PBNU Sets Islamic New Year 1448 H on Wednesday 17 June, Differing from Government

The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), through its Falakiyah Institute, has officially determined that 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriyah, or the Islamic New Year, falls on Wednesday Kliwon, 17 June 2026. The determination was made after rukyatul hilal (moon-sighting) efforts in various regions of Indonesia failed to sight the crescent moon on Monday (15/6/2026). This determination differs from the government calendar, or that of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) of the Republic of Indonesia, which set 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The PBNU decision is contained in Announcement Number 146/PB.08/A.II.11.13/13/06/2026 concerning the Beginning of the Month of Muharram 1448 H, signed by the Chairman of the PBNU Falakiyah Institute, KH Sirril Wafa, and the Secretary of the PBNU Falakiyah Institute, H Asmu’i Mansur. The announcement stated that rukyatul hilal was conducted on Monday Pon, 29 Dzulhijjah 1447 H, corresponding to 15 June 2026. However, all monitoring locations that reported their sighting results stated they were unsuccessful in seeing the crescent moon. ‘All locations did not see the hilal,’ the announcement read. Because the crescent moon was not sighted, PBNU completed the month of Dzulhijjah to 30 days. ‘As a follow-up, the beginning of the month of Muharram 1448 H corresponds to Wednesday Kliwon, 17 June 2026 AD (starting Wednesday evening) on the basis of istikmal,’ the LF PBNU announcement stated. The PBNU Falakiyah Institute also expressed appreciation to all Nahdliyin involved in the implementation of the rukyatul hilal. In addition, PWNU and PCNU officials throughout Indonesia are requested to actively disseminate information on the determination of the beginning of Muharram 1448 H to Nahdlatul Ulama members and the wider community.