Islamic Events Calendar (2026): Major Dates in the Hijri Year

By Sharif Hossain · Last reviewed 2026
This guide covers the major events in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar — when they fall, their significance, and how to track them across both calendars. Sources are listed at the end.

The Hijri year has 11 events that most Muslim communities observe — from the start of a new Islamic year through Ramadan, Hajj, and the two Eids. Because the Hijri calendar moves earlier on the Gregorian calendar each year, these dates change every year. The interactive calendar below shows current and upcoming dates with both Hijri and Gregorian for any year you choose.

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The Major Islamic Events

1. Islamic New Year (1 Muharram)

Marks the start of the Hijri calendar year. The Hijri year begins with the month of Muharram, one of the four sacred months. Many Muslims observe this with reflection on the past year and intentions for the new one. Unlike Gregorian New Year, this is generally a quiet, reflective day rather than a festive one.

2. Day of Ashura (10 Muharram)

Historically significant for several events, most notably the deliverance of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Children of Israel from Pharaoh. The Prophet ﷺ recommended fasting on this day (and the 9th or 11th alongside it). For Shia Muslims, this day also commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala — a major day of mourning and remembrance.

3. Mawlid an-Nabi (12 Rabi’ al-Awwal)

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, commemorated by many Muslim communities with gatherings, recitations of the Prophet’s biography, and acts of charity. Observance varies — some communities mark it as a major holiday, while some scholarly traditions hold it shouldn’t be observed as a formal religious event. Shia Muslims observe on 17 Rabi’ al-Awwal.

4. Isra and Mi’raj (27 Rajab)

Commemorates the Prophet’s miraculous Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens. During this journey, the obligation of the five daily prayers was established. Many Muslims observe with night-time prayer, reflection on the meaning of the journey, and recitation of the Qur’an.

5. Mid-Sha’ban / Laylat al-Bara’ah (15 Sha’ban)

Also called the “Night of Forgiveness.” Many Muslims observe with extra prayer through the night, seeking forgiveness and divine mercy. Some traditions associate this night with the writing of destinies for the coming year. Observance and significance vary by community — Sunni traditions and Shia traditions differ in emphasis.

6. First of Ramadan (1 Ramadan)

The beginning of the month of fasting. Marked by the start of daily fasting from Fajr to Maghrib, increased prayer including Taraweeh, increased Qur’an recitation, and increased charity. Confirmed by the sighting of the new crescent moon at the end of Sha’ban.

7. Laylat al-Qadr (estimated, 27 Ramadan)

The “Night of Power” — described in the Qur’an (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5) as “better than a thousand months.” It’s the night the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ. Believed to be on an odd night in the last 10 nights of Ramadan; the 27th is the most commonly cited estimate. Many Muslims observe with night prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) during the last 10 nights to maximize the chance of catching the actual Night.

8. Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal)

The “Festival of Breaking the Fast” — the celebration ending Ramadan. Begins with the Eid prayer in the morning, followed by family gatherings, gift-giving (especially to children), special foods, and acts of charity. The Zakat al-Fitr — a specific small charitable payment per family member — is due before the Eid prayer.

9. Hajj Begins (8 Dhu al-Hijjah)

The fifth pillar of Islam, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Required once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. The Hajj ceremonies take place from 8 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah. Even those not performing Hajj benefit spiritually from the first 10 days of Dhu al-Hijjah, which are considered among the best days of the year for good deeds.

10. Day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah)

The most important day of Hajj. Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah outside Mecca for the day. For non-pilgrims, fasting on this day is highly recommended — the Prophet ﷺ said it expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.

11. Eid al-Adha (10 Dhu al-Hijjah)

The “Festival of Sacrifice” — commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, and the divine intervention that replaced his son with a ram. Marked by Eid prayer, the sacrifice (Qurbani) of an animal (sheep, goat, cow, or camel), and distribution of the meat to family, neighbors, and the poor. Pilgrims at Hajj also perform the sacrifice as part of their rites.

Use the Islamic Calendar

The interactive calendar below shows all 11 major Islamic events for any Hijri year you choose, with both Hijri and Gregorian dates plus days-from-today.

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Note: Dates are calculated using the tabular Islamic calendar (Kuwaiti algorithm). Actual moon-sighting in your region may shift events by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local mosque or community announcement.

Why Dates Can Vary by ±1 Day

Each event is fixed by Hijri date — for example, Eid al-Fitr is always 1 Shawwal. But the corresponding Gregorian date can shift by ±1 day depending on moon-sighting:

Calculated calendars (like Saudi Arabia’s Umm al-Qura and the tabular Islamic calendar used in our tool) give a specific date in advance.
Observational calendars wait for actual moon-sighting on the 29th of the preceding month. If the moon is sighted, the new month begins the next day; if not, the previous month becomes 30 days and the new month starts the day after.

This means the calendar’s date for, say, Eid al-Adha 2027 might be off from your country’s official date by one day. For events with specific religious importance (Eid prayers, Hajj timing, fasting Day of Arafah), defer to your local Islamic authority’s announcement closer to the time.

