Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, a time centered on prayer, reflection, charity, and community. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of February 17 or 18, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, and will last through March 19. Because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar Hijri system, the month shifts about 10 to 12 days earlier each year.
Fasting begins at dawn and ends at sunset each day. On the first full day of fasting, Muslims abstain from all food and drink, including water, from sunup to sundown. The fast is broken each evening with a meal known as iftar, while a pre dawn meal called suhoor prepares those observing for the day ahead.
Muslims believe Ramadan marks the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. It is practiced to deepen faith, cultivate self restraint, grow closer to God, and develop empathy for those in need.
Fasting hours vary depending on where a person lives. In the Northern Hemisphere, daily fasts this year range from about 12 to 13 hours at the start of the month, increasing as the days lengthen. In parts of the Southern Hemisphere, fasting can last 14 to 15 hours at the beginning. The month concludes with communal prayers and celebrations marking the end of the fast.