Easter Sunday 2026: Dates, Lent, Holy Week and Mardi Gras schedule
Easter Sunday 2026 is set for Sunday, April 5 (ET). As communities prepare for Holy Week and final Lenten observances, the calendar of related observances — from Mardi Gras to Good Friday — falls on a sequence of dates that shape worship, cultural events and travel plans across the U. S.
When is Easter Sunday 2026?
Easter Sunday in 2026 will be observed on April 5 (ET). The date places this year’s celebration in the early April window that sometimes follows a six-week Lenten season and the weeklong observances of Holy Week.
Key dates: Lent, Ash Wednesday and Holy Week
The liturgical calendar for 2026 unfolds across several notable dates (all times ET):
- Fat Tuesday / Mardi Gras: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026
- Ash Wednesday (start of Lent): Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026
- Lent: Wednesday, Feb. 18 through Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026
- Palm Sunday: Sunday, Mar. 29, 2026
- Good Friday: Friday, Apr. 3, 2026
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, Apr. 5, 2026
These dates guide both religious observance and a range of cultural traditions that culminate in Easter Sunday.
What is Lent and how long will it last this year?
Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving practiced by many Christian denominations as a preparation for Easter. In 2026, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and runs through Thursday, Apr. 2 (ET). The 40-day penitential period is traditionally counted without Sundays, and many faithful observe meat abstinence on Fridays and personal sacrifices such as giving up certain treats or adding devotional practices.
Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday — the final celebrations before Lent
Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, is on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 (ET). The day historically marks the last occasion for feasting before the onset of Lent. Carnival festivities and parades typically intensify in the days and weekends leading up to Fat Tuesday; many regions hold parade schedules across the Feb. 13–17 period, and some cities stage daily parades starting earlier in the week. Traditions range from communal meals and parties to confessional observances (sometimes called "shriving") that precede Ash Wednesday.
Holy Week and Good Friday: what to expect
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on Mar. 29 (ET) and concludes with Easter Sunday on Apr. 5 (ET). Good Friday, observed on Apr. 3 (ET) this year, commemorates the crucifixion and is typically marked by solemn services, stations of the cross, and quiet reflection. The final days of Holy Week — including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday — draw large congregations and special liturgies in many faith communities.
Why Easter moves each year
Easter is a movable feast: it can fall as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. The date is tied to the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox and the timing of the first full moon that follows it. That calculation means seasonal observances like Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday shift each year, affecting cultural calendars, school breaks and religious preparations.
For families, congregations and event planners, the spring 2026 calendar centers on April 5 as a fixed point. The weeks leading up to that date will be filled with both festive and reflective observances as communities mark the end of Lent and the celebration of Easter.
