When is the Islamic New Year 1 Muharram 2026? Is it a Public Holiday?

Following the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Muslims are preparing to welcome the Islamic New Year 1448 H/2026. The moment is not merely a change of date in the Hijri calendar, but a new chapter for reflecting on the past year’s spiritual journey while strengthening faith and devotion to Allah SWT. Ahead of the new year, many people are seeking information on the exact timing, as the Hijri calendar uses a different system from the Gregorian calendar. The government sets 1 Muharram 1448 H through an isbat session based on the sighting of the new moon at the end of Dzulhijjah 1447 H, which falls on Monday, 15 June 2026. According to the Hijri calendar published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic New Year marking 1 Muharram 1448 H is expected to fall on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The public is advised to monitor official information from the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding the final determination. Based on the Joint Ministerial Decree on National Holidays and Collective Leave for 2026, the Islamic New Year 1448 H has been designated as a national holiday. The public can use this moment to increase worship, engage in self-reflection, gather with family and relatives, or take a short break from daily routines. However, unlike some other major religious observances, the 2026 Islamic New Year commemoration does not include additional collective leave days to extend the official holiday period. The Hijri calendar has a long history dating back to the era of Caliph Umar bin Khattab (634-644 AD), when the Muslim community needed a clear dating system for administrative affairs and correspondence. Umar gathered his companions for deliberation, and they agreed to base the Islamic calendar on the event of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina. The companions also chose Muharram as the first month of the Hijri calendar because it is one of the sacred months in Islam. Since then, the Hijri calendar has been officially used and marks the commemoration of the Islamic New Year by Muslims to this day.