Lent 2026: Key dates and why Ash Wednesday draws packed pews
Christians worldwide are preparing for Lent 2026, a season of reflection that arrives earlier than last year. This briefing lays out the calendar for the Lenten season, explains why Ash Wednesday often fills churches, and outlines common practices observed through Easter.
Key dates for Lent 2026
The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (Eastern Time). Lent is traditionally observed as a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and spiritual renewal leading up to Easter; in the Western calendar used by most denominations, this Lent runs from Feb. 18 through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET).
Holy Week follows the end of Lent and includes these pivotal observances: Good Friday falls on Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET), commemorating the crucifixion, and Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection, is on April 5, 2026 (ET). Observant Orthodox Christians follow a different timetable this year: the Orthodox Great Lent begins on Feb. 23 and concludes on April 11, 2026 (ET).
Because the dates for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter shift from year to year, the start of Lent moves on the calendar. For 2026 the season arrives more than two weeks earlier than it did in 2025, affecting school and parish schedules as well as community observances tied to the liturgical year.
Why Ash Wednesday draws packed pews
Ash Wednesday continues to be one of the most attended services in the church year, often rivaling Christmas and Easter for turnout. Many people who do not attend weekly services make a point of going on Ash Wednesday, creating the sense of a packed nave and a sea of foreheads marked with ashes.
For a lot of attendees, receiving ashes functions as a public expression of religious identity and a visible sign of entering into the penitential season. The simple act of placing ashes on the forehead—traditionally made from the palms blessed on the previous Palm Sunday—carries layered meaning: an acknowledgment of mortality, a reminder of human frailty, and an invitation to internal spiritual renewal.
Clergy and scholars note that the ritual resonates even with those who do not immediately follow up with other sacramental practices. The ash sign is at once a communal ritual and a personal prompt to consider themes such as death, judgment and the need for repentance, while also pointing forward to the hope of Easter.
How people observe Lent in 2026
Practices during Lent vary across denominations, but common observances include fasting or giving up particular foods or habits, increased prayer, acts of charity, and attendance at weekday services or special liturgies. Some congregations offer additional devotional opportunities like Lenten study groups, Stations of the Cross devotions, or early-morning prayer sessions to help participants maintain focus through the 40 days.
Families and individuals often use the season as a time for tangible spiritual disciplines: altering meal routines, limiting digital distractions, or committing to daily readings. Churches encourage these practices as ways to prepare spiritually for Holy Week and Easter, emphasizing that the external signs—like ashes or a fasting regimen—should point toward an inward change of heart and renewed commitments.
With Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18 (ET) and Easter on April 5 (ET), communities have a clear calendar for planning worship, outreach, and liturgical preparations. Whether someone is a lifelong churchgoer or attends only for the season, Lent 2026 presents a concentrated period for reflection, penance and anticipation of the Easter celebration.
