Hyderabad, May 17: Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Eid al Adha 2026 will be celebrated on May 27 after the crescent moon marking the beginning of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH was sighted on Sunday evening.
The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed that Monday, May 18, will be observed as the first day of Dhul Hijjah. Accordingly, the annual Haj pilgrimage will begin on May 25, while the Day of Arafah will be observed on May 26.
The announcement came after moon sighting committees reported visibility of the crescent in different parts of the Kingdom. Earlier, the Saudi Supreme Court had appealed to Muslims across the country to look for the Dhul Hijjah moon on Sunday evening.
Along with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Malaysia and Indonesia also confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon. These countries will likewise celebrate Eid al Adha on Wednesday, May 27.
Eid al Adha Moon Sighting Confirmed
Eid al Adha, also known as Bakrid or Eid uz Zuha in the Indian subcontinent, is among the most significant Islamic festivals celebrated worldwide. The festival falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The occasion commemorates the devotion and sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail in obedience to God’s command. According to Islamic belief, God replaced Prophet Ismail with a ram before the sacrifice took place.
Muslims across the world mark the festival with special Eid prayers, charity, animal sacrifice and family gatherings. The meat from the sacrifice is traditionally shared among relatives, friends and the poor.
Eid al Adha also coincides with Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Millions of pilgrims from different countries travel to Saudi Arabia every year to perform Haj rituals.
In India, the final date of Bakrid will depend on local moon sighting announcements by religious authorities. However, if the crescent is sighted in line with Saudi Arabia, Eid al Adha is likely to be observed on May 27 across several parts of the country.
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