Eid-ul-Fitr 2026: Shawwal crescent updates, Saudi Arabia announcement date, India timings

The holy month of Ramadan is drawing to a close, and Muslims worldwide are now eagerly awaiting Eid. As of now, there is no clear information regarding whether this year's Eid will occur after 29 days of fasting or after a full 30 days. Meanwhile, a significant update regarding the moon sighting has emerged from Saudi Arabia. The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has appealed to Muslims throughout the country to attempt to sight the moon on the evening of Wednesday, March 18. This implies that if the moon is sighted on Wednesday, Eid in Saudi Arabia could potentially fall on Thursday, March 19. Since Eid is typically celebrated in India one day after it is observed in Saudi Arabia, if Eid falls on the 19th there, the festival could potentially be celebrated in India on March 20—that is, on Friday. However, the final decision is always made only after sighting the moon.

In an official statement issued on Monday, the Saudi Supreme Court announced that, according to the 'Umm al-Qura' calendar, Wednesday will mark the 29th day of Ramadan 1447 Hijri. Consequently, given the possibility of sighting the moon that very evening, citizens have been requested to cooperate in the moon-sighting process. According to the Court's statement, if the moon of Shawwal is sighted on Wednesday evening, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday. Conversely, if the moon is not sighted, the month of Ramadan will span 30 days, and Eid will be celebrated on the following day.

Saudi SC to Make Final Announcement Regarding Eid

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has stated that any individual who sights the moon—whether with the naked eye or with the aid of binoculars—should notify the nearest court to record their testimony. Local administrative centers may also be contacted for this purpose. The statement further noted that official committees for moon-sighting in Saudi Arabia will gather at elevated locations across various regions of the country at sunset on Wednesday. The Supreme Court will issue its final announcement regarding Eid only after verifying all testimonies related to the moon sighting.

Eid in India: Friday or Saturday

Eid is celebrated in the Gulf nations one day earlier than in India. Specifically, in India, the 29th day of fasting (Roza) will conclude on Thursday. Following this, the moon will be sighted. If the moon is sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday. Alternatively, if the moon is not sighted, the 30th fast of the month of Ramadan will be observed on Friday, and... Eid will be celebrated this Saturday. It is important to understand here that if the moon is sighted in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, then Eid will be celebrated there on Thursday. In such a scenario, Eid could subsequently be celebrated in India on Friday.

How is the date of Eid determined?

The Islamic calendar is lunar-based; therefore, the date of Eid-ul-Fitr varies from year to year. This festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, marking the conclusion of Ramadan. The most crucial method for determining the date of Eid is the sighting of the moon. If the moon is sighted on the 29th day of Ramadan, Eid is celebrated the following day. However, if the moon is not sighted, Ramadan completes its full 30-day cycle, and Eid is celebrated thereafter.

Announcement of Eid depends entirely on the sighting of the moon

Since the timing and visibility of the moon vary across different countries, Eid is often celebrated on different days in various parts of the world. Many Islamic nations establish official committees dedicated to moon-sighting, which make determinations based on both scientific and religious criteria.

Summary

Consequently, if the moon is sighted in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday. Following this, the likelihood of Eid falling on Friday in India would increase significantly, as it has historically been observed that Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated in most Asian countries—including India—one day after it is celebrated in Saudi Arabia.