Eid Dates for Your City
Moon Visibility Explorer predicts both Eid dates as part of its lunar calendar generation:
- Eid al-Fitr: Look for the start of month 10 (Shawwal) in the generated calendar. The first day of Shawwal IS Eid al-Fitr.
- Eid al-Adha: Find the start of month 12 (Dhul Hijjah), then add 9 days. The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is Eid al-Adha.
- Day of Arafah: The 9th of Dhul Hijjah — one day before Eid al-Adha — is the Day of Arafah, when fasting is recommended for non-pilgrims.
You can export these dates as a PDF, add them to Google Calendar, or download as CSV data for your community.
Other Important Islamic Dates
Besides the two Eids, the Islamic calendar contains several other significant dates:
- 1 Muharram — Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year)
- 10 Muharram — Ashura (day of fasting, commemorating various events)
- 12 Rabi' al-Awwal — Mawlid (Prophet Muhammad's birthday, celebrated by many though not all Muslims)
- 27 Rajab — Isra' and Mi'raj (the Night Journey)
- 15 Sha'ban — Laylat al-Bara'ah (Night of Forgiveness)
- Laylat al-Qadr — Night of Power (one of the last 10 odd nights of Ramadan)
All of these dates can be determined from the lunar calendar generated by Moon Visibility Explorer, since they are all defined relative to the start of their respective Islamic months.
Plan Ahead for 2026
Generate a complete Hijri calendar for your city now and get predicted dates for both Eids, Ramadan, and all other Islamic months. Open Moon Visibility Explorer →