Exactly When Is Easter 2026? Your Complete Guide to Spring Holiday Dates

Easter Sunday 2026 falls on April 5 for Western churches, including most Catholic and Protestant congregations in the United States. Eastern Orthodox Easter, often called Pascha, falls one week later, on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The date moves because it is tied to the spring lunar cycle, not to a fixed day on the civil calendar. Western churches observe Easter on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, using March 21 as the church's fixed date for the spring equinox. In 2026 that puts Easter on April 5, which is later than many recent years. Easter can land anywhere from March 22 through April 25.

Dates around Easter 2026

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, a week before Easter. Good Friday is the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday. Schools, bakeries, and travel prices often follow the Western date even in cities with large Orthodox communities, so it is worth checking which calendar a church or family is using before you book.

Orthodox churches often use the Julian calendar for this feast, which is why Pascha and Western Easter sometimes match and sometimes fall weeks apart. In 2026 they are one week apart. If you are planning a meal, a baptism, or time off, confirm the service time with the parish. Public calendars list the holiday, but local vigil times are set by the church.