Saudi Supreme Court sets moon-sighting date Ramadan 2026; Oman names first day
Saudi Arabia's highest judicial authority has designated the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET) as the official night for observing the new crescent that marks the start of Ramadan 2026. The court urged Muslims across the kingdom to participate in sighting efforts and to report confirmed observations to the nearest court or local centre.
What the court instructed
The court's announcement sets a formal call for anyone who sees the new moon with the unaided eye or through optical aids to register their testimony with a local court or to contact a nearby centre for assistance in reaching a court. The notice invited those able to join regional committees devoted to moon-sighting to volunteer, framing participation as an act of communal service that carries spiritual merit. The message emphasized cooperation and public benefit in completing the traditional process for determining the first day of Ramadan.
Astronomical timing and regional visibility
Celestial calculations show the lunar conjunction—commonly described as the birth of the new moon—occurs on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7: 02 AM ET. Because the timing of conjunction and local sunset determine whether the crescent is physically possible to sight, visibility will vary across regions that evening. In several major cities the interval between moonset and sunset is measured in just a few minutes: for example, moonset in the holy city of Mecca occurs about three minutes after sunset on the sighting day, while in some other capitals the lunar setting is effectively simultaneous with sunset.
In parts of Southeast Asia, including Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, the new moon will not yet have been born by local sunset on the same day, making sighting impossible there that evening. Elsewhere, small differences—ranging from one to a dozen minutes between sunset and moonset—will shape whether observers can glimpse the slender crescent unaided or with telescopes. These narrow windows explain why authorities rely on both on-the-ground reports and established sighting committees when confirming the start for Ramadan 2026.
Regional declarations and what they mean for Ramadan
Separately, one Gulf country issued an official declaration this week naming Thursday, February 19, 2026 (ET) as the first day of Ramadan, stating that astronomical evidence shows the moon will have set before or with sunset across its provinces on the evening of February 17, rendering sighting impossible that night. That determination means some countries may begin fasting on different Gregorian dates depending on local sighting outcomes and the methods each authority uses—whether by physical sighting, astronomical calculation, or a combination of both.
Practically, ramadan 2026 will fall in late winter and early spring across the Northern Hemisphere, which translates to generally moderate fasting hours in many countries in the region. Projections estimate average daily fasts of roughly 12 to 14 hours, with day-length increasing slowly through the month by about one to two minutes per day—adding almost half an hour between the first and last day of Ramadan.
With the official call for moon-sighting set for the evening of February 17 (ET), religious authorities, volunteers and sighting committees will be on alert. Communities are being reminded of established reporting procedures: those who believe they have observed the crescent should follow local guidance for registering their testimony so that authorities can reach a timely confirmation for the start of Ramadan 2026.
