ash wednesday 2026: Key dates for the start of Lent, Good Friday and Easter
Ash Wednesday, the liturgical start of Lent, arrives in 2026 earlier than in recent years. Churches and communities will observe the familiar rituals of the season beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Here’s a concise guide to the calendar and what the observance typically involves.
When Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season begin and end
Ash Wednesday falls on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). That date marks the start of the 40-day Lenten period of prayer, fasting and reflection observed by many Christian traditions. This Lenten season runs from Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET). For those observing the Orthodox Great Lent, the corresponding period begins on Feb. 23 and continues through April 11, 2026 (ET).
Key dates to mark on your calendar
Beyond Ash Wednesday, there are several movable observances tied to Easter that worshippers and communities track each year. In 2026, Good Friday — the day commemorating the crucifixion — falls on Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET). Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection, is on April 5, 2026 (ET). These dates shape Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday in the days immediately before Good Friday and culminates with Easter on Sunday.
What the season means and how people observe it
Lent is rooted in the tradition that remembers a 40-day period of fasting and preparation. Many participants choose practices intended to foster spiritual renewal: fasting or giving up particular foods or habits, increased prayer, acts of charity, and attendance at additional worship services. On Ash Wednesday itself, it is common in many congregations for ashes to be placed on foreheads in the shape of a cross, a visible sign of penitence and reflection.
The way people mark these observances varies widely by denomination, culture and personal conviction. Some communities emphasize communal services and liturgies, while others focus on quiet personal disciplines. Many institutions and organizations adjust schedules around the major dates of Holy Week and Easter, so individuals planning travel or events often consult calendars early in the year.
With Ash Wednesday coming in mid-February in 2026, the entire holy season arrives earlier than in 2025. That shift can affect related cultural rhythms — from school and workplace planning to charitable campaigns timed to coincide with Lent. Places that hold large public observances for Palm Sunday and Good Friday will use the April dates to finalize programming and logistics.
This quick rundown highlights the essential timing for observance in 2026. For those participating, Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18 (ET) signals the start of a season of reflection leading into Holy Week and Easter in early April.
