European Council for Fatwa and Research announces Ramadan 2026, Eid al-Fitr dates
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- Start of Ramadan 1447 (2026): Thursday, 19 February 2026, will be the first day of Ramadan, based on precise astronomical calculations.
- Eid al-Fitr 1447 (2026): Friday, 20 March 2026, will mark the first day of Eid al-Fitr, confirmed astronomically and religiously.
The General Secretariat of the European Council for Fatwa and Research has issued an official statement specifying the start of Ramadan and the date of Eid al-Fitr for the Islamic year 1447 (2026), based on precise astronomical calculations.
Ramadan begins on Thursday, 19 February
The council announced that Thursday, 19 February 2026, will mark the first day of Ramadan. The statement explained that astronomical calculations confirm that the conjunction will occur at 12:01 p.m. GMT on Tuesday, 17 February, making it impossible to sight the new moon that evening. Consequently, Wednesday, 18 February, will complete the month of Sha’ban.
Eid al-Fitr on Friday, 20 March
Regarding the month of Shawwal, the council determined that Friday, 20 March 2026, will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Astronomical calculations indicate that the conjunction will occur at 1:23 a.m. GMT on Thursday, 19 March, with the new moon visible after sunset in North America, parts of South America, and Western Europe. This confirms the start of the month both astronomically and religiously.
Basis for the determination
The council emphasized that its decision follows the resolutions of the International Fiqh Academy and the conferences on unifying the Hijri calendar (Istanbul 2016). The approach relies on precise astronomical calculations rather than differences in local moon sightings, in accordance with the hadith: “Fast when you see it [the moon] and break the fast when you see it,” interpreted broadly for all Muslims.
