Astronomers Predict Eid al-Fitr on 20 March 2026 Due to Invisible Shawwal Crescent

The International Astronomy Centre based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has stated that the crescent moon marking the start of Shawwal will not be visible on Wednesday. This indicates that Eid al-Fitr is astronomically expected to fall on Friday, 20 March 2026.

Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, director of the International Astronomy Centre based in Abu Dhabi, said that countries which began the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday, 18 February, will attempt to observe the Eid al-Fitr crescent moon on Wednesday, 18 March.

Meanwhile, countries that began Ramadan on Thursday, 19 February, will observe the crescent moon on Thursday, 19 March, which coincides with the 29th day of Ramadan in those countries.

Odeh explained that the appearance of the Shawwal crescent on Wednesday, 18 March, will not be possible because the moon will set before the sun and the astronomical conjunction will occur after sunset.

“As a result, those countries are expected to complete 30 days of Ramadan, making Friday, 20 March, the first day of Eid al-Fitr,” he said, according to Gulf News on Tuesday (10 March 2026).