ash wednesday: What it is, why Christians wear ashes and when Lent begins in 2026

Ash Wednesday begins the 40-day Lenten season on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), a period many Christians use for fasting, prayer and spiritual reflection. The observance centers on brief public acts — most recognizably the application of ashes on the forehead — that symbolize mortality, repentance and a renewed focus on faith.

Origins and meaning: from sackcloth to the sign of the cross

The practice of marking the start of Lent traces back centuries. Early expressions of penitence in the Christian community included wearing sackcloth and being sprinkled with ashes while performing public penance. Over time the rite evolved from a practice for serious penitents into a ritual observed by entire congregations at the beginning of the Lenten season.

Ashes carry layered symbolism. They recall an Old Testament image of humanity's mortal condition — "dust to dust" — and have long stood as an external sign of humility and the call to examine one’s life. Historically, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are created by burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations. In many churches the ashes are applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead, a visible reminder of both human frailty and the Christian call to reconciliation.

Practices today: fasting, giving things up and receiving ashes

Common Lenten customs include fasting, abstaining from particular pleasures and increasing time spent in prayer or service. Many people take on a spiritual discipline by giving up something they enjoy for the 40 days, while others add regular acts of charity or extra devotional practices.

On Ash Wednesday itself, congregants often receive ashes during short liturgies or Masses. While the day is not a legal holy day of obligation in most traditions, it regularly draws the largest non-Sunday attendance of the church calendar. The ritual can be experienced in many forms: a brief imposition of ashes before or after a service, moments of personal reflection in shared spaces, or distribution stations where people can receive the sign of ashes as they pass by.

Digital resources and prayer tools typically see increased use during Lent as worshippers look for guided meditations, readings and ways to keep focused on the season’s themes. Faith leaders frequently encourage the faithful to treat Lent as an opportunity to return to spiritual practices or to begin new ones.

Key dates for 2026 (Eastern Time)

Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season for 2026 follow this schedule in Eastern Time:

• Ash Wednesday: Feb. 18, 2026 (ET) — the official start of Lent.
• Palm Sunday: March 29, 2026 (ET) — commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and marks the start of Holy Week.
• Maundy Thursday: April 2, 2026 (ET) — often observed with a final Lenten liturgy and the remembrance of the Last Supper.
• Good Friday: April 3, 2026 (ET) — a day of solemn remembrance of the crucifixion.
• Easter Sunday: April 5, 2026 (ET) — the culmination of Holy Week and the season of Lent, celebrated as the resurrection.

For many Christians, Ash Wednesday is both a sober beginning and a hopeful invitation: a short public act that launches a longer season of interior change. Whether through ancient liturgies or personal practices, the day signals a deliberate turn toward reflection, repentance and renewal.