Eid al-Fitr 2026: Dozens of nations mark end of Ramadan today as Muslim world celebrates

By MNTV Staff Writer

Muslims across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond are observing Eid al-Fitr today, Friday, March 20, as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close after completing its full 30-day cycle.

Saudi Arabia officially declared Friday, March 20 as Eid al-Fitr after the Shawwal crescent moon went unsighted on Wednesday, March 18, prompting the Saudi Supreme Court and its moon-sighting committee to confirm the date following a formal review.

A broad list of nations joined Saudi Arabia in marking the holiday today, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Türkiye, the Maldives, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq.

Across Africa, countries such as Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Nigeria, Chad, Senegal, and Cameroon also confirmed Friday celebrations.

The UAE announced that Eid holidays for federal government employees would run from Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22.

Qatar similarly declared a seven-day public sector holiday spanning March 17 to March 23.

West and North America join in

Muslim communities throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe are also marking the occasion today.

The Fiqh Council of North America formally declared Friday, March 20 as Eid, basing its ruling on the birth of the new moon on Thursday, March 19, with the crescent expected to be clearly visible from both New York and Los Angeles.

The council recognizes astronomical calculation as a valid method for determining the start of lunar months.

Islamic Relief U.K. extended greetings to all communities celebrating, whether on Friday or Saturday, reflecting a slight variation in moon sighting rulings across different U.K. Muslim organizations.

Muslim communities across Europe are observing the holiday today as well, with the European Council for Fatwa and Research having set guidelines requiring that the crescent moon’s elongation reach at least 8 degrees and sit at least 5 degrees above the horizon at sunset — conditions met for March 20.

While Eid al-Fitr is not a federal public holiday in the United States, a U.K. bank holiday, or a Canadian statutory holiday, legal frameworks in all three countries protect the right to religious accommodation, and most universities allow students to miss class on the day without penalty.

Mosques and community centers across Western cities are hosting congregational morning prayers, with worshippers dressed in their finest, exchanging gifts, and gathering with family for festive meals.

Not all nations celebrating today

Not all Muslim-majority nations are celebrating on the same day, however. Indonesia declared Eid on March 21, reflecting differences in lunar observation practices, while South Asian nations including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are expected to observe the holiday on Saturday due to geographical differences in moon visibility.

Singapore also confirmed Saturday, March 21 as its Eid date, citing the impossibility of sighting the crescent from its location on Thursday evening.

In a notable exception, Afghanistan, Niger, and Mali announced Eid as early as Thursday, March 19, after local authorities confirmed the crescent sighting.

The split in dates is a recurring feature of the holiday, rooted in the Islamic lunar calendar’s dependence on actual moon sightings, which can vary by geography and local religious authority.