When Is Easter 2026? Key Dates for the Lenten Season
For Christians and many communities that follow the liturgical calendar, Easter 2026 arrives earlier than it did in 2025. Mark your calendars: Easter Sunday in 2026 falls on April 5 (ET). Below are the principal dates surrounding the season of Lent and the related observances to help plan worship, travel and holiday activities.
Key dates for Lent and Holy Week (all times ET)
Ash Wednesday, which begins the Lenten season in Western Christian traditions, falls on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Lent runs from that day through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), encompassing the 40 days of fasting and reflection that precede Easter (Sundays are typically not counted as fast days in many traditions).
Holy Week, the final week of Lent, includes several particularly significant days. Palm Sunday is observed the Sunday before Easter, leading into Holy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper. Good Friday — the day set aside to commemorate the Crucifixion — will be observed on April 3, 2026 (ET). Easter Sunday, celebrating the Resurrection, is April 5, 2026 (ET).
Those following the Eastern Orthodox calendar will see slightly different timing: the Orthodox Great Lent in 2026 begins on Monday, Feb. 23 and runs through Saturday, April 11 (ET), with Pascha — the Orthodox name for Easter — falling on Sunday, April 12, 2026 (ET).
Why Easter’s date moves each year
The date of Easter is not fixed to a calendar day. Instead, it follows a long-established ecclesiastical rule: Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. Because the timing of the equinox and the lunar cycle shift slightly from year to year, Easter can fall anywhere between late March and late April.
This calculation explains why Easter in 2025 fell later in April, while Easter 2026 arrives earlier. For context, Easter in 2025 was observed on April 20 (ET), and the next spring after 2026 places Easter on March 28, 2027 (ET).
Practical notes for communities and families
With Easter on April 5, 2026 (ET), many congregations will begin Holy Week observances in late March and early April. Churches and community groups often publish service times and special programming in advance; families planning travel or events should take into account school schedules and regional variations in holiday observance.
For those observing a Lenten fast or giving up certain activities or foods, the season officially begins with the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday and typically concludes with Easter celebrations. Fast practices and liturgical customs vary across denominations and cultural traditions, so individuals should consult their local faith community for specifics on services and observances.
Whether you mark the season liturgically, culturally or both, the 2026 calendar places Easter in early April, offering a full season of reflection leading into the major feast of Resurrection on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET).
