Shavuot 2026: The Feast of Weeks
Festival guide · 2026
Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת — Weeks) is one of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals, commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It falls on 6 Sivan — exactly 50 days after the second day of Passover — and is observed for two days in the Diaspora (one in Israel).
The name Shavuot means 'weeks' — it is counted seven weeks from Passover via the Omer count. It is also called Chag HaBikkurim (Festival of First Fruits) and is regarded as the spiritual completion of the Passover liberation.
2026 Dates
| Date | Friday, May 22, 2026 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
Tikkun Leil Shavuot — All-Night Torah Study
The most distinctive Shavuot custom is staying awake through the night studying Torah, Talmud, and Jewish texts. Known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, this practice is observed in synagogues and study halls worldwide. Many communities offer rotating lectures and classes throughout the night to mark the receiving of the Torah.
Dairy Foods
It is traditional to eat dairy foods on Shavuot — cheesecake, blintzes, cheese kreplach. The reasons given include: the Torah is compared to milk and honey; the Israelites had not yet learned kosher meat preparation when they received the Torah; and cheese-making, like Torah study, requires patience and time.
Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth is read publicly in the synagogue on Shavuot. Ruth's conversion and declaration — 'Your people shall be my people, and your God my God' — parallels the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah. The story is also set during the barley and wheat harvests, reflecting Shavuot's agricultural roots.
Synagogue Prayers and Yizkor
Services include Hallel (Psalms of praise) and a public reading of the Ten Commandments. Yizkor, the memorial service for departed loved ones, is recited on the second day in Ashkenazi communities. The synagogue is traditionally decorated with flowers and greenery, recalling the flowering of Mount Sinai.
Other Years
Shavuot begins at sundown on 5 Sivan. Israel observes one day; the Diaspora observes two. Confirm dates with your local synagogue.