Eid al-Fitr 2026 Moon Sighting: Expected Date, Live Crescent Watch & Official Holiday Announcement

(Last updated 18 March 2026, 19:45 UTC) Saudi Arabia confirms Eid al-Fitr 2026 after negative moon sighting The Saudi Supreme Court announced that the Shawwal crescent was not spotted on Wednesday evening, 19 Ramadan 1447 AH (18 March 2026). Consequently, Ramadan will complete 30 days and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, 20 March 2026. With the Kingdom’s declaration, most Gulf states—including the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait—are aligning their public-holiday calendars for a long weekend that starts Friday. Why the 2026 moon sighting is tricky Astronomers calculate that on 19 March 2026 the new moon will be only 14 hours old over Makkah at sunset, setting less than 20 minutes later—too slim and too low for naked-eye detection. Visibility improves sharply 24 hours later, which is why observers expect clear sightings on 20 March across the Middle East. Potential one-day difference in South Asia and Africa Countries that insist on local crescent confirmation—such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco and South Africa—will conduct their moon-sighting sessions on Thursday evening, 19 March. If the crescent is not seen, these regions will celebrate Eid on Saturday, 21 March 2026. Early weather forecasts indicate clear skies for Delhi, Karachi and Cape Town, increasing the odds of a Friday-aligned Eid; however, overcast conditions in Dhaka and Lagos could push festivities to Saturday. Key prayer times and holiday schedules • Masjid al-Haram, Makkah: Takbeerat begin 05:35 AM AST; Eid salah 06:02 AM. • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi: Eid prayer 06:18 AM GST, doors open 05:00 AM. • Jama Masjid, Delhi (if Friday Eid): 07:00 AM IST; (if Saturday Eid): 07:00 AM IST. Government offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE will reopen on Tuesday, 24 March. Pakistan and India have issued tentative public-holiday notices spanning 20–22 March, subject to confirmation. How to follow the live crescent search 1. Saudi Ministry of Media will stream official telescope feeds from Sudair and Tumair observatories on YouTube starting 17:30 AST Thursday. 2. The Dubai Astronomy Group offers a public observation session at Al Qudra desert; registration is open until 16:00 GST Thursday. 3. Global “Chaand Raat” live blogs from NDTV and Times of India provide minute-by-minute updates, photos and expert commentary. What to prepare before Eid al-Fitr 2026 • Pay Zakat al-Fitr (estimated SAR 25 / AED 27 / INR 200 per person). • Arrange Eid outfits early; retailers report a 20 % surge in demand this week. • Plan prayer logistics: many cities are restricting large outdoor congregations to manage traffic and security. • Stock up on traditional sweets—sheer khurma, maamoul and luqaimat are trending on recipe sites. Looking ahead If regional committees verify the crescent on Thursday night, Muslims worldwide will share a unified Eid al-Fitr on 20 March 2026—the earliest Gregorian-calendar Eid in 14 years. Otherwise, a two-date celebration will highlight Islam’s rich diversity in lunar interpretation while preserving the universal spirit of gratitude and joy.