When is Eid holiday — 19 or 20 March? India, Saudi Arabia, UAE likely to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr 2026 after 29th Ramadan
Eid celebrations are contingent upon moon sighting with celebrations likely on 19 or 20 March. Saudi Arabia announced a four-day holiday for Eid ul-Fitr starting from18 March. Check what International Astronomical Center predicts.
One of the most auspicious and widely celebrated Muslim festivals — Eid — is just around the corner. With preparations for "Eid-ul-Fitr” in full swing, many are concerned about the exact festival date. Eid ul-Fitr, the main and significant Muslim festival, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour across the globe on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
Muslims around the world celebrate this significant festival with grandeur and enthusiasm after offering morning prayers. Confusion around the Eid date often arises because it is celebrated on different days around the world due to time differences. To clear confusion about Eid celebration dates, the UAE's Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory released 2 images showing the visibility dates of the Shawwal Crescent, which will determine the day of Eid celebrations and the end of Ramadan 1447 AH — the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
What did the International Astronomical Centre predict?
According to the International Astronomical Centre, the crescent moon, which marks the last day of Ramadan, will be sighted on 18 March — corresponding to the twenty-ninth day of Ramadan — in countries that began fasting from 18 February. In other countries where fasting commenced on 19 February, including India, Eid will be celebrated on 20 March, Saturday, as the crescent moon will be sighted on 19 March.
Eid ul-Fitr, also called the “festival of breaking the fast,” marks the conclusion of the holiest month in Islam — Ramadan. This year, Ramadan commenced in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on 18 February, Wednesday, following the sighting of the crescent moon on 17 February, Tuesday. The moon-sighting committee's decision will determine the date of the Eid festival after the Shawwal crescent is sighted.
Saudi Arabia declares a four-day holiday for Eid al-Fitr
Saudi Arabia declared four days holiday for Eid al-Fitr for the employees of the private sector and the non-profit sector, commencing on 18 March, which corresponds to 29th Ramadan. This implies that Eid will be celebrated on 19 March in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, contingent upon the sighting of the moon.
Jammu and Kashmir govt announces Jumat-ul-Vida holiday on March 13
The Jammu and Kashmir government preponed the Jumat-ul-Vida holiday to 13 March 2026 amid uncertainty over the last Friday of the month of Ramadan. This holiday was initially scheduled for 20 March 2026 across the state. Notably, Jumat-ul-Vida is the last Friday of the Ramadan month before Eid al-Fitr.
The notice released on Thursday stated, “The holiday on account of Jumat-ul-Vida shall now be observed on 13th of March, 2026 (Friday) instead of 20th of March, 2026 (Friday), in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”