Ashura 2026: The 10th of Muharram
Festival guide · 2026
Ashura (عاشوراء) falls on the 10th day of Muharram — the first month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. It is one of the most significant days in Islam, though its observance differs between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
For Sunni Muslims, Ashura is primarily a day of recommended fasting. For Shia Muslims, it is the most solemn day of the year — a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.
2026 Dates
| Date | Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
Fasting on Ashura (Sunni)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ found Jews fasting on this day when he arrived in Medina, and learned it commemorated Moses and the Israelites' salvation from Pharaoh. He fasted and encouraged his companions to do so, saying it expiates the sins of the previous year. Fasting on the 9th and 10th (or 10th and 11th) of Muharram is recommended.
Remembering Karbala (Shia)
On 10 Muharram 61 AH (680 CE), Imam Hussein — grandson of the Prophet ﷺ — was killed along with 72 companions at Karbala (in modern Iraq) after refusing to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliph Yazid. For Shia Muslims worldwide, Ashura is a day of deep mourning: processions, lamentation, majalis (memorial gatherings), and the re-enactment of the tragedy of Karbala.
Global Observance
In Shia-majority countries — Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Bahrain — Ashura is a public holiday with large public processions. The Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala, 40 days after Ashura, is the world's largest annual human gathering. In Sunni communities, the day is marked quietly with fasting and prayer.
Other Years
Ashura falls on 10 Muharram of the Hijri calendar. The exact Gregorian date varies each year. Confirm with your local mosque or Islamic authority.