Ramadan Start 2026, United States

Ramadan (also known as Ramadhan, Ramazan, or Ramzan) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a holy period of prayer, fasting, and self-reflection for Muslims in the United States and around the world.

Is Ramadan (first day) a Public Holiday?

Ramadan (first day) is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

When Is Ramadan in the United States?

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by Muslims in the United States and around the world. It is a month of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and community.

The dates of Ramadan shift each year because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. As a result, Ramadan shifts roughly 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

Like any Islamic month, Ramadan begins with the sighting of the Waxing Crescent Moon. The start of Ramadan is typically determined by local moon sightings or astronomical calculations used by different Islamic communities.

Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days and ends with Eid al-Fitr, a festival marked by communal prayer and celebration.

Note: Because Islamic days begin at sunset, the sighting of the Moon marks the start of Ramadan, and fasting begins at dawn the next morning.

Sunrise and sunset times in your location

What’s Open, What’s Closed?

Ramadan is not a federal, state, or local public holiday in the United States; therefore, businesses, government offices, and schools operate on their regular schedules.

However, some workplaces and schools may offer accommodations for fasting employees or students, such as flexible lunch breaks, excused absences for religious observances, or designated quiet rooms for prayer. These vary by institution and are often arranged at the local level.

Some Muslim-owned businesses may adjust their hours to align with prayer and fasting times.

How Do Muslims in the US Observe Ramadan?

American Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan in many of the same ways as those around the world, though traditions vary by ethnic and cultural background. Common practices include:

• Fasting from dawn to sunset each day, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking/vaping, and sexual activity during the daylight hours.
• Attending nightly prayers that are held at mosques, though people can choose to pray at home instead.
• Performing increased acts of charity and good deeds, such as donating food, money, or supplies to people in need.
• Reading or listening to the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, with many aiming to complete the entire text during the month.
• Eating suhoor before sunrise and iftar after sundown. Suhoor, eaten before Fajr, the morning prayer, is a meal to sustain a fasting Muslim for the day. Iftar is the evening meal known as the breaking of the fast.

Learn more about Ramadan fasting

Cultural Traditions

Ramadan in the US reflects the diverse backgrounds of American Muslims, who include African Americans, South Asians, Arabs, Southeast Asians, and many converts from various places. As a result, the foods, languages, and customs associated with Ramadan can vary widely:

• Ramadan lanterns, known as fanous or fanoos, are common in Egyptian and some Arab traditions but are not universally used among US Muslims.
• Children may take part in Ramadan countdown calendars, storytelling, or crafts.
• In some communities, school clubs or interfaith events help raise awareness about Ramadan among non-Muslim classmates.

The Spiritual Significance

Ramadan commemorates the time when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad—an event Muslims associate with Laylat al-Qadr (“Night of Power”), which is believed to occur during one of the last ten nights of Ramadan. Laylat al-Qadr is widely considered the holiest night of the Islamic year.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a core obligation for all adult Muslims (with exceptions for people who would encounter difficulties due to health, travel, pregnancy, age, or similar reasons).

End of Ramadan: Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan concludes with Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the fast, which takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. This celebration can last from one to three days, depending on the culture. For this holiday, Muslims attend early morning Eid prayers, give charitable donations (zakat al-fitr), and gather with family and friends to celebrate.

About Ramadan Starts in Other Countries

Note: Regional customs or Moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the Crescent Moon is first seen.

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.