When is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha 1448 AH is expected on Sunday, May 16, 2027 on the Umm al-Qura calendar, after the Day of Arafah on Saturday, May 15, 2027. Since Islamic days begin at sunset, the night of Eid starts on the evening of Sat, May 15.
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic year, the month of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hijri calendar is lunar, so Eid al-Adha moves about 11 days earlier every year and passes through every season over roughly 33 years.
Eid al-Adha dates for the coming years
| Hijri year | Day of Arafah | Eid al-Adha | Weekday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1448 AH | Sat, May 15 | May 16, 2027 | Sunday |
| 1449 AH | Thu, May 4 | May 5, 2028 | Friday |
| 1450 AH | Mon, Apr 23 | April 24, 2029 | Tuesday |
| 1451 AH | Fri, Apr 12 | April 13, 2030 | Saturday |
| 1452 AH | Tue, Apr 1 | April 2, 2031 | Wednesday |
| 1453 AH | Sun, Mar 21 | March 22, 2032 | Monday |
| 1454 AH | Thu, Mar 10 | March 11, 2033 | Friday |
| 1455 AH | Tue, Feb 28 | March 1, 2034 | Wednesday |
Dates come from the official Umm al-Qura month tables, as compiled in the open-source HijriDate project, and match Microsoft .NET's UmAlQuraCalendar for every year shown.
Why the date can differ by a day
The Umm al-Qura calendar is computed in advance, but the start of Dhu al-Hijjah is confirmed by sighting the new crescent moon, and Saudi Arabia announces it about ten days before Eid. Because Eid al-Adha is tied to the Hajj, many communities around the world follow that Saudi announcement, while others rely on their own local sighting or calculation. As a result, Eid al-Adha is usually celebrated on the date shown or a day later, and occasionally on different days in different countries.
Meaning and the Hajj
Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and God's provision of a ram in the son's place. It coincides with the final days of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able should make at least once in a lifetime. Pilgrims spend the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, in prayer on the plain of Arafat, and many Muslims who are not on pilgrimage fast on that day.
How Eid al-Adha is celebrated
The day begins with the Eid prayer in the morning. Families who can afford it then offer an animal sacrifice, called udhiyah or qurbani, usually a sheep, goat, cow or camel. The meat is commonly divided among the household, relatives and friends, and people in need, so that everyone can share a festive meal. In the United States most families arrange this through a licensed farm or butcher, or pay a charity to carry out the sacrifice abroad, ordering in the weeks before Dhu al-Hijjah. The festival continues through the following three days, known as the days of tashriq, so Eid al-Adha is often a four-day celebration and the main public holiday of the year in many Muslim-majority countries.
Frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Adha 2027?
Eid al-Adha 1448 AH is expected on Sunday, May 16, 2027 on the Umm al-Qura calendar. The Day of Arafah is Saturday, May 15, 2027, and Eid begins at sunset that evening.
What is the Day of Arafah?
The Day of Arafah is 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha, when Hajj pilgrims gather in prayer on the plain of Arafat near Mecca. Many Muslims elsewhere fast on that day.
How long does Eid al-Adha last?
Eid al-Adha is on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, and the celebration traditionally continues through the three days of tashriq, so it is often a four-day festival.
Why does Eid al-Adha move every year?
It follows the lunar Islamic calendar, whose year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Eid al-Adha comes about 11 days earlier each year.
Why is Eid al-Adha called the "big Eid"?
It lasts longer than Eid al-Fitr and coincides with the Hajj, so in many countries it is the larger of the two festivals. In South Asia it is also known as Bakrid or Bakra Eid.
Last updated: October 8, 2026