Saudi Supreme Court Sets Moon‑sighting Date for رمضان 2026; Algerian Astronomers Foresee Different Start
The Saudi Supreme Court has formally announced the night for the sighting of the Ramadan crescent for رمضان 2026: the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (evening ET). At the same time, an Algerian astronomical body says the new moon will not be visible from its territory that night, which would make Thursday, February 19, 2026 the likely first day of fasting in Algeria if the country follows naked‑eye sighting practices.
Saudi court invites public to assist moon‑sighting on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET)
The court named the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (evening ET) as the official night for observers to look for the Ramadan crescent and urged anyone who sees the new moon with the unaided eye or through optics to report their sighting to the nearest court or local center. The announcement encouraged qualified volunteers to join regional committees formed to verify testimonies and stressed the religious merit of participating in the communal effort.
The move follows procedural precedent in which a legal‑religious body sets a formal date for observation and assembles local courts and centers to collect and register credible testimony. The court also highlighted that witnesses can be assisted in reaching the nearest court and asked communities to work together to ensure a reliable process for declaring the start of the holy month.
Astronomical calculations point to limited visibility; Algeria expects Feb. 19 start
An Algerian astronomical association released detailed calculations for the same new‑moon event. Its analysis shows the lunar conjunction will occur at 7: 01 AM ET on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. By the time of local sunset that evening, the newborn crescent will be extremely young and low on the horizon.
In Algiers, the moon is expected to remain above the horizon for only about six minutes after sunset, a window too short for reliable naked‑eye observation. The association concluded that the crescent will not meet accepted visibility criteria for the region, and that even telescope‑assisted observations would be insufficient across most of the Arab world and the African continent. Only locations at the far western edge of North America could plausibly sight the crescent on that night, a sighting with no bearing on local religious rulings in Algeria.
Based on strict visual‑sighting methodology, the association inferred that the month of Shaʿbān will be completed as a full thirty days in Algeria, making Thursday, February 19, 2026 the calendar date most likely to be observed as the first day of Ramadan there.
Religious authorities urge patience and adherence to official announcements
Religious authorities have reiterated that the formal start of Ramadan must be declared through the proper legal and religious channels. They warned against basing personal practice on social posts, unofficial predictions, or individual claims, and stressed the importance of awaiting the official declaration issued after sunset observation and the collection of validated testimonies.
The differing outcomes between a legal‑procedural sighting night in one country and an astronomical conclusion in another highlight a familiar pattern: jurisdictions sometimes reach different determinations depending on whether they prioritize local naked‑eye reports, judicial verification, or astronomical calculations. Communities are being asked to follow their recognized national procedures so that worshippers observe the month in unity with officially sanctioned decisions.
For Ramadan planning, observers and mosque committees should note the court's invitation for volunteers and be prepared for last‑minute verification work on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (evening ET). Meanwhile, astronomical advisories emphasize that the crescent's geometry that night makes local visibility unlikely across much of the region.
