Ramadan 2026

Before reading, here are some key things to note:

• Ramadan is one of the central religious experiences of a major religion; some generalizations were made in this article

• Everyone’s experience is different so because of the generalization, what is said in this article will not be true for everyone who has ever fasted!

• You should be respectful, open, and accepting of everyone. Use the things you learn here to spread kindness

Ramadan is the 9th, and one of the most sacred months in the Muslim Calendar. It is vital to the religion, as it is believed to be the month when the angel Jibril revealed the Quran to Muhammad, and a fast from sunrise to sunset is observed to honor it. The fast in question is also one of the five sacred pillars of Islam. Participants in the fast include those who are of proper age and have no medical conditions, such as pregnancy or chronic illnesses.

Due to the sensitive topics that may hinder muslims from fasting, it is important to note that it can be incredibly impolite to ask if someone is fasting. It is amazing to be supportive of friends, peers, and even those you barely know during Ramadan, but it’s essential to remember that for most, it is a deeply spiritual experience and highly personal.

This month can be a test of faith for some and a reassurance for others. If you want to learn more about Ramadan, it would be better to do your own research as opposed to asking your own Muslim friends. This article would be a great place to start.

History of Ramadan

Ramadan is a religious holiday that signifies the month the angel Jibril visited Muhammad and shared the words of the Qur’an with him.

When diving into the history of Ramadan, you may hear a lot about the 27th night of the month. It is widely considered to be the most important night of the month because it is supposed to have been the first night Jibril shared the Qur’an with Muhammad. This night is known as Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power, and is when acts of worship are ‘worth’ more.

In addition to being the month the Qur’an was revealed, it also popularly marks the beginning of Islam in 610 C.E. After the first Ramadan happened that year, Islam began to spread, taking over the majorly polytheistic Arabia and spreading to the rest of the world throughout the following decades.

In the over fourteen centuries since its beginning, not much has changed about Ramadan. While the date changes every year due to it being a part of the Muslim calendar, which is also in sync with the lunar one, not much has been altered. The closest thing to a ‘major change’ that has to do with Islam’s holiest month is determining when it will start, a controversy that will be further explored shortly.

When Does it Start and End?

Every night on the days leading up to Ramadan, people stare out their windows, wait in fields, and frantically refresh their mosque's homepage, hoping for a sighting of the waxing crescent moon. Ramadan starts with the sighting of the slightest waxing crescent moon following a new moon, just like all the other months in the Islamic calendar. Traditionally, at least one person has to see the moon for the month to start; however, in recent years, countries like Turkey have begun to use astronomical calculations. This has caused some controversies over the years, but has mellowed out as of late.

Other important ‘start’ and ‘end’ times during Ramadan are the beginning and breaking of the fast. The fast lasts from dawn till dusk, or in other words, practicing muslims can not eat while the sun is up. Another important day is the final day of Ramadan called Eid al-Fitr and should start on the evening of Thursday, March 19, 2026, and end on Friday, March 20, 2026.

This year, Ramadan appears that it will start on February 18th and end on March 19th. Each year, the dates change by around twelve days. For example, 2027 seems to have February 8th to March 8th as it’s Ramadan, and last year had March 1st to March 29th. It is important to note that these times may change, and February 18th may not necessarily be the starting night this year.

Speaking of general calculations, this year, the sun will be rising on average around 6:40 am. For better or for worse, daylight savings will be during Ramadan, and as frustrating as it is without having to fast, the clocks changing can be even worse during Ramadan. The earliest the sun will be rising is 6:21 am(est) and the latest is 7:20 am.

On the other end of the spectrum, the sun will be setting on average around 6:30 pm. The latest the sun will be setting is 7:08 pm, and the earliest is 5:36 pm. This is, on average, around a 12-hour fast and, for the most part, a great one, seeing as twelve hours in the dead of winter is nothing compared to the sometimes sixteen hour fasts during the summer.

There is some continuity around when Ramadan starts and ends, around the world, but it all evens out in the end. Accepting that some people fast for different times, and even on different days is all part of the spirit of Ramadan.

What is Ramadan?

In short, Ramadan is one month of the Muslim year where practicing Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, cursing, violence, and any other ‘unsavory’ or inappropriate actions during fasting hours. Ramadan can mean so many different things to each person, and it is really important to recognize and acknowledge that.

Two of the most important parts of the day-to-day during Ramadan are Suhoor and Iftar. Suhoor is the morning meal. It’s what fuels people throughout the day when they can not eat or drink, and is seen as a moment of reflection. It is typically done during the early morning or any other time before sunrise because as soon as the sun rises, the fast commences.

Iftar is the breaking of the fast and is more ritualistic in nature. Typically, it is done with a date followed by some water, but it does not have to be. What you first eat to break your fast is something small but satisfying and nutritious because Maghrib is directly after it. Maghrib is the prayer that the majority of Muslims complete at sunset and, as previously stated, is more potent during Ramadan.

Ramadan is about acceptance and giving, with many related customs accompanying it. Many Muslim families give large donations, help feed the homeless and people in need, or do other charitable acts.

It is a time of reflection and a period of motivation. Ramadan is a spiritual cleansing in many ways and serves as a reset from unsavory habits and a time to become more spiritually aware, to give, to care, to be yourself and more.

Ramadan is a muslim holiday, but can serve as a reminder to everyone to be loving, caring, respectful, and accepting of all, including yourself, in times such as these.