When is the Isbat Hearing for Eid 2026? Schedule for Determining 1 Shawwal 1447 H
As Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims across Indonesia await confirmation of the Eid date. The Ministry of Religion typically announces this through the isbat hearing, which officially determines the start of Shawwal in the Hijri calendar. The hearing serves as an important forum for the government to establish the official Eid date based on astronomical calculations and crescent moon observations.
Isbat Hearing Schedule for Eid 2026
According to the Ministry of Religion’s website, the isbat hearing for 1 Shawwal 1447 H is scheduled for Thursday, 19 March 2026, coinciding with 29 Ramadan 1447 H. The hearing will be held at the HM Rasjidi Auditorium at the Ministry of Religion’s office in Jakarta. The event will involve representatives from Islamic organisations, astronomers, and relevant government agencies.
Mechanism for Determining 1 Shawwal through the Isbat Hearing
The government employs two methods to determine 1 Shawwal: hisab (astronomical calculation to determine the moon’s position) and rukyatul hilal (direct observation of the crescent moon). According to calculations by the Ministry of Religion’s Hisab and Rukyat Team, the conjunction preceding Shawwal 1447 H is expected to occur on Thursday, 19 March 2026 at approximately 08:23 WIB. On the same day when rukyatul hilal is conducted, the crescent moon’s position across Indonesia is predicted to be above the horizon.
To confirm this data, rukyatul hilal observations will be carried out at various monitoring points throughout Indonesia. The results are then collated and discussed alongside hisab data in the isbat hearing to establish the official start of Shawwal 1447 H. The outcome of this consultation will be announced to the Indonesian public as a guide for celebrating Eid al-Fitr 2026.
Estimated Eid Date for 2026
The Eid date for 2026 is expected to differ among the government, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Muhammadiyah. To date, the government has not formally established 1 Shawwal 1447 H as this will be decided at the isbat hearing. Nevertheless, the estimated Eid date for 2026 can be found in the 2026 Indonesian Hijri Calendar published by the Ministry of Religion. According to this calendar, Eid al-Fitr is predicted to fall on Saturday, 21 March 2026. This estimate aligns with the method used by NU, which employs both hisab calculations and rukyatul hilal observations to determine 1 Shawwal 1447 H, meaning NU’s Eid date is the same as the government’s projection.
By contrast, Muhammadiyah has already determined the 2026 Eid date. This is outlined in the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Declaration No. 2/MLM/1.0/E/2025 concerning the establishment of hisab results for Ramadan, Shawwal and Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 H. Through this declaration, Muhammadiyah has set 1 Shawwal 1447 H as Friday, 20 March 2026.