What is ash wednesday? Lent start date, why Christians wear ashes and what falls on Holy Week

Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten season on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET), a period of reflection, fasting and preparation that concludes with Holy Week. Centuries-old customs — most visibly the smudged ashes applied to foreheads — remain central to how many Christians begin this annual observance.

What Ash Wednesday means and why ashes are used

Ash Wednesday is a solemn ritual that marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day season leading up to Easter. The ashes placed on foreheads are symbolic: they serve as a visible reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance. The imagery traces back to ancient practices in which people used dust, sackcloth and ashes to express sorrow and penitence.

The ashes themselves are traditionally made by burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. In many communities the ashes are applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead, a gesture meant to prompt quiet reflection on life, death and spiritual renewal. The Bible’s Genesis 2: 7 — "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" — is often invoked to explain the symbolism of dust and ashes.

Historically, early Christians observed a shorter fast tied to Lent and that practice evolved over the centuries. What began as a roughly six-week season with fasts excluding Sundays later expanded so that 40 days of fasting were observed in imitation of Jesus’ fast in the desert; by the 7th century this counting settled into the rhythm many churches follow today.

When Lent starts and the key Holy Week dates

In 2026, Ash Wednesday falls on Feb. 18 (ET). The Lenten season runs through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (ET), concluding at the start of Holy Week. Here are the principal dates to note for the season and the week that follows:

• Ash Wednesday: Feb. 18, 2026 (ET)
• Palm Sunday: March 29, 2026 (ET)
• Maundy Thursday: April 2, 2026 (ET)
• Good Friday: April 3, 2026 (ET)
• Easter Sunday: April 5, 2026 (ET)

Lent is traditionally counted to bring believers into a reflective state before Holy Week, which commemorates the final days of Jesus’ life and his resurrection. Many congregations intensify services and devotional practices during these weeks.

How people observe Lent today

Modern observance of Lent varies widely. For some, it centers on fasting and abstaining from certain foods; for others, the focus is on giving something up, adopting a new spiritual practice or deepening prayer and study routines. Digital tools and devotional guides have become especially popular during this period, with many people using them to structure daily reflections and community prayer.

Church attendance for Ash Wednesday services is often higher than for other non-Sunday services, as congregations gather for the visible sign of ashes and the communal start of the Lenten journey. Practices that once were reserved for public penitents have broadened over time, and now many denominations invite the whole congregation to receive ashes as a shared act of humility and renewal.

Whether observed as a strict fast, a season of meditative giving, or a time of renewed spiritual focus, Ash Wednesday and Lent continue to be a meaningful calendar moment for millions. The imposition of ashes — a simple, tactile symbol — helps frame the next six weeks as a deliberate passage toward Holy Week and Easter.