Ramadan 2026: How fasting hours will differ around the world

In 2026, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on 18 or 19 February, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

During this month, Muslims will fast from dawn to sunset to commemorate the revelation of the Quran, ending after 29 or 30 days with the festival of Ed al-Fitr.

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It is a time to cultivate self-discipline, gratitude, empathy for the poor, and to draw closer to God.

Ramadan begins 10 to 12 days earlier each year because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar Hijri calendar, where months are 29 or 30 days long. 

Due to time zone differences around the globe, fasting hours range from 11.5 to 15.5 hours depending on location.  

In the northern hemisphere, winter shortens fasts to about 12 to 13 hours compared to last year, while fasting for Muslims living south of the equator, like in South Africa, will be longer, about 14 to 15 hours.

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