Eid Ul-Fitr 2026 Date and Moon Sighting: India is set to observe the Shawwal crescent moon today, which will determine the official date of Eid ul-Fitr 2026 celebrations across the country.
Why Moon Sighting Decides Eid Date?
The Islamic lunar calendar which controls Eid Ul-Fitr celebrations relies on people seeing the crescent moon (Hilal) in the sky. The festival begins after people verify the Shawwal moon sighting because it does not have fixed dates like the Gregorian calendar.
Saudi Arabian authorities have requested people to watch the sky for the crescent moon because this period serves as vital time for moon sighting verification.
Saudi Arabia Moon Sighting Status: Key Developments
Many countries use Saudi Arabia as the main source for declaring Eid dates.
- The Saudi Supreme Court called for moon sighting on March 18, 2026.
- If the crescent was sighted that evening, Eid would fall on March 19.
- If not, Ramadan completes 30 days, pushing Eid to March 20.
However, astronomical insights suggest a challenge:
- The new moon (astronomical conjunction) occurs on March 19, making visibility on March 18 extremely unlikely.
- Experts indicate crescent visibility is difficult on March 19 evening in many regions.
Current expectation: Saudi Arabia is most likely to celebrate Eid on March 20, 2026, unless unexpected early sightings occur.
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Eid Ul-Fitr 2026 Date and Moon Sighting: What Experts Say?
In the UAE, astronomical predictions align closely with Saudi observations.
- Experts in Sharjah have indicated Eid is likely on March 20 due to visibility constraints.
- Authorities will still rely on official moon sighting committees before confirming.
The UAE typically follows Saudi Arabia’s announcement, but maintains its own observation protocols.
What About India and South Asia?
The impact doesn’t stop to the Gulf.
- India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh typically celebrate Eid one day after Saudi Arabia.
- Federal holidays are confirmed for Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 in Pakistan.
- If Saudi Arabia celebrates on March 20 then India will celebrate Eid on March 21, 2026.
The final decision will be made by local moon sighting committees in India.
Final Verdict: March 19 or March 20?
The current verified inputs show that March 19 Eid will happen only if the moon appears at an unexpected early time which has a low chance of occurring.
The most probable date for Eid in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stands at March 20.
India and South Asia will observe Eid on March 21.
The crescent moon was not sighted in Delhi, with Jama Masjid’s Deputy Shahi Imam Syed Shaban Bukhari announcing that Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21.
The crescent moon was not sighted in Hyderabad today, with the Deccan Muslim Ulema Council confirming that Eid ul-Fitr 2026 will be celebrated across India on Saturday, March 21. The holy month of Ramzan will conclude on March 20.
The Shawwal crescent moon has not been sighted in Lucknow and Hyderabad, with Lucknow Islamic Centre chairman Maulana Khalid Rasheed confirming that Eid ul-Fitr will be celebrated on March 21.
The Shawwal crescent moon is expected to be sighted shortly after sunset across major Indian cities today, marking a crucial moment for Eid ul-Fitr 2026.
Delhi / New Delhi: Moonset at 6:58 PM IST; sunset around 6:20 PM IST
Chandigarh: Moonset at 7:01 PM IST; sunset around 6:20 PM IST
Mumbai / Navi Mumbai: Moonset at 7:12 PM IST; sunset around 6:40 PM IST
Lucknow: Sunset around 6:05 PM IST
Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru: Sunset between 6:20–6:25 PM IST
Kolkata: Sunset around 5:55 PM IST
The best time to sight the crescent moon will be just after sunset, during the brief window before moonset in each city.
Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on March 20, 2026, after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted, completing 30 days of Ramadan as per traditional lunar observation practices.
Eid-ul-Fitr in India is likely to be celebrated on March 20, 2026, if the crescent moon is sighted on March 19 evening; otherwise, the festival will fall on March 21 after completion of 30 days of Ramadan.
The Shawwal crescent moon sighting results in Saudi Arabia are expected to be announced around 6:10 PM (Makkah time), shortly after sunset at 6:03 PM, with observations underway in Sudair and Tumair regions.
Turkey will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on March 20, while Singapore has confirmed March 21 as the festival date following the end of Ramadan.
As Ramadan nears its end, authorities in the UAE have officially announced Eid al-Fitr 2026 prayer timings, providing clarity for millions of residents preparing for one of the year’s most significant religious gatherings.
Despite Eid al-Fitr falling around March 20–21, 2026, both NSE and BSE will remain open for trading, as no official market holiday is scheduled during this period.
The announcement on the Shawwal 1447 crescent sighting in Saudi Arabia is expected around 6:10 PM (Makkah time) today, which will determine the date of Eid al-Fitr 2026.
Eid-ul-Fitr in India is expected to be celebrated on March 20 or March 21, 2026, depending on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon in the country.
Qatar has declared a seven-day official holiday for public sector employees on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr 2026, as preparations for the festival gather pace amid ongoing moon sighting updates.