when is easter in 2026 — Lent begins Feb. 18, Easter set for April 5 (ET)

Easter Sunday in 2026 falls on April 5, 2026 (ET). Churches and communities are already preparing for the Lenten season that leads to the holiday; Ash Wednesday and Holy Week dates shift each year, so organizers and worshippers should mark their calendars now.

Key dates for Lent and Holy Week (ET)

The core timeline for the 2026 Lenten season and Holy Week is set:

• Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). This day marks the formal start of Lent.
• Lent: Begins Feb. 18 and runs through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET). Many observe 40 days of penitence, prayer and reflection during this period.
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026 (ET). The day commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5, 2026 (ET). The holiday celebrates the resurrection and concludes Holy Week.
• Orthodox Great Lent (uses a different calendar this year): Feb. 23 to April 11, 2026 (ET).

The sequence of observances that make up Holy Week — including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday — remains the same, though exact practices and calendars can vary by denomination and region.

Why Ash Wednesday draws big crowds

Ash Wednesday has become one of the most attended liturgical days in many congregations, often rivaling Easter and Christmas for turnout. Observers cite several reasons for the surge: the visible act of receiving ashes serves as a public marker of faith and identity; it offers a concrete ritual that prompts reflection on mortality and sin; and it signals the start of a season focused on renewal, which resonates with people heading into spring.

Traditionally, ashes are made from the palms blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year, and the practice of imposing ashes on penitents traces back many centuries. For many worshippers the gesture is simultaneously a somber reminder of human fragility and an anticipatory step toward the hope associated with Easter.

What this means for communities and calendars

With Ash Wednesday on Feb. 18, parishes, schools and community groups can plan Lenten programs, fasts and services well in advance. The earlier start to Lent in 2026 — more than two weeks earlier than some recent seasons — affects scheduling for retreats, special liturgies and seasonal outreach efforts. Faith leaders often emphasize that the external sign of ashes should point toward an internal commitment to spiritual practices during the 40 days leading up to Easter.

Families and individuals planning travel or large gatherings around the holiday should note that Easter services and related events will take place over the weekend of April 3–5, 2026 (ET). Good Friday observances on April 3 will precede the Easter Sunday celebrations on April 5.

For people who observe the Orthodox Great Lent, the differing date range this year means some communities will be celebrating Paschal events on calendars that do not align with the April 5 date.

Bottom line: mark your calendar — Ash Wednesday is Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), Good Friday is April 3, 2026 (ET), and Easter Sunday is April 5, 2026 (ET). Whether you observe the season liturgically, culturally, or personally, these are the dates that define the 2026 Lenten cycle.