is it pancake day today — Shrove Tuesday fell on Feb. 17, 2026

Short answer: no. Pancake Day, more formally Shrove Tuesday, was observed on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET). The day precedes Ash Wednesday and marks the traditional feast day before the start of Lent, the six-week period of fasting and reflection in many Christian traditions.

What Pancake Day means and how it is celebrated

Shrove Tuesday has long been associated with using up rich household ingredients that would be given up during Lent. Eggs, butter and fat were commonly consumed so they would not tempt the faithful during the fast; pancakes or fritters were an easy and popular way to do that. The word "shrove" comes from an older term for confessing sins and being absolved; historically, people would attend church to be shriven before Lent began.

Customs vary by region and family. In some areas it is commonly called Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday; elsewhere traditions include pancake races, simple breakfasts of lemon and sugar, or more elaborate toppings and fillings. The day is observed by Anglicans, Roman Catholics and other Western Christian denominations, and many households mark it as a light-hearted last indulgence before Ash Wednesday.

Why the date moves and where the 2026 date comes from

Shrove Tuesday does not have a fixed calendar date because it is linked to the date of Easter, which is determined using lunar cycles. Ash Wednesday is the day 46 days before Easter Sunday, and Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. In 2026, Easter falls late enough that Ash Wednesday landed on Feb. 18, making Shrove Tuesday fall on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET).

For those tracking the calendar, the practical rule is to find the date of Easter for a given year, count back 46 days to reach Ash Wednesday, and then note the previous day as Shrove Tuesday. That calculation explains why celebrations like Pancake Day can occur anywhere between early February and early March depending on the year.

Local names, regional customs and the wider cultural picture

While many simply call the day Pancake Day, some communities use alternative names such as Pancake Tuesday. Local pride and family tradition often determine which term people use, and lively online conversations and comment threads typically show a mix of preferences—some insist on "Pancake Day, " others on "Pancake Tuesday, " and some retain the formal "Shrove Tuesday. "

Historical practices include a wider set of pre-Lent days: meats might have been eaten on the Monday before Lent, while Tuesday focused on eggs and dairy. Bells were rung in some parishes to invite people to be shriven, and older song traditions and rhymes reflect the day’s place in community life.

Even for those who do not observe Lent religiously, Pancake Day has endured as a cultural moment and a simple excuse to cook and share food. It prompts family breakfasts, school activities and local events, and for many it remains a fond, seasonal tradition.

If you missed pancakes on Feb. 17, they can always be enjoyed any day—though the calendar tradition places the official observance on the day before Ash Wednesday each year.