The Date
When is Arbaeen 2026?
Arbaeen falls on 20 Safar in the Islamic calendar — forty days after Ashura. In 2026 that is expected to be on or around 4 August 2026 (20 Safar 1448 AH). Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, the exact day is confirmed by moon sighting and can shift by a day.
Arbaeen begins in
… · 20 Safar — final date may vary by moon sighting
The short answer
Arbaeen 2026 is expected on or around 4 August 2026, corresponding to 20 Safar 1448 AH. Treat this as the planning date; the precise day is only settled once the new moon of Safar is sighted, so confirm with your local religious authority before booking travel.
Why 20 Safar?
Arbaeen (Arabic for “forty”) marks forty days after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) at Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura. The fortieth day is a time of mourning, remembrance and return — and it is when up to twenty million people walk to Karbala in the world’s largest annual pilgrimage. Learn more about what Arbaeen is and why it matters.
Why the date changes every year
The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is lunar, so it is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. That means Arbaeen moves roughly eleven days earlier each Western year. A date that falls in August this decade will fall in high summer, then gradually shift towards spring in the years ahead.
Upcoming Arbaeen dates
Approximate Gregorian dates for 20 Safar in the coming years. All are subject to moon sighting.
| Year | Approx. Gregorian date (20 Safar) |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 August 2026 (1448 AH) |
| 2027 | 24 July 2027 (1449 AH) |
| 2028 | 12 July 2028 (1450 AH) |
| 2029 | 2 July 2029 (1451 AH) |
| 2030 | 21 June 2030 (1452 AH) |
Preparing in time
If you are planning to walk, start early — visas, flights and fitness all take weeks to arrange. Begin with our first-time guide, understand the Najaf–Karbala walk, and see what to pack. Serving pilgrims instead? Register your moukib and take your place on the Mawakib Line.
A note on accuracy. Dates here are careful estimates for planning. Because Arbaeen depends on the sighting of the moon, always confirm the exact day with a trusted religious authority in your country before making fixed arrangements.