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When is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha falls on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
About Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, the festival of the sacrifice, is the second of the two major festivals of the Islamic year. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and coincides with the climax of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The festival commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in the Jewish and Christian traditions, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and the moment when God provided a ram in the son's place. To mark this, families who are able traditionally sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep, goat, cow or camel, and share the meat in three parts, one for the household, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor.
Eid al-Adha lasts up to four days in many countries and is a public holiday across the Muslim world. The day begins with a communal prayer, after which the sacrifice, known as qurbani or udhiyah, is carried out, often through a butcher or a charity rather than at home. Families gather for large meals, wear their best clothes and visit relatives. The festival is closely tied to the Hajj, and the day before Eid al-Adha is the Day of Arafah, when pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date moves about 11 days earlier each year.
Frequently asked questions
What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha is one of the two major festivals of the Islamic year, its name meaning the festival of the sacrifice. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, during the Hajj pilgrimage. The festival remembers the Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and God's mercy in providing a ram instead. Families who can afford it sacrifice an animal and share the meat, including a portion for the poor.
When is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha begins on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar. It comes about two months and ten days after Eid al-Fitr. Because the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian year, the festival moves roughly 11 days earlier each year. The exact date depends on the sighting of the new moon at the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, and it is tied to the timing of the Hajj, so it can vary by a day between countries.
What is the connection between Eid al-Adha and the Hajj?
Eid al-Adha falls during the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every able Muslim is expected to make once in a lifetime. The festival begins on the day after the Day of Arafah, when pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat in the central rite of the Hajj. Eid al-Adha is celebrated both by the pilgrims and by Muslims everywhere else at the same time. So the festival links the worldwide Muslim community to the events taking place at Mecca.
What is the sacrifice at Eid al-Adha?
The sacrifice, known as qurbani or udhiyah, is the central practice of Eid al-Adha for families who can afford it. An animal such as a sheep, goat, cow or camel is slaughtered according to Islamic rules. The meat is traditionally divided into three parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for people in need. The practice recalls the ram that God provided in place of the Prophet Ibrahim's son. Today many Muslims arrange the sacrifice through a butcher or a charity.
Is Eid al-Adha a public holiday?
Eid al-Adha is a public holiday across Muslim-majority countries, where it often brings several days off work and school, in some places up to four days. It is generally the longer of the two Eid holidays. In countries where Muslims are a minority it is not usually an official holiday, though some schools and employers make allowances. As with other Islamic dates, the day moves each year with the lunar calendar.