Planning Around Islamic Events

For travel and time off

If you’re planning to take leave for Ramadan, Hajj, or one of the Eids, use the calendar to find the expected Gregorian dates. Note that the actual dates may shift by ±1 day, so book with some flexibility if you can. Many Muslim-majority countries have public holidays for the Eids (and sometimes additional days surrounding them).

For zakat anniversaries

If your zakat date is tied to a Hijri date (most commonly 1 Ramadan), use the calendar to find when that falls each year on the Gregorian calendar. See our zakat calculator for the actual calculation.

For commemorations and gatherings

Mawlid, Isra and Mi’raj, and Laylat al-Bara’ah are observed by gatherings in many communities. Knowing the Gregorian date in advance helps with planning.

For fasting recommended days

Several days have recommended (not obligatory) fasting:

Day of Ashura (10 Muharram) — the Prophet ﷺ encouraged fasting this day, ideally with the 9th or 11th alongside.
Day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah) — for non-pilgrims, this is one of the most rewarded voluntary fasts.
Mondays and Thursdays — the Prophet ﷺ regularly fasted these days. The calendar can help align these with your week.
The “white days” (13, 14, 15 of every Hijri month) — also a recommended Sunnah fast.
Six days of Shawwal — fasting any six days during the month of Shawwal following Ramadan has special reward.

What’s Different Between Sunni and Shia Observance

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims observe the major events — Ramadan, the two Eids, the Hajj timing — at the same dates. Some differences:

Mawlid: Sunni traditions place it on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal; Shia traditions on 17 Rabi’ al-Awwal. The calendar above shows the Sunni date by default.
Ashura: Both observe 10 Muharram. For Sunnis, primarily a day of recommended fasting commemorating Musa’s deliverance. For Shia, primarily a day of mourning for Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala.
Mid-Sha’ban: Observed by both, with different theological emphases and practices.

Sources and Scholarly Notes

This guide draws on:

The Qur’an, particularly Surah At-Tawbah (9:36) on the twelve months and the sacred months, and Surah Al-Qadr (97) on Laylat al-Qadr.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim for hadith on each event’s significance and recommended observances.
The tabular Islamic calendar (Kuwaiti algorithm) for date calculations.
The Saudi Umm al-Qura calendar as a reference for officially calculated Hijri dates.
Multiple madhab and sectarian traditions on event observances and theological emphases.

For your personal situation — especially involving specific religious practices around these events — consult a qualified scholar in your tradition.

Disclaimer: Dates shown are calculated using the tabular Islamic calendar and may differ from your country’s official announcement by ±1 day due to moon-sighting. For exact religious observances (start of Ramadan, Eid prayers, Hajj timing), defer to your local Islamic authority.

Related Tools

Hijri Date Converter — convert any single date between Islamic and Gregorian calendars
Prayer Times — daily salah times for your location
Ramadan Timer — countdown to suhoor and iftar during Ramadan
Qibla Finder — find the direction of the Kaaba
Zakat Calculator — calculate your annual zakat

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is Ramadan 2027?
A: Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin around Monday, February 8, 2027. The exact day depends on moon-sighting in your country.

Q: When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?
A: Expected around Tuesday, March 9, 2027. Eid is 1 Shawwal, which begins when the crescent moon ending Ramadan is sighted. Use the calendar tool for the exact projected date.

Q: When is Eid al-Adha 2027?
A: Expected around Friday, May 14, 2027 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH). The exact day depends on the moon-sighting of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Q: Why do Eid dates differ between countries?
A: Different countries use different moon-sighting methodologies. Saudi Arabia uses the calculated Umm al-Qura calendar. Other countries wait for local crescent sighting, which can fall a day later. This means Eid can be celebrated on different days in different countries — often a ±1 day variation.

Q: How is the Day of Arafah determined?
A: It’s always 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, which falls one day before Eid al-Adha. The Saudi authorities announce the official date based on the Umm al-Qura calendar and local sighting. For non-pilgrims worldwide, the fast on Arafah is typically observed on the date Saudi Arabia announces, even if your country’s calendar differs by a day.

Q: What’s the difference between Mawlid and other events?
A: Mawlid (the Prophet’s birthday) has mixed scholarly opinions on observance. Some traditions actively celebrate it; others (including the Salafi tradition dominant in Saudi Arabia) hold that it shouldn’t be formally observed as a religious event. Practice varies widely by community.

Q: When is Laylat al-Qadr?
A: An odd night in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. The 27th of Ramadan is the most commonly cited estimate, but it could be any odd night (21, 23, 25, 27, or 29). Many Muslims pray on all the odd nights to ensure they catch the actual Laylat al-Qadr.

Q: Are Islamic events public holidays?
A: In Muslim-majority countries, typically yes — Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are public holidays, often 2-3 days each. In non-Muslim-majority countries, they’re usually not public holidays, but employers often accommodate Muslim employees taking the day off.