When does Ramadan start and end?
Updated August 24, 2026 · this page carries the 2026 and 2027 dates.
Ramadan changes daily rhythms for millions of Americans — fasting from dawn to sunset for a month — but it closes almost nothing on the public calendar. Banks, mail, the markets, federal offices, and delivery all run their normal schedules for the whole month; Ramadan is not a federal holiday, and no state closes offices for it.
The dates are the part worth checking every year. Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, beginning and ending with the sighting of the new crescent moon, so it starts about eleven days earlier each year — and the exact start and end can shift by a day, and can differ by a day between countries and between communities that use different moon-sighting methods. The month ends with Eid al-Fitr, which has its own page here — and which a growing number of school districts do take off.
| Year | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | Thursday, March 19, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, February 8, 2027 | Tuesday, March 9, 2027 |
Ramadan begins at the sighting of the new crescent moon, so the start and end can each shift by a day — and can differ by a day between countries and between moon-sighting methods. Fasting begins at dawn on the first day; the month opens at sundown the evening before.
What's open and closed during Ramadan?
| Who | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | Open — regular hours all month; Ramadan isn't on the Federal Reserve holiday calendar. | Federal Reserve holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Mail & the Post Office | Running — normal delivery and retail hours throughout the month. | USPS holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| The Stock Market | Open — normal sessions all month; no U.S. exchange closes for Ramadan. | NYSE holiday calendar Checked August 2026 |
| The Bond Market | Open — SIFMA's calendar doesn't mark Ramadan. | SIFMA recommended holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| UPS | Running — normal pickup and delivery all month. | UPS holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| FedEx | Running — normal pickup and delivery all month. | FedEx holiday service schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Federal Offices | Open — Ramadan isn't one of the eleven federal holidays; offices keep regular hours. | OPM federal holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Trash Pickup | Running — collection calendars don't mark Ramadan. | your city or hauler's holiday schedule Checked August 2026 |
| Schools | Open through the month, though many districts make accommodations for fasting students; the day some districts actually close for is Eid al-Fitr, at the month's end. | your school district's calendar Checked August 2026 |
Questions people ask
When does Ramadan end?
Ramadan ends at the sighting of the new crescent moon after 29 or 30 days of fasting, and the next day is Eid al-Fitr. In 2026 the last expected fasting day is March 19, with Eid expected March 20; in 2027 the month is expected to end March 9, with Eid expected March 10. Both can shift by a day with the moon sighting, and can differ by a day between countries.
Is Ramadan a federal holiday in the US?
No — neither Ramadan nor Eid al-Fitr is a federal holiday, so banks, mail, the markets, and federal offices all run normally. Some school districts close for Eid al-Fitr, and many employers offer floating holidays or accommodations, but nothing closes nationwide.
Why do published Ramadan dates differ by a day?
Because the month begins and ends with the sighting of a new crescent moon, and communities differ on how to confirm it — some follow a local physical sighting, some follow Saudi Arabia's announcement, and some use astronomical calculation. All land within a day or so of each other, which is why calendars print expected dates and mosques confirm the night before.