Update: when is easter in 2026 — key Lent dates and observances
Churches and communities are already marking calendars: Easter 2026 will be observed on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). That date sets the rhythm for the season of Lent and the slate of observances that lead to Holy Week, with Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and related services falling on shifting dates each year.
Key dates for Lent and Easter 2026 (all times ET)
Here are the principal dates to note for the 2026 Lenten season and Easter observance:
- Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 — the official start of Lent.
- Lent: Feb. 18 through Thursday, Apr. 2, 2026 — a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and reflection in many Christian traditions.
- Good Friday: Friday, Apr. 3, 2026 — the Friday before Easter, commemorating the crucifixion.
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, Apr. 5, 2026 — the celebration of the resurrection.
- Orthodox Great Lent: Feb. 23 through Apr. 11, 2026 — observed by many Eastern Orthodox churches, which follow a different liturgical calendar.
Because the dates shift annually, the 2026 Lenten season arrives more than two weeks earlier than it did in 2025. That timing affects parish schedules, school holiday planning and community events tied to Holy Week and Easter.
Why the date of Easter shifts each year
Easter is a movable feast: it does not have a fixed calendar date. The traditional rule sets Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. That astronomical linkage means the holiday can fall anywhere between late March and late April, which in turn moves Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and related observances.
The variation between Western and Eastern Christian calendars also matters. Many Western churches use the Gregorian calendar for determining Easter, while many Eastern Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar for their calculations, which frequently produces different dates for Pascha/ Easter observances.
What the calendar shift means for worship and communities
Ash Wednesday often draws large attendance as congregations begin Lent. The day is known for the distribution of ashes in the sign of the cross and for calls to reflection on mortality and repentance. For many participants, it functions as both a personal and public marker of religious identity and a tangible starting point for spiritual disciplines during Lent.
Holy Week — the days leading up to Easter, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday — is the busiest stretch of the liturgical year for churches. With Easter on April 5 in 2026, planning for special services, volunteer schedules, and community outreach activities will compress into early spring. Schools, employers and local governments often factor these movable dates into calendars for breaks and events.
Some people mark Lent by giving up particular foods or habits, while others add prayer, service or charitable commitments. Traditions vary across denominations and local communities, but the aim is commonly framed as spiritual renewal in anticipation of Easter.
Practical notes for planners and families
Religious leaders, event organizers and families should confirm exact service times and special events with local congregations well ahead of the season, particularly for Ash Wednesday and the services of Holy Week. Because Orthodox observances may fall on different dates, those working with multiple congregations or interfaith calendars should check both Western and Eastern schedules when planning shared events.
For anyone marking the season, the early arrival of Lent in 2026 offers more winter-to-spring overlap: preparations and Lenten practices will begin in February and culminate in Easter’s early April celebrations.
