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Highlights
- Ramzan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
- Each year, Ramzan begins 10 to 12 days earlier.
- This is because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, in which months consist of 29 or 30 days.
Ramzan 2026 in India: Ramzan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is observed with deep faith and devotion by Muslims around the world. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 17. This holy month for Muslims is expected to end around March 19, depending on the sighting of the moon. The holy month of Ramzan is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon, which can vary by region.
During this month, which lasts 29 or 30 days, Muslims who fast abstain from food or drink from dawn to dusk, usually for 12 to 15 hours depending on their location.
Initial astronomical projections suggest the holy month of Ramzan could begin next week (February 18 or 19), but the official start will depend on local moon sightings, which can vary by country and community, reports Gulf News.
According to the Emirates Astronomical Society, however, this year's "Winter Ramadan" is expected to begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, after the sighting of the moon for Ramadan 1447 AH on Wednesday evening.
Why does Ramzan start on different dates every year?
Each year, Ramzan begins 10 to 12 days earlier. This is because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, in which months consist of 29 or 30 days.
For approximately 90 per cent of the world's population living in the Northern Hemisphere, fasting hours will be slightly shorter this year and will continue to decrease until 2031, when Ramzan will cover the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, according to Al Jazeera.
For Muslims who fast and live south of the equator, fasting hours will be longer than last year.
Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, Ramzan will be observed twice in 2030 with this calendar – first starting on January 5 and then again on December 26.
Ramzan 2026 in India: Sehri and Iftaar timings
In 2026, Ramzan in India is expected to begin on February 19, depending on the sighting of the moon.
February 19, 2026 - Sehri: 5:36 AM, Iftar: 6:15 PM
February 20, 2026 - Sehri: 5:35 AM, Iftar: 6:16 PM
February 21, 2026 - Sehri: 5:35 AM, Iftar: 6:17 PM
February 22, 2026 - Sehri: 5:34 AM, Iftar: 6:17 PM
February 23, 2026 - Sehri: 5:33 AM, Iftar: 6:18 PM
February 24, 2026 - Sehri: 5:32 AM, Iftar: 6:19 PM
February 25, 2026 - Sehri: 5:31 AM, Iftar: 6:19 PM
February 26, 2026 - Sehri: 5:30 AM, Iftar: 6:20 PM
February 27, 2026 - Sehri: 5:29 AM, Iftar: 6:21 PM
February 28, 2026 - Sehri: 5:28 AM, Iftar: 6:21 PM
March 1, 2026 - Sehri: 5:27 AM, Iftar: 6:22 PM
March 2, 2026 - Sehri: 5:26 AM, Iftar: 6:23 PM
March 3, 2026 - Sehri: 5:25 AM, Iftar: 6:23 PM
March 4, 2026 - Sehri: 5:24 AM, Iftar: 6:24 PM
March 5, 2026 - Sehri: 5:23 AM, Iftar: 6:25 PM
March 6, 2026 - Sehri: 5:22 AM, Iftar: 6:25 PM
March 7, 2026 - Sehri: 5:21 AM, Iftar: 6:26 PM
March 8, 2026 - Sehri: 5:20 AM, Iftar: 6:26 PM
March 9, 2026 - Sehri: 5:19 AM, Iftar: 6:27 PM
March 10, 2026 - Sehri: 5:18 AM, Iftar: 6:28 PM
March 11, 2026 - Sehri: 5:17 AM, Iftar: 6:28 PM
March 12, 2026 - Sehri: 5:15 AM, Iftar: 6:29 PM
March 13, 2026 - Sehri: 5:14 AM, Iftar: 6:29 PM
March 14, 2026 - Sehri: 5:13 AM, Iftar: 6:30 PM
March 15, 2026 - Sehri: 5:12 AM, Iftar: 6:31 PM
March 16, 2026 - Sehri: 5:11 AM, Iftar: 6:31 PM
March 17, 2026 - Sehri: 5:10 AM, Iftar: 6:32 PM
March 18, 2026 - Sehri: 5:08 AM, Iftar: 6:32 PM
March 19, 2026 - Sehri: 5:07 AM, Iftar: 6:33 PM
In Saudi Arabia, astronomical data predicts the first day of Ramadan 1447 AH to be on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Local mosques and the Emirates Astronomical Society will confirm the dates based on moon sightings, and Eid al-Fitr is expected to be on March 20.
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