The holy crescent of Ramadan 1447 has been officially sighted in Saudi Arabia, confirming the start of Ramadan 2026. The Kingdom announced that Wednesday, 18 February 2026, will mark the first day of fasting.
The start of Ramadan 2026 in Saudi Arabia comes after careful moon-sighting by religious authorities. Muslims in the country will begin their daily fasts, prayers, and spiritual reflection from Wednesday. The announcement was shared widely by Saudi religious officials, signaling the beginning of the blessed month.
However, the start of Ramadan 2026 is not uniform worldwide. Several countries, including Turkey, Oman, Indonesia, Australia, Brunei, and Singapore, have declared Thursday as the first day of Ramadan. Islamic councils in these countries conducted their own local moon-sighting assessments, which confirmed the crescent later than in Saudi Arabia.
The difference in start dates highlights the importance of local moon-sighting traditions in Islam. While the holy month is observed globally, local observations of the crescent determine the exact first day of fasting in many communities.
As Ramadan 2026 begins, Muslims around the world prepare for a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayers, Quranic recitation, and charitable acts. The sacred month emphasizes self-discipline, spiritual growth, and empathy for the less fortunate.
In countries where Ramadan starts on Thursday, communities will begin their fasts a day later. Despite the difference in dates, the spirit of Ramadan—devotion, reflection, and generosity—remains the same for all Muslims.
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Religious scholars urge Muslims to follow their local announcements and respect the traditions of moon-sighting in each region. With the crescent officially sighted in Saudi Arabia, preparations for Taraweeh prayers and other Ramadan rituals are underway.
