When does Ramadan 2026 start and why does it vary?

The holy Muslim month of Ramadan is set to begin this week, with different countries announcing varying start dates based on moon sightings.

Several Arab nations have declared Wednesday, 18 February, as the first day of Ramadan, according to official announcements carried by Arabic media reports. These include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Palestine and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia confirmed the start after crescent sightings were reported through its advanced observatories. In Qatar, the national calendar institute had already indicated that 18 February would mark the astronomical beginning of the month, pending official confirmation by moon-sighting authorities.

Meanwhile, other countries announced that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, 19 February, after reporting no confirmed crescent sighting on Tuesday evening. These include Oman, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Syria and Jordan.

Ramadan is the most sacred month in the Islamic calendar and is marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, increased acts of charity and communal worship.

The start of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the waxing crescent moon. While Astronomical calculations can predict when the moon is likely to be visible, official religious authorities in many countries rely on physical sightings to confirm the beginning of the month.

Muslims begin fasting at sunrise on the day following the confirmed sighting. In Islam, fasting is both an act of spiritual discipline and a reminder of the hardship faced by others.

That reflection carries particular weight this year as Israel continues to block aid, including food and essential medicine, to Gaza, while the World Food Programme has warned of a near-total collapse of Sudan’s food distribution system.

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day celebration that includes communal prayers and festive meals, though traditions vary widely across regions.

In parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia, Muslims give guests money in green envelopes. In Afghanistan, families decorate eggs that are later used in traditional games.

Like Ramadan, Eid is also determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Astronomers expect Eid al-Fitr to fall after the moon is sighted on either Thursday, 19 March, or Friday, 20 March.

However, weather conditions can affect whether the moon is officially recorded. Cloud cover can prevent sightings, while some moon-sighting committees have previously announced sightings that astronomers say were not scientifically possible.

While many Muslim-majority countries rely on official moon-sighting committees, Muslims living in diaspora communities often face more complex decisions.

Some choose to follow Saudi Arabia's announcement, though others question the consistency of its moon-sighting reports. Others follow the country of their family’s origin or the nearest Muslim-majority state.

In recent years, amateur astronomers and community groups outside Muslim-majority countries have established local moon-sighting initiatives.

Imad Ahmed, founder of the UK-based New Crescent Society, has encouraged Muslims to observe the moon locally to reduce confusion.

"It doesn't matter if you're Sunni, Shia, Arab, Iranian, Barelvi, Deobandi or a white British convert. There is one thing we can agree on: did we see the moon or not?" he said.

Ahmed added that local sightings help reconnect communities with tradition.

"People don't want to outsource this incredible practice. They want to be part of a shared heritage, teach their children astronomy and enjoy nature," he said. "We now receive more requests to help with moon sightings than we can manage."

The growing interest in local moon sightings comes as Ramadan becomes more visible in Western public life.

In the UK, major supermarkets including Asda and Sainsbury's offer Ramadan-specific promotions, while London's West End will once again be illuminated with Ramadan lights.