Saudi Arabia Confirms Ramadan 2026 Moon Sighting, Fasting Begins on 18 February

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has officially confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the start of Ramadan 1447 AH. The sighting was confirmed on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 29 Sha’ban 1447 AH, declaring the commencement of the holy month.

As a result of the announcement, the first Taraweeh prayers will take place on Tuesday night, immediately following the Isha prayer, at mosques across the Kingdom, including the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The first day of fasting will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The official announcement came despite earlier statements from prominent astronomical bodies such as the International Astronomy Center (IAC), which had predicted that a moon sighting on the evening of February 17 would be astronomically impossible across the Arab and Islamic world. The IAC had explained that the moon would set before or just 1-3 minutes after sunset, making it invisible to both the naked eye and telescopes.

However, the Supreme Court’s confirmation follows Saudi Arabia’s longstanding practice of relying on visual sightings by credible witnesses. This method takes precedence over astronomical calculations when verifiable sightings are reported. The court’s moon-sighting committee validated the witness testimonies before the announcement was made.

With the confirmed start of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of the month of fasting, is expected to be on Thursday, March 19, or Friday, March 20, 2026, depending on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon at the end of the month.