Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, falls on Wednesday, May 27, 2026—one of two major Eid holidays in Islam. Its timing is shaped by the lunar Islamic calendar, and it comes after Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage se
Eid al-Adha is just days away, and across Muslim communities the countdown is already underway. For millions of Muslims, the holy day—also called the Festival of Sacrifice—arrives at the end of May, guided by the Islamic lunar calendar and the sighting of the moon.
In 2026, Eid al-Adha will fall on Wednesday, May 27. Because the Islamic calendar follows lunar cycles, the exact date shifts from year to year depending on moon sightings. Many Muslims follow guidance issued by officials in Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. where officials have declared Eid al-Adha as falling on May 27.
This Eid comes after Eid al-Fitr, a separate holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid holidays celebrated in Islam. “Eid” is an Arabic word meaning “festival” or “feast,” according to the University of Florida. Eid al-Adha is tied to the story of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael after God came to him in a dream and commanded him to do so. According to the Quran, God ultimately intervened, sending a ram to be sacrificed in Ishmael’s place.
For many Muslims. it also carries a deeply practical timing: Eid al-Adha falls during Dhul Hijjah. the final month in the Islamic calendar. when Muslims are expected to complete Hajj—the holy pilgrimage to Mecca—if they are able. Islamic Relief notes that expectation as part of the month’s significance.
The calendar matters, but so does the purpose. That’s why there are two Eids.
In Islam, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are distinct. Eid al-Fitr marks the breaking of the fast at the end of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan. the month leading up to Eid al-Fitr. is a period of prayer. reflection. and abstinence in which Muslims do not eat or drink at all during daylight hours.
Eid al-Adha, by contrast, falls in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. It coincides with the end of the sacred Hajj pilgrimage season. In some countries, Eid al-Adha is celebrated for several days, adding to the sense that the holiday is both a conclusion and a commemoration.
The underlying structure is consistent—two holidays, two different meanings—but the lived experience varies by how and when moon sighting committees announce dates and how long celebrations run locally. Still, for 2026, the shared focal point is clear: Eid al-Adha on Wednesday, May 27.
Eid al-Adha 2026 May 27 2026 Eid al-Adha date Festival of Sacrifice Eid al-Fitr Ramadan Dhul Hijjah Hajj moon sighting Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates