Ramadan doesn’t use your fancy Gregorian wall calendar. It follows the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. That means each year, Ramadan slips back like a shy turtle.
In 2026, the crescent moon will be born on 17 February. But here’s the kicker: it has to be actually seen with the naked eye. If clouds or telescope faff get in the way? The start might shift to 18 February evening. Chaotic, right? Fun, though.
The great British moon-sighting chaos
Every year, Muslims across the UK stare up at the sky like it’s a shooting star competition. But British weather? It loves a good drizzle. So expect a live Moon-sighting committee drama on Twitter.
One year, Birmingham and London disagreed by a day. Pure anarchy. But that’s the charm—you get two nights of “first fast” excitement. Jokes aside, most UK mosques follow Saudi Arabia’s announcement, so keep an eye on local announcements.
