when is easter 2026 — Key dates for Lent, Ash Wednesday and Holy Week
Easter 2026 lands on Sunday, April 5 (ET). With that date set, the season of Lent and its principal observances fall into place: Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of preparation, Good Friday marks the crucifixion observance and Holy Week culminates with Easter Sunday. Here’s a concise rundown of the key dates and what they mean for worshippers and calendar planning.
Lent timeline and Ash Wednesday
Lent 2026 begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). The traditional Lenten period runs from Ash Wednesday through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), encompassing 40 days of fasting, prayer and reflection not counting Sundays. That schedule places Ash Wednesday more than two weeks earlier than it was in 2025, shifting the entire season forward on the calendar.
Ash Wednesday is a widely observed liturgical start to Lent. Many faith communities hold services where ashes—typically made from the previous year’s blessed palm branches—are placed on worshippers’ foreheads as a visible sign of penitence and mortality. The practice is a long-standing ritual meant to invite internal reflection and spiritual renewal during the weeks leading up to Easter.
Holy Week: Good Friday and Easter Sunday
Holy Week in 2026 centers on several key observances: Palm Sunday opens the week, Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection. Good Friday falls on Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET), and Easter Sunday is on April 5, 2026 (ET).
Easter Sunday marks the liturgical high point of the Christian year, observed with special services, music and, in many traditions, the conclusion of Lenten fasting or Lenten disciplines. Communities commonly plan baptisms, sunrise services and festival worship for the day. Given the early-February start of Lent in 2026, some parishes and congregations will begin seasonal preparations and programming sooner than they did last year.
Orthodox observances and what to expect this season
Not all Christian traditions observe Lent on the same dates. The Orthodox Great Lent in 2026 runs from Monday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, April 11 (ET). That schedule reflects differences in calendars and liturgical computation. As a result, Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha (Easter) fall later than Western Easter in some years, including 2026.
Church attendance patterns show that Ash Wednesday remains one of the more heavily attended services outside of Christmas and Easter. For many worshippers, receiving ashes is a clear, public expression of faith and an emotional entry point into the season of penance and renewal. The act of receiving ashes symbolizes human fragility and a call to conversion—themes that shape preaching and programming throughout Lent.
Practical planning tips: households and congregations should mark Feb. 18 for Ash Wednesday services, reserve Friday, April 3 for Good Friday observances and plan for major Easter activities on Sunday, April 5 (all times and dates ET). Organizations that coordinate seasonal events—charitable drives, concerts, retreats and liturgical rehearsals—should note the earlier start of Lent in 2026 and adjust timelines accordingly.
Looking ahead
With Easter Sunday fixed for April 5, 2026 (ET), churches, community groups and families can finalize calendars for Lent and Holy Week. Whether participants observe the season through fasting, additional worship, acts of service or personal reflection, the dates provide a framework for spiritual preparation and communal observance. Expect pop-up reminders in communities and more visible signs of the season—palms, ashes and seasonal music—beginning in mid-February as Lent gets underway.
