The Islamic calendar has one of the most holy months known as Ramadan. It is a fasting period, spiritual reminiscence, prayer, charity and building community ties.
The Ramadan dates and timings have been observed keenly in 2026 since they rely on the observation of the new crescent moon. The starts and stops of this month differ a bit depending on the parts of the world in accordance to the lunar observations and religious declarations.
Ramadan 2026: Dates and What to Expect
Ramadan will also begin mid-February and last until mid-March. Owing to the fact that the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, Ramadan shifts approximately 10 days ahead annually in the Gregorian system. The precise commencement date and the exact completion date are based on the moon sightings in various countries.
The majority of the Muslim communities and authorities project:
- Ramadan 2026 will begin in the evening of Tuesday, 17 February 2026. Wednesday, 18 February 2026 will then be the first complete fasting day.
- The month will last 29 or 30 days. It will end at about Wednesday, 18 March or Thursday, 19 March 2026 again depending on when the crescent moon is observed.
- The end of Ramadan festival known as Eid al-Fitr is expected to start on the evening of Thursday, 19 March 2026 and last till Friday, 20 March 2026.
Those dates are not set, until the local religious authorities declare them, but such a schedule is based on astronomical calculations and the expectations to see the moon in the world.
Why Ramadan Dates Change
Ramadan is observed as per the Islamic lunar calendar also known as the Hijri calendar. The Gregorian calendar has 365 days but the lunar calendar contains approximately 354 days. This causes Ramadan to begin 10 days earlier each Gregorian year.
The month starts with a new moon (hilal) observation of the previous month, Shaban. When the crescent moon appears during the sunset, Ramadan starts the following day. Otherwise, Muslims spend 30 days of Shaban and begin Ramadan. It is a tradition that is followed very strictly in most countries and the official call is usually called by committees.
The practice of moon sighting is of spiritual value. It also bases the beginning of Ramadan on community and not on the number systems. This implies that there is a possibility of slight regional differences in first days of fasting such as in India, in the Middle East and in the Western countries.
Structure of the Fasting Day
During the Ramadan period, there is fasting every day that starts before dawn and ends in the evening. Two meals, which flank the fasting day, are suhoor (or sehri) and iftar. Such meals are not only important as a source of nutrition but also as a source of energy and concentration during the long hours of fasting.
And this is the way of a normal fasting day:
- Suhoor: Pre-dawn meal, or breakfast that is taken before the first prayer of the day (Fajr). The fast begins at dawn.
- Fajr Prayer: This is what opens the fast. This is the time not to eat or drink any food until the sun sets.
- Daytime prayers: The Muslims maintain the same schedule of the five daily prayers during the day.
- Iftar: This is the dinner that one consumes immediately after the sun sets, during the Maghrib prayer, to end the fast. Historically, most individuals have been known to have dates and water prior to the main iftar meal.
Practical Sehri and Iftar Timing
The time of suhoor and iftar varies throughout the city and day. Since every day the sunrise and the sunset occur at slightly different times, the suhoor and iftar times vary. A majority of the significant Islamic calendar based services offer location-specific daily tables. The following are examples of Indian city:
Mumbai (IST)
- On 18 February 2026
- Fajr (start of fast): around 05:52
- Maghrib (break fast): around 18:40
Chennai (IST)
- On 18 February 2026
- Fajr: around 05:19
- Maghrib: around 18:16
Bangalore (IST)
- Normal timings beginning mid-February:
- Suhoor: around 05:30
- Iftar: around 18:25
These periods only represent prayer and fasting occasions of certain dates and cities. The entire calendars run through a complete month with minor adjustments on a daily basis. To get precise day-to-day schedules, such services as IslamicFinder and town mosque announcements can be trusted.
The suhoor and iftar difference may differ greatly across regions and latitudes. The hours in Ramadan that are spent fasting may vary in length in summer and in length during winter in the north of the world. During 2026, Ramadan is at the end of winter and the beginning of spring in most locations, so the hours of fasting are usually not too terrible compared to the summer.
Fasting Hours Around the World
The fasting time has a direct relation to the sunrise and the sunset. These depend on the latitude, local daylight hours and the presence of daylight-saving time. For example:
- Ramadan fasting time in London and the United Kingdom can be a little bit longer due to the late sunsets.
- The number of hours of day will be more regular in tropical areas; therefore, the hours of fasting will be rather consistent.
- In places where latitudes are extreme, there might be a need to have particular religious directions about the fasting periods.
There are also calendars online that give the times of Fajr and Maghrib on each and every day of Ramadan according to their city specifications. These are useful in planning your suhoor and iftar meals and planning when to have your prayers.
Special Nights and Milestones
Ramadan has a number of significant nights and seasons:
One of the most important nights in Ramadan is the Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power). It occurs on the last ten days of the month and it is said that prayers are particularly very strong on this night. The majority of the traditions put it on one of the odd nights at the end of Ramadan.
The last days of Ramadan relied on praying, reading the Quran, and thinking.
Eid al-Fitr is used to mark the culmination of fasting and it is a celebrative festival where people engage in prayers, eat and socialize.
How to Use This Guide
This calendar guide is aimed at assisting you in organizing your daily life and spiritual aims. Here is how to use it:
- Confirm Local Dates: Check with your mosque or religious authority about the final start and end dates using community moon sighting.
- Daily Timetable: You will use your city suhoor and iftar time as a reference to your daily meal planning and prayer planning.
- Spiritual Planning: Add spiritual nights such as Laylat al-Qadr to your calendar and set some objectives on what to pray and reflect on.
- Health and Well-Being: Prepare balanced suhoor and iftar meals to stay energetic on the fast.
Final Notes
Ramadan 2026 offers a time to deepen personal faith and strengthen community ties. The dates and times above are projected based on astronomical and historical data, but local announcements will confirm the official schedule in your area. Muslims across the world approach this month with a mix of traditional practices and practical planning, grounded in faith and attention to the rhythm of the day.
Use this guide as a solid foundation to structure your Ramadan experience. The rhythms of fasting and prayer bring routine into focus, and careful planning around suhoor and iftar can make the month manageable and spiritually fulfilling.
