Jewish Calendar 2026: Complete List of Holidays, Festivals & Important Dates- The Jewish Calendar 2026, also known as the Hebrew Calendar, is a lunisolar calendar that determines religious observances, festivals, and holy days for Jews worldwide. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, Jewish months follow lunar cycles, but adjustments are made to align with the solar year, ensuring holidays fall in the correct seasons.
This guide presents a month-by-month Jewish calendar for 2026, showing:
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Major Jewish holidays and festivals
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Shabbat observances and special Torah readings
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Cultural and spiritual significance of each date
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Approximate Gregorian equivalents
Note: Jewish dates begin at sundown of the previous day. Observance may vary slightly based on location.
Understanding the Jewish Calendar
The Hebrew calendar has 12 months in a common year and 13 months in a leap year (to align lunar months with the solar year). Key months include:
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Tishrei – Month of high holy days
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Nisan – Passover and spring festivals
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Elul – Month of reflection before Rosh Hashanah
Jewish holidays are divided into major festivals (like Passover and Yom Kippur) and minor observances (like Tu Bishvat and Lag BaOmer).
January 2026 – Tevet and Shabbat Highlights
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1–2 | Tevet 20–21 | Regular Shabbat | Weekly Torah reading |
| January 9 | Tevet 28 | Asara B’Tevet (Fast) | Commemorates siege of Jerusalem |
| January 10 | Shevat 1 | Start of Shevat | Preparation for Tu Bishvat |
Cultural Note: Asara B’Tevet is a minor fast reflecting on historical challenges and resilience.
February 2026 – Shevat and Tu Bishvat
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1 | Shevat 23 | Shabbat | Torah reading |
| February 5 | Shevat 28 | Tu Bishvat | Jewish New Year for trees; environmental awareness |
Tu Bishvat is often celebrated with planting trees and enjoying fruits associated with the land of Israel.
March 2026 – Adar: Purim Preparations
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1 | Adar 1 | Minor Shabbat | Torah readings |
| March 14 | Adar 14 | Purim | Commemorates Jewish deliverance in Persia |
| March 15 | Adar 15 | Shushan Purim | Purim observed in walled cities |
Purim is marked by reading the Megillat Esther, wearing costumes, giving charity, and feasting.
April 2026 – Nisan: Passover
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 3 | Nisan 14 | Erev Pesach | Preparation for Passover |
| April 4–11 | Nisan 15–22 | Passover | Commemorates Exodus from Egypt |
| April 5 | First Seder Night | Nisan 15 | Ritual meal with Haggadah readings |
Passover is central to Jewish identity, symbolizing freedom, liberation, and gratitude.
May 2026 – Iyar and Lag BaOmer
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 3 | Iyar 5 | Lag BaOmer | Celebration of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; bonfires and festivities |
| May 5 | Iyar 7 | Shabbat | Torah readings and reflections |
Lag BaOmer marks the 33rd day of the Omer count and is celebrated with outdoor events and spiