when is easter in 2026: Key dates for Lent, Holy Week and Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday in 2026 falls on April 5, 2026 (ET). That date sets the calendar for Ash Wednesday, the 40 days of Lent, and the observances of Holy Week. Churches and communities are already preparing for the season of reflection and renewal that leads to the celebration of the resurrection.

Key dates to mark on your calendar

Here are the principal dates for the 2026 Lenten season and Holy Week, listed in Eastern Time:

• Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET) — the beginning of Lent, traditionally marked by the imposition of ashes.
• Lent: Feb. 18 through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET) — the 40-day penitential period leading up to Easter Sunday; note that the 40 days are counted differently across traditions, with Sundays often excluded in some observances.
• Orthodox Great Lent: Monday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, April 11, 2026 (ET) — a separate calculation used by many Eastern Christian communities, which typically places Orthodox Easter on a later date.
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET) — the day commemorating the crucifixion.
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET) — the principal feast celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and runs through Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, culminating in Easter Sunday. Many congregations will hold special services and liturgies throughout that week.

Why Easter’s date changes each year

The date of Easter is determined by a long-standing ecclesiastical rule: it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox, which the church fixes as March 21. Because the timing of the full moon varies and because the vernal equinox can fall near that moon, Easter’s date shifts each year, typically landing between late March and late April.

This system means civil calendars and astronomical events don’t always line up with ecclesiastical calculations, and different Christian traditions use slightly different calendars. That is why some eastern Christian communities often celebrate Easter on a date separate from western churches.

What the season will look like for observers

For many Christians, Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent offer a return to spiritual practices such as fasting, prayer and acts of charity. Ash Wednesday services remain among the most-attended services of the year in many congregations as people seek a visible sign of repentance and renewal. The ashes used on that day are traditionally made from the palms blessed on Palm Sunday from the previous year, a custom with roots stretching back centuries.

Holy Week brings a concentrated sequence of observances: Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper; Good Friday marks the crucifixion; and Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection. Many communities host additional liturgies, stations of the cross, and devotional events aimed at guiding participants from penance to celebration.

Beyond liturgy, the season often influences cultural and civic calendars — schools, charities and local governments may plan around key dates. With Easter on April 5, 2026 (ET), communities can expect seasonal preparations to intensify through March and into early April.

Whether marking the season through worship, quiet reflection or community events, the dates above provide a framework for planning travel, services and family observances as the Christian calendar moves toward Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026 (ET).