Astronomical Date of Ramadan 2026: When Does the Blessed Month Begin?
The astronomical calculations for the new Hijri year 1447 AH indicate that the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan for the year 2026 will be on Thursday, February 19, as announced by the President of the Emirates Astronomy Society, Ibrahim Al-Jarwan.
Al-Jarwan explained that the crescent of the month of Ramadan will be born on Tuesday, February 17 at exactly 16:01 UAE time (15:01 Saudi time), but it will disappear just one minute after sunset, making it extremely difficult to see with the naked eye, as the age of the crescent at sunset will be about two hours and 12 minutes only.
Based on these calculations, it is expected that Thursday, February 19, 2026 will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan, while Friday, March 20, 2026 will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr and the beginning of the month of Shawwal.
However, this date will be officially confirmed through the legitimate sighting of the crescent, which is usually conducted after sunset on Wednesday, 29 Sha'ban 1447 AH, corresponding astronomically to February 18, 2026, according to the Hijri calendar.
It is noted that the Hijri calendar is entirely based on the lunar cycle, which lasts about 29 to 30 days, with the moon being the focal point for determining the beginning and end of Islamic months.
As for the fasting hours during Ramadan 2026:
It is expected to start at about 12 hours daily in most Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait, gradually increasing to nearly 13 hours as the end of the holy month approaches.
As the date approaches, Muslims around the world are awaiting the announcement from the legitimate authorities in their countries to confirm the arrival of the blessed month, which brings with it a special spiritual atmosphere and distinctive celebratory features in various Islamic countries.
