When is Eid al-Adha 2026?

Eid al-Adha — Arabic for "Festival of Sacrifice" — is the holiest of the two major Islamic celebrations. It honours the story of Ibrahim (Abraham), who demonstrated his submission to God by his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael). God intervened at the last moment, providing a ram as a substitute. The holiday commemorates this act of faith and obedience.

Eid al-Adha coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage — the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. On the day of Eid, Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice a livestock animal (typically a goat, sheep, cow, or camel) and distribute the meat in three parts: one third for the family, one third for friends and relatives, and one third for the poor. This act of sacrifice is called Qurbani.

The holiday lasts three to four days and is a public holiday across Muslim-majority countries. It falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijja in the Islamic lunar calendar, shifting approximately 11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Regional names include Kurban Bayramı (Turkey), Tabaski (West Africa), and Hari Raya Aidiladha (Malaysia and Indonesia).