Upcoming years
Ramadan dates by year
Dates are listed as expected when they follow a published calendar and astronomical data, and as preliminary when they are an early projection only. None of them is confirmed until it is announced.
| Year | First night (evening) | First day of fasting | Eid al-Fitr | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramadan 20271448 AH | or | Expected | ||
| Ramadan 20281449 AH | or | Preliminary estimate | ||
| Ramadan 20291450 AH | or | Preliminary estimate |
Moon sighting
How the start of Ramadan is decided
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Each month begins with the new crescent moon (hilal). On the evening of the 29th of Sha‘ban, people look for the crescent after sunset. If it is seen, Ramadan begins that night. If it is not seen, Sha‘ban completes thirty days. This follows the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ to start and end the fast on seeing the crescent (Sahih al-Bukhari 1909 (opens in a new tab)).
Different methods, different days
Some communities rely on a local sighting. Some follow the announcement of another country. Others use astronomical calculation or a published calendar, such as the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia. The crescent may be visible in one region and not another on the same evening. As a result, Ramadan can begin on different days around the world, usually differing by no more than a day.
Why Ramadan moves each year
Twelve lunar months add up to about 354 or 355 days, roughly 11 days fewer than the Gregorian year. Ramadan therefore begins about 11 days earlier each year and passes through every season over a cycle of about 33 years.
Expected and confirmed dates
Dates published in advance, including the dates on this site, are expectations. A date becomes confirmed when your local authority announces it, usually on the evening of the 29th of Sha‘ban. Always follow that announcement.
Time zones and the start of the day
The Islamic day begins at sunset, so the first night of Ramadan (and the first Taraweeh) comes on the evening before the first fast. There is no single global start time. Our countdown runs to midnight at the start of the expected first fasting day in your own time zone.