Saudi Arabian moonspotters have confirmed that Eid al-Adha will be observed on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, setting the date for one of Islam’s two major festivals just days after the month of Dhul Hijjah began in the kingdom. The announcement gives nearly 2 billion Muslims around the world a fixed point on the calendar for prayer, sacrifice and family gatherings.
Dhul Hijjah began on May 18, 2026, after the waxing crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, and fasting ends on the holiday itself after the first nine days of the month are strongly encouraged for worship and reflection. For many families, the day starts before sunrise, with preparations for food and mandatory Eid prayers at local mosques before greetings of “Eid Mubarak” are exchanged.
The holiday commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, for the sake of God. According to Islamic tradition, God stopped Abraham and sent a ram to be sacrificed instead. That story sits at the center of qurbani, the slaughtering of a permitted animal in remembrance of the sacrifice Abraham was prepared to make. Goats, cows, sheep, lambs and camels can be used, and one-third of the meat must be given to the needy, with one-third shared among friends and family and the final third kept for the household.
The holiday is also a moment for children, who often receive money as gifts known as Eidi. Muslims are forbidden from fasting on Eid al-Adha, a break that ends the run of the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah and opens the festival itself. The ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, known as Yawm al-Arafah, remains a particularly important day in the run-up to the celebration.
Its timing matters because Dhul Hijjah is the month in which some Muslims begin the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, turning the lunar calendar into a shared season of worship, sacrifice and travel. The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are widely described as a period to strengthen faith and as a second chance after Ramadan to repent and seek blessings, which is why the confirmation of Wednesday, May 27, 2026, carries weight well beyond Saudi Arabia. For families preparing meals, prayer and qurbani, the date now frames the rest of the week. By the time Eid Mubarak 2026 is exchanged, the month’s spiritual center of gravity has already been set.
