Islamic Holiday · 2026 · All Years Guide
Day of Ashura 2026
A day of fasting for Sunni Muslims; mourning for Shia Muslims.
In 2026, Day of Ashura falls on Thursday, June 25, 2026, corresponding to 10 Muharram 1448 in the Islamic Hijri calendar. The exact start may shift by one day in either direction based on regional moon-sighting committee announcements — countries that follow the Saudi Umm al-Qura calculation typically align with the date listed here, while South Asian moon-sighting traditions occasionally observe the festival one day later.
Significance of Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura, falling on the tenth day of Muharram, holds dual significance across the Muslim world. For Sunni Muslims, it commemorates the day Allah saved the Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites from Pharaoh by parting the Red Sea, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instituted a voluntary fast on this day in solidarity with that deliverance. For Shia Muslims, the day marks the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE — a defining moment in Islamic history that established the principle of standing against tyranny regardless of personal cost.
Traditions and Observances
Sunni Muslims observe a recommended fast on Ashura, ideally paired with either the ninth or eleventh day of Muharram to distinguish the practice from earlier Jewish fasting traditions. Charitable distribution of food, especially to children and the poor, is widespread. Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom through majalis — passionate poetic mourning gatherings called noha and marsiya — and processions called azadari that retrace the events of Karbala. Many also participate in matam, a rhythmic chest-beating expression of grief, and serve a sweet milk-and-grain dish called haleem or a savory rice pilaf called nazri free to all attendees regardless of faith.
Day of Ashura 2026 — At a Glance
If you are planning travel, scheduling community events, requesting time off work, or simply marking your family calendar for 2026, the table below summarises every key detail for Day of Ashura this year, alongside the surrounding observances on either side of the festival in the Hijri calendar.
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gregorian date | June 25, 2026 |
| Day of week | Thursday |
| Hijri date | 10 Muharram 1448 |
| Tradition | Islam (Sunni & Shia observance noted where they differ) |
Regional Observance
Karbala, Iraq, becomes the destination of the world's largest annual pilgrimage during Arba'in forty days after Ashura, with twenty million or more visitors arriving on foot from across the region. Iranian Tehran, Mashhad, and Qom host nationally televised mourning processions. In Lucknow and Hyderabad, India, elaborate ta'ziya replicas of Husayn's tomb are paraded through streets and lowered into rivers at the day's end. Indonesia and Malaysia observe Ashura as Tabuik or Tabot festivals on the western coast of Sumatra, blending Sunni and Shia memorial traditions. Trinidad and Tobago's Hosay festival, declared a national heritage event, features model tombs called tadjahs paraded through St. James village.
Day of Ashura Across the Years 2024–2030
The Islamic Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar of approximately 354 days, so its observances drift forward by roughly 10–11 days each Gregorian year. The Hindu lunar calendar uses periodic intercalary months (adhik maas) that keep festivals broadly anchored to the seasons. The table below shows the Gregorian date of Day of Ashura across every year HijriHub covers, allowing you to plan multi-year commemorations, anniversaries, or research at a glance.
| Year | Gregorian date | Hijri date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | July 16, 2024 | 10 Muharram 1446 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 5, 2025 | 10 Muharram 1447 | Saturday |
| 2026 | June 25, 2026 | 10 Muharram 1448 | Thursday |
| 2027 | June 15, 2027 | 10 Muharram 1449 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | June 3, 2028 | 10 Muharram 1450 | Saturday |
| 2029 | May 23, 2029 | 10 Muharram 1451 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | May 13, 2030 | 10 Muharram 1452 | Monday |
How HijriHub calculates Day of Ashura 2026
Our Hijri-to-Gregorian conversions follow the calculation methodology used by the Aladhan Islamic Calendar API, which itself draws from the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia for religious observances. For festivals tied to lunar crescent observation — particularly the start of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Hijri New Year — the actual observed date in any given country may differ by one day based on local moon-sighting committee determinations. We list the most widely observed Sunni date here; Shia communities typically follow Ja'fari calculation methodology that may differ by a day. Always confirm with your local masjid or central religious authority before finalising community plans.
Other Years
- Day of Ashura 2024 Jul 16, 2024
- Day of Ashura 2025 Jul 5, 2025
- Day of Ashura 2027 Jun 15, 2027
- Day of Ashura 2028 Jun 3, 2028
- Day of Ashura 2029 May 23, 2029
- Day of Ashura 2030 May 13, 2030
Other Holidays in June 2026
- Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) 2026 Jun 16, 2026