when is easter in 2026? Key dates for Lent and Holy Week
Easter in 2026 falls on Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). That places Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent much earlier in the calendar than in 2025, shifting the rhythm of worship, fasting and observance for many Christians. Below are the essential dates and a quick guide to why the date changes year to year and what the key observances mean.
Key dates for 2026 (ET)
- Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). This marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting and reflection for many Western Christian traditions.
- Lent: Feb. 18 through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET). Lent lasts roughly 40 days (not counting Sundays) and culminates in Holy Week.
- Orthodox Great Lent: Feb. 23 through Saturday, April 11, 2026 (ET). The Orthodox observance often uses a different calendar calculation, producing different start and end dates.
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET). The Friday before Easter is a solemn day commemorating the crucifixion.
- Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). The celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and the culmination of Holy Week.
Why the date of Easter moves each year
The date of Easter is not fixed because it follows a lunar-based rule rather than the solar calendar alone. For Western churches the rule sets Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox, which is fixed in church calculations as March 21. That combination of solar and lunar elements means Easter can fall anywhere between late March and late April.
Different Christian traditions use different calendars and calculations. Many Orthodox churches rely on an older calendar system for determining the paschal full moon, which often results in Orthodox Easter falling a week or more after the Western date. Those calendar and astronomical differences explain why celebrations do not always line up across all Christian communities.
What to expect during Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Ash Wednesday draws large numbers of worshippers and often competes with Easter and Christmas for highest attendance at services. The ritual of receiving ashes on the forehead—ashes made from the previous year’s blessed palms—is a visible reminder of human mortality and a call to repentance and spiritual renewal. While the outward sign is common, church leaders emphasize that the gesture is intended to prompt interior conversion and deeper observance through prayer, fasting or charitable acts.
Lenten practices vary widely: some give up particular foods or habits, others take on additional spiritual disciplines. Holy Week — starting with Palm Sunday and moving through Holy Thursday and Good Friday — deepens focus on the events commemorated in the final week of Jesus’ life. Good Friday services are typically solemn and reflective, while Easter Sunday is marked by joyful worship, music and celebration.
For families and communities, these shifting dates affect planning for services, school calendars and seasonal traditions tied to spring. With Easter on April 5, 2026 (ET), many congregations will begin Lenten programs and outreach efforts immediately following Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18.
For those planning travel, worship or community events, noting these key dates on an Eastern Time calendar will help align preparations with local observances and the wider Christian calendar.
