Government to Hold Isbat Session to Determine Eid al-Fitr 2026
Jakarta — The Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs will hold an isbat session to determine 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah, or Eid al-Fitr 2026, on Thursday, 19 March 2026, coinciding with 29 Ramadhan.
The session is scheduled to take place at the H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office in Jakarta, beginning at 4:00 p.m. local time.
The Director General for Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abu Rokhmad, stated that this year’s isbat session will be held at the auditorium following renovations to several previous rooms. He noted that as the end of Ramadhan approaches, many members of the public and government staff typically begin travelling to their hometowns.
Abu explained that all preparations for the session have been completed in accordance with established procedures, both in terms of substance and technical support. “The execution of the session is based on verified calculation and crescent moon sighting results, and follows a mechanism open to the public,” he said.
He added that the isbat session will involve numerous parties, ranging from astronomical experts to representatives of Islamic civil society organisations. “Because it involves broad representation, the isbat session’s decision carries strong religious legitimacy,” he stated.
The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Islamic Law Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Arsad Hidayat, explained that his office has completed technical preparations for the session, including coordination of crescent moon monitoring in various regions across Indonesia.
“From a technical standpoint, we have prepared support for the session’s facilities and infrastructure, a crescent moon sighting reporting system, and coordination with crescent moon monitoring points throughout Indonesia. Our hope is that the session can proceed in an orderly, accurate, and informative manner for the public,” Hidayat said.
The isbat session will begin with a seminar on crescent moon positioning. Subsequently, the government will verify crescent moon sighting reports from various regions across Indonesia. Following verification, the government will hold a closed isbat session before the Minister of Religious Affairs officially announces the determination of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah to the public.
Hidayat urged the public to await the results of the isbat session to learn officially when the government has determined that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated.