When does Ramadan start?
Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin on Monday, February 8, 2027 on the Umm al-Qura calendar. The first tarawih prayers and the first night of the month fall on the evening of Sun, Feb 7, the night before the first fast.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, a purely lunar calendar whose months last 29 or 30 days. Twelve lunar months add up to about 354 or 355 days, roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan starts about 11 days earlier every year and moves through all four seasons in about 33 years. Because the lunar year is shorter, Ramadan begins twice in 2030, on January 5 and again on December 26.
Ramadan dates for the coming years
| Hijri year | Ramadan begins | First night (evening of) | Eid al-Fitr | Days of fasting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1448 AH | Mon, Feb 8, 2027 | Sun, Feb 7 | Tue, Mar 9 | 29 |
| 1449 AH | Fri, Jan 28, 2028 | Thu, Jan 27 | Sat, Feb 26 | 29 |
| 1450 AH | Tue, Jan 16, 2029 | Mon, Jan 15 | Wed, Feb 14 | 29 |
| 1451 AH | Sat, Jan 5, 2030 | Fri, Jan 4 | Mon, Feb 4 | 30 |
| 1452 AH | Thu, Dec 26, 2030 | Wed, Dec 25 | Fri, Jan 24 | 29 |
| 1453 AH | Mon, Dec 15, 2031 | Sun, Dec 14 | Wed, Jan 14 | 30 |
| 1454 AH | Sat, Dec 4, 2032 | Fri, Dec 3 | Sun, Jan 2 | 29 |
| 1455 AH | Wed, Nov 23, 2033 | Tue, Nov 22 | Fri, Dec 23 | 30 |
The number of fasting days comes from the Umm al-Qura calendar; where the month is set by moon sighting, it can be 29 or 30. 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 start can differ by a day
The Umm al-Qura calendar is Saudi Arabia's official civil calendar, computed in advance from astronomical data, which is why it can give exact dates years ahead. For the start of Ramadan itself, however, many communities wait for the new crescent moon (hilal) to be sighted on the evening of the 29th of Sha'ban. If the crescent is not seen, Sha'ban is completed as 30 days and Ramadan begins a day later. Saudi Arabia and other countries announce the start through their own religious authorities, so the observed first day can differ by a day from the date shown here. In North America, the Fiqh Council of North America sets dates in advance from astronomical calculations, while many mosques follow a local or regional sighting.
What happens during Ramadan
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims who are able fast from dawn until sunset, taking no food or drink, not even water. The day starts with a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and the fast is broken at sunset with iftar, traditionally with dates and water. People who are ill, traveling, pregnant or nursing, elderly or otherwise unable to fast are exempt, and many make up missed days later.
Evenings bring the special congregational prayers called tarawih, and many Muslims try to read the whole Qur'an over the month. The last ten nights include Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, which marks the first revelation of the Qur'an. Because the month moves through the seasons, the length of the daily fast changes too: it is longest when Ramadan falls near the June solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and shortest near the December solstice. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr on the first day of Shawwal, after Zakat al-Fitr, a small charitable payment, has been given.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ramadan 2027?
On the Umm al-Qura calendar, Ramadan 1448 AH begins on Monday, February 8, 2027, with the first night on the evening of Sunday, February 7, 2027. Eid al-Fitr is expected on Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
Why does Ramadan start on a different date every year?
The Islamic calendar is lunar, and its year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan arrives about 11 days earlier each year.
Does Ramadan start the evening before?
Yes. Islamic days begin at sunset, so the first night of Ramadan, including the first tarawih prayers, is the evening before the first day of fasting.
How long is Ramadan?
Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days, until the next new crescent moon begins the month of Shawwal.
Why might Ramadan begin a day later than this countdown?
Many communities start Ramadan only after the new crescent moon has been sighted. If it is not seen on the 29th of Sha’ban, the month begins a day later than the calculated date.
Last updated: October 8, 2026