When Does Ramadan 2027 Start? Key Dates for Ramadan 1448 AH

When Does Ramadan 2027 Start? Key Dates for Ramadan 1448 AH — Ramadan guide illustration photograph

Quick answer: Ramadan 1448 AH is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, with the first fast on that day, expected, subject to moon sighting. Ramadan is expected to end on 8 or 9 March, and Eid al-Fitr is expected on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027.

The expected start date for Ramadan 2027

Ramadan 2027, which is Ramadan 1448 AH in the Islamic calendar, is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027. That means the first fast would be kept on Monday 8 February, and the first taraweeh prayer would be prayed on the night before, after Isha on Sunday 7 February. All of these dates are expected, subject to moon sighting, because the Islamic month only begins when the new crescent moon is seen or the previous month completes thirty days.

Astronomical calculations predict the moon's position accurately, which is why calendars give an expected date months ahead. Most communities still confirm Ramadan by sighting the crescent on the evening of 29 Sha'ban: if it is sighted, Ramadan begins the next day; if not, Sha'ban completes thirty days and Ramadan begins a day later.

For planning work, school and travel, Monday 8 February 2027 is the date to work towards — just keep some flexibility in the final week of Sha'ban, because a one-day shift is possible until the official announcement in your country.

How moon sighting decides the start of Ramadan

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught: 'Fast when you see it [the crescent] and break your fast when you see it, and if it is cloudy, complete the count of Sha'ban as thirty days.' This hadith, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, is the foundation of how Ramadan begins and ends. The month is either twenty-nine or thirty days long, never more and never less.

In practice, moon sighting committees and national authorities announce the result on the evening of 29 Sha'ban. Some countries rely on local sighting, some accept sightings from neighbouring countries, and some follow calculated calendars. This is why Ramadan sometimes begins on different days in different regions — no cause for argument within families or communities.

The practical advice of scholars is simple: follow the announcement of the community and country where you live. Fasting together with your local community preserves unity, and if you travel during Ramadan, you follow the practice of wherever you are when the month begins or ends for you.

Full key dates for Ramadan 2027

Here are the key dates of Ramadan 1448 AH in one place. Every date is expected, subject to moon sighting, and could shift by one day. Use it to plan your worship, time off work, family iftars and your search for Laylat al-Qadr.

The last ten nights and Laylat al-Qadr

The last ten nights of Ramadan are the most precious nights of the year because among them is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, which Allah describes in Surah Al-Qadr (97) as 'better than a thousand months.' The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to seek it in the odd nights of the last ten nights, which is why the odd nights listed above matter so much.

In 2027 the last ten nights begin at Maghrib on Saturday 27 February. The night most widely expected to be Laylat al-Qadr is the 27th night, beginning at Maghrib on Friday 5 March and ending at Fajr on Saturday 6 March, with 27 Ramadan falling on Saturday 6 March. Remember that an Islamic night comes before its day: the night of 27 Ramadan is the night that starts on the evening of 5 March, not the evening of 6 March.

No one can say with certainty which night is Laylat al-Qadr — part of its wisdom, since it encourages worship across all ten nights. Plan ahead: reduce commitments in that final stretch, arrange time off if you can, and consider i'tikaf for the last ten days if your circumstances allow.

What if your country starts a day apart?

It is common for Ramadan to begin on different days in different countries. One country may sight the moon on the evening of 29 Sha'ban while another completes thirty days of Sha'ban. Families spread across Pakistan, the Gulf, the United Kingdom and North America regularly face this, especially around Eid, and it can feel confusing or even upsetting.

The mainstream advice is to fast and celebrate Eid with the community where you physically are. If you travel to a country where the month started a day earlier or later, scholars generally advise following your destination for Eid, so that you do not fast on Eid day, which is prohibited.

If the difference means you would fast fewer than twenty-nine days in total, many scholars advise making up one extra day after Eid to be safe. For your personal situation, consult a qualified local scholar rather than relying on social media arguments — unity is worth more than winning a date dispute.

Planning ahead: timetables and the countdown

Because Ramadan 2027 falls in February and early March, fasting hours will be relatively short in the northern hemisphere — roughly eleven to thirteen hours in many countries. Sehri and iftar times shift by a few minutes daily, so a reliable local timetable is essential from day one.

Check the sehri and iftar times for your country on our Ramadan timetable pages, and use the countdown tool to see exactly how long remains until Ramadan begins. Preparing your sleep, meals and worship routine a week or two before 8 February makes the first fast far easier, especially for children and new fasters.

Frequently asked questions

When is the first fast of Ramadan 2027?

The first fast is expected on Monday 8 February 2027, which would be 1 Ramadan 1448 AH, expected, subject to moon sighting. The crescent will be looked for on the evening of 29 Sha'ban; if it is not sighted, Sha'ban completes thirty days and the first fast moves by one day. Follow your local official announcement.

When does Ramadan 2027 end and when is Eid al-Fitr?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to end on Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 March 2027, depending on whether the month has twenty-nine or thirty days. Eid al-Fitr is therefore expected on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027, expected, subject to moon sighting of the Shawwal crescent on the evening of 29 Ramadan.

Which night is Laylat al-Qadr in 2027?

Laylat al-Qadr is sought in the odd nights of the last ten nights. In 2027 these begin at Maghrib on 27 February, 1 March, 3 March, 5 March and 7 March. The most widely expected is the 27th night, beginning at Maghrib on Friday 5 March, with 27 Ramadan on Saturday 6 March, but worshippers are encouraged to seek it on all the odd nights.

Why do different countries start Ramadan on different days?

Countries and communities differ in how they confirm the crescent: some require a local sighting, some accept regional sightings, and some use astronomical calculation. Weather, horizon conditions and these methodological differences mean the moon may be confirmed in one place and not another. Scholars advise following the announcement of the community where you live.

How many days will Ramadan 2027 last?

Ramadan lasts either twenty-nine or thirty days, decided by the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on the evening of 29 Ramadan, expected to be Monday 8 March 2027. If the crescent is seen, Eid is the next day after twenty-nine fasts; if not, a thirtieth fast is kept and Eid follows the day after.

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