Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday, February 8, subject to the sighting of the crescent moon on the evening of Sunday, February 7. Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on Wednesday, March 10, as Ramadan moves around 10 to 11 days earlier each year under the Islamic lunar calendar.

Unlike Christmas or New Year’s Day, Ramadan does not fall on the same date each year. The holy month follows the Islamic lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, which means its dates shift backwards by about 10 to 11 days annually. As a result, Muslims experience Ramadan in different seasons over a cycle of roughly 33 years.

With the previous Ramadan having ended in March, attention is now turning to Ramadan 2027. Astronomical calculations indicate that the holy month is likely to begin on Monday, February 8, although the final date will depend on the official sighting of the crescent moon.

The Islamic calendar has 12 lunar months and is around 354 days long, about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Ramadan therefore gradually moves backwards through the calendar, falling in winter, spring, summer and autumn over successive years.

The beginning of Ramadan is traditionally confirmed after religious authorities observe the new crescent moon. The crescent is expected to be sought on the evening of Sunday, February 7, 2027. If it is sighted, Muslims are expected to offer the first Tarawih prayers that evening before beginning the first day of fasting on Monday, February 8.

Ramadan can last either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent marking the beginning of Shawwal. Eid-ul-Fitr is therefore currently projected to begin on Wednesday, March 10, 2027.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is regarded by Muslims as the holiest month of the year. It commemorates the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and smoking while placing greater emphasis on prayer, charity, self-discipline, family and community.

With around 126 days remaining until the expected start of Ramadan 2027, Muslim-majority countries are expected to begin preparations for the holy month in the coming months, including arrangements for mosques, public services and official moon-sighting procedures.

Despite increasingly precise astronomical calculations, the official beginning of Ramadan continues to be determined according to Islamic practice, with the sighting of the crescent moon remaining an important part of the process.