when is easter 2026? Key dates and what to expect this Lenten season

Easter in 2026 falls on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). With a movable date tied to the lunar calendar, the season of Lent and its major observances shift year to year. Here are the key dates for the Lenten calendar, why the holiday moves, and what to expect as communities prepare for Holy Week.

The 2026 Lenten calendar: dates to mark

The principal days of the Lenten season and Holy Week for 2026 are set earlier than they were in 2025. Major dates are:

• Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET).
• Length of Lent (Western tradition): Feb. 18 through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET).
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET).
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET).
• Orthodox Great Lent (Eastern Christian observance): Feb. 23 through April 11, 2026 (ET), placing Orthodox Easter the following Sunday, April 12, 2026 (ET).

These milestones frame six weeks of preparation, reflection and ritual for many Christians. Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and other Holy Week observances lead directly into Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Why Easter's date changes each year

Easter is a movable feast because its date is tied to both the solar year and the lunar cycle. The Western church fixes the vernal equinox at March 21 and defines Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon that falls on or after that date. That mix of solar and lunar markers means Easter can fall anywhere from late March through April.

Different calendars and methods of calculating the equinox and full moon account for occasional differences between Western and Eastern (Orthodox) Easter dates. As a result, some years see the two traditions celebrate on the same day; other years they fall one or more weeks apart, as in 2026.

What to expect during the season and why Ash Wednesday matters

Ash Wednesday — the formal start of Lent — often draws large crowds despite not being a holy day of obligation in many traditions. The ritual of receiving ashes on the forehead is a visible sign of penance and mortality, an external marker that for many people signals the inward work of the season.

The ashes themselves have deep roots in Christian practice: they are traditionally made from the palms blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year and have been used in penitential rites since the medieval period. For many worshippers, the simple act of receiving ashes serves both as an identity marker and an invitation to spiritual renewal, prompting reflection on themes such as repentance, mortality and hope.

Lent is commonly observed through fasting, giving up certain habits, increased prayer and participation in additional services. Holy Week — beginning with Palm Sunday and moving through Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday — culminates the season with commemorations of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.

With Easter landing on April 5, 2026 (ET), communities and congregations will begin preparations in mid-February. Whether planning worship services, community observances or personal practices, the dates above provide the framework for the season ahead.