When is Government Eid al-Fitr 2026? Check the Forecast!
The Indonesian government has yet to announce the exact date for Eid al-Fitr 2026. Next week, an isbat session will be held to determine when Eid al-Fitr 2026, or 1 Syawal 1447 AH, falls.
According to the website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), the isbat session for determining Eid al-Fitr 2026 will be held on:
Day and date: Thursday, 19 March 2026
Time: Starting at 4:00 PM WIB
Location: H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, Jakarta
Nevertheless, the government through the Joint Decision of Three Ministers regarding National Holidays and Joint Leave 2026 and the Indonesian Islamic Calendar 2026 issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs estimates that Eid al-Fitr 2026 will fall on 21 March 2026.
BRIN Researcher Forecast: Eid al-Fitr 2026 on 21 March
Thomas Djamaluddin, a researcher at the Space Research Centre of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), predicts that Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH is likely to fall on 21 March 2026. This prediction is based on astronomical calculations relating to the position of the hilal (crescent moon).
Thomas explained that astronomically, at sunset on Thursday (19 March) in Southeast Asia, the position of the hilal does not meet the new MABIMS criteria (Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore). This is evident from the calculation map which still crosses Central Asia.
“From an astronomical perspective, at sunset on 19 March 2026 in Southeast Asia, the hilal does not meet the new MABIMS criteria, as shown on the yellow curve crossing Central Asia,” Thomas told journalists on Tuesday (10 March 2026).
For reference, MABIMS criteria since 2021/2022 set the beginning of the Islamic month if the hilal height is at least 3 degrees and elongation is 6.4 degrees.
Under these conditions, according to him, 1 Syawal 1447 AH is estimated to fall on 21 March 2026. However, he stated that the decision on the date of Eid must await the outcome of the isbat session.
“Therefore, 1 Syawal 1447 AH falls on 21 March 2026, pending the decision of the isbat session,” he added.
However, Thomas noted that there is a possibility of a different date if using alternative criteria. Based on the Global Single Islamic Calendar (KHGT) criteria, the moon’s position has already met the requirements.
“Whereas according to KHGT criteria (purple curve), the moon’s position has met the criteria and the conjunction has already occurred before dawn in New Zealand (there is a small note on this map),” he stated.
“Therefore, according to KHGT criteria, 1 Syawal 1447 AH falls on 20 March 2026,” he added.
Eid Holiday Schedule 2026
Based on the Joint Decision of Three Ministers regarding National Holidays and Joint Leave 2026, there is an extended holiday next week as Eid al-Fitr 2026 coincides closely with Nyepi (Balinese New Year). Here are the details:
Wednesday, 18 March 2026: Joint leave for Nyepi, Saka New Year 1948
Thursday, 19 March 2026: Nyepi, Saka New Year 1948
Friday, 20 March 2026: Joint leave for Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH
Saturday, 21 March 2026: Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH
Sunday, 22 March 2026: Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH
Monday, 23 March 2026: Joint leave for Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH
Tuesday, 24 March 2026: Joint leave for Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH