is it pancake day today — Shrove Tuesday fell on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET)
Short answer: no. Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, fell on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET). Today is Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (ET), the first day of Lent in many Christian traditions.
Why Pancake Day moves each year
Shrove Tuesday is tied to the date of Easter, which itself varies from year to year because it is set by lunar cycles. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 46 days until Easter Sunday; Shrove Tuesday is the day immediately before Ash Wednesday. That means Shrove Tuesday falls 47 days before Easter and can land anywhere between early February and early March in most years.
The movable nature of the celebration is why calendars list a different Pancake Day each year rather than a fixed date. Communities and families plan cooking, pancake races and church services around this shifting timetable, so checking the year’s specific date is the only way to know when the feasting takes place.
What Pancake Day means and how people observe it
Historically, the aim of the day was practical: households would use up rich foods such as eggs, butter and fats that were commonly given up during Lent. Making pancakes or fritters was an easy way to consume those ingredients before the fasting period began. The word 'shrove' comes from the old practice of confessing sins and being absolved before Lent got under way; many churches still hold services related to that tradition.
Customs vary by region. In some places Pancake Day is celebrated as a family breakfast or dessert moment with simple toppings like lemon and sugar, while other communities stage pancake races, competitions and larger public events. Some people call it 'Pancake Tuesday' and others stick with 'Pancake Day' or 'Shrove Tuesday'—local usage often reflects family tradition or regional dialect.
Even as the religious meaning remains central for many, the day has become broadly cultural: a chance for communities to gather, for markets and cafes to offer special pancakes, and for families to indulge before the Lenten fast begins.
How to check and plan for the next Pancake Day
If you want to mark Pancake Day next year, note the pattern: find out when Easter will fall, subtract 47 days and you will have Shrove Tuesday. Many calendars and community schedules list the date well in advance, and schools or local groups often plan pancake-themed events around it.
For anyone wondering whether they missed the day this year, expect many pancake recipes and pancake-themed promotions to still be floating around for a short while after the date—but the traditional day of feasting has now given way to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent for those observing it religiously.
Bottom line: Pancake Day is over for 2026. It took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET); today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
