When is Easter 2026? (and why the date changes every year). Easter 2026 falls on Sunday, April 5. The date changes because Easter is calculated using the spring equinox and the lunar cycle, unlike fixed holidays like Christmas.
The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD played a key role in standardizing how the date is calculated. The rule states that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. In church calculations, the spring equinox is fixed on March 21. For 2026, the ecclesiastical full moon falls on April 2, making the following Sunday, April 5, the date for Western Easter.
The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the older Julian calendar for its calculations instead of the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, Orthodox Easter falls exactly one week later, on Sunday, April 12.
Why do the dates differ?
Easter is tied to the lunar cycle, while our standard Gregorian calendar follows the solar year. A solar year is about 365 days, and 12 lunar months take about 354 days. This 11-day gap shifts when the full moon falls relative to our calendar, which is why Easter’s date changes each year.
The split between Western and Eastern churches stems from a calendar reform in 1582. Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar to correct errors in the older Julian calendar. While most Western countries adopted it, Orthodox churches retained the Julian calendar. As a result, the dates for the equinox and the full moon can differ by days or even weeks. Churches use an ecclesiastical full moon based on their calendar calculations rather than the actual astronomical full moon.
How this affects 2026?
Because Easter 2026 falls relatively early, the weather in some northern regions might still be unpredictable. If you are planning outdoor activities like egg hunts or sunrise services, it is wise to have a backup plan for rain.
In cities like Istanbul, the one-week gap means Catholic and Orthodox Easter celebrations take place on separate weekends. For travelers, it is worth checking local holiday schedules before booking flights, as school breaks in some regions may align with these dates.
- Western Easter (Catholic and Protestant): Sunday, April 5, 2026.
- Orthodox Easter: Sunday, April 12, 2026.
