Ministry of Religious Affairs Holds Isbat Session on 19 March, Muhammadiyah Celebrates Eid on 20 March
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) will convene an isbat (determination) session on 19 March 2026 to officially set the date for 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriah, coinciding with 29 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah.
The session, which will determine the official date for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, will be held in Jakarta commencing at 16:00 Western Indonesia Time on Thursday, 19 March.
The Director General of Islamic Guidance at Kemenag, Abu Rokhmad, stated that unlike the 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah isbat session held at the Borobudur Hotel, the 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriah isbat session will be convened at the HM Rasjidi Auditorium at Kemenag’s office on Jalan MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
Preparations for the 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriah isbat session have been conducted in accordance with applicable procedures, covering substantive aspects and technical support. He noted that the isbat session will involve various parties, including astronomy experts from the Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), planetariums, observatories, representatives of Islamic civil society organisations, and other relevant agencies.
“The implementation of the session is based on verified hisab data and rukyah (moon sighting) results, and through a mechanism open to the public,” he stated.
The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Islamic Law Development, Arsad Hidayat, added that technical preparations continue to be refined, including coordination of rukyatulhilal (lunar crescent observation) monitoring at various points throughout Indonesia.
“From a technical standpoint, we have prepared support for the session’s facilities and infrastructure, a moon sighting reporting system, and coordination with crescent monitoring points across Indonesia. The hope is that the session process can proceed in an orderly, accurate, and informative manner for society,” he explained.
He also urged the public to await the official government announcement after the entire session series concludes.
Muhammadiyah’s Eid Celebration on 20 March
In contrast with the central government, the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership has determined that 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriah, or Eid al-Fitr 2026, falls on Friday, 20 March 2026.
The Muhammadiyah Central Leadership made this determination based on the hakiki wujudul hilal calculation method and the Single Global Islamic Calendar (KHGT), which ensures that the beginning of the new month does not depend on physical visibility of the crescent, differing from the government’s potential methodology.
The determination of 1 Shawwal was based on the results of hakiki wujudul hilal calculations followed by the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership’s Council of Jurisprudence and Renewal (Majelis Tarjih dan Tajdid). This was subsequently documented in Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Declaration Number 2/MLM/1.0/E/2025, released in Yogyakarta on 22 September 2025.
“Eid al-Fitr or 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijriah is determined to fall on Friday, 20 March 2026,” according to the Muhammadiyah website.
Additionally, the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership has also determined the date for Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah.
For the month of Dhul-Hijjah, Muhammadiyah Central Leadership has determined that 1 Dhul-Hijjah 1447 Hijriah falls on Monday, 18 May. Consequently, the Day of Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah) will coincide with Tuesday, 26 May, and Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul-Hijjah) will be celebrated on Wednesday, 27 May.