Christianity festivals in 2026
Dates of Christianity festivals in 2026, with the day of the week and how certain each date is.
Dates last checked on 2026-10-21. Lunar-calendar dates can differ by a day between regions.
January 2026
- Mon, Jan 19Martin Luther King Jr. DayFixed dateThe US holiday on the third Monday of January. Dr King’s birthday is January 15.
February 2026
- Tue, Feb 17CarnivalCalculatedThis is Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the last day of Carnival. Carnival season begins days or weeks earlier, depending on the place.
March 2026
- Tue, Mar 17St. Patrick’s DayFixed date
April 2026
- Sun, Apr 5EasterCalculatedOrthodox Easter falls on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
November 2026
- Sun, Nov 1 to Nov 2Day of the DeadFixed date
December 2026
- Fri, Dec 25ChristmasFixed dateChurches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7.
How these dates were checked
Fixed and rule-based dates, such as Christmas or the third Monday of January, are exact. Easter, Islamic festivals (from the Umm al-Qura calendar), Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and Hanukkah are calculated from their calendars. Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain festival dates were cross-checked against several independent published calendars, and a date is left out when they disagree. Because lunar festivals depend on the moon, always confirm the exact day with your local calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Which festivals are in 2026?
This calendar lists 56 festivals and commemorative days for 2026, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Jewish festivals, national days and global celebrations.
Are these festival dates official?
No. They are checked against several published calendars (last checked 2026-10-21), but they are not official government notices. Lunar-calendar festivals can differ by a day between regions, and festivals marked “Expected” depend on moon sighting. Confirm with your local authority, temple, mosque or government holiday list before making plans.
Why do many festival dates change every year?
Many festivals follow lunar or lunisolar calendars, whose years are not the same length as the Gregorian year, so the Gregorian date moves from year to year. Festivals tied to a fixed date, such as Christmas or Independence Day, stay on the same day.