When is Easter 2026? Read the calendar — when is easter and the key dates for Lent
Easter will be observed on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). With that date set, this year's Lenten season arrives earlier than in 2025, bringing Ash Wednesday and the preparatory traditions of Lent into sharp focus for many Christians across the calendar.
Key dates for the Lenten season and Holy Week
The main observances to mark on your calendar for 2026 are clear: Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Lent continues through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), culminating in Holy Week. Good Friday, the day commemorating the crucifixion, falls on April 3, 2026 (ET). Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection, is April 5, 2026 (ET). For those following the Eastern Orthodox calendar, Great Lent is set from Feb. 23 through April 11, 2026 (ET), reflecting a different calculation used by many Orthodox churches.
Why the date moves and what these days mean
Easter does not have a fixed date; it is defined each year by a long-standing ecclesiastical formula tied to the vernal equinox and the lunar cycle. In practice, that means Easter lands on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the March equinox. Because the equinox and lunar phases shift year to year, the date of Easter moves as well, which in turn shifts Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and related observances.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a roughly 40-day season of prayer, fasting and reflection modeled on the biblical account of Jesus’ time in the wilderness. The day is often visible in public life: many people attend services to receive ashes on the forehead, a practice with roots in ancient rites. The ashes traditionally come from the palms blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year, and the gesture is intended as a reminder of human mortality and the need for spiritual renewal.
Good Friday and Holy Week are the focal point of Christian remembrance leading into Easter. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus, and many communities observe the day with solemn services, moments of reflection and, in some traditions, processions. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection and is the high point of the liturgical year for Christians around the world.
What to expect this season and why attendance spikes
Ash Wednesday often draws large crowds, sometimes rivaling or surpassing attendance on Christmas and Easter services. For many, receiving ashes is an outward marker of faith and community identity; for others it functions as a public invitation to reflect on mortality, sin and renewal. The simple ritual of ashes resonates with a range of Christians and even participants from other denominations who observe similar practices.
During Lent, many individuals choose to give up particular foods or habits, increase charitable activities, or deepen prayer and study as part of spiritual preparation. While observance varies widely—from formal liturgical practices to personal acts of discipline—the season is broadly framed as a lead-up to the joy of Easter. With Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18 (ET) and Easter on April 5 (ET), this year's Lenten calendar offers an earlier start than in 2025, giving communities and congregations a definite timeline for services, programming and personal commitments.
Whether you plan to attend services, observe traditions at home, or simply want to keep the dates straight, make note: Ash Wednesday is Feb. 18, 2026 (ET); Lent runs through April 2, 2026 (ET); Good Friday is April 3, 2026 (ET); and Easter Sunday is April 5, 2026 (ET).
