By: Abdul Razack Gbla

Muslims worldwide will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday, March 20, 2026, following the non-sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal 1447 AH.

Authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed that the crescent moon was not sighted on Wednesday evening, meaning the holy month of Ramadan will complete its full 30 days on Thursday, March 19.

Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, will therefore be observed the following day by millions of Muslims who follow the Saudi moon sighting. The announcement came after official moon-sighting committees conducted observations across the Kingdom but reported no confirmed sighting, in line with Islamic principles that require either the sighting of the new moon or the completion of 30 days of fasting.

Eid al-Fitr is a significant celebration marked by special prayers, charity, and communal gatherings, bringing to a close a month of fasting, devotion, and spiritual reflection.

Muslim communities around the world are expected to follow this announcement, though some countries may rely on local moon sightings to determine the exact date of the festival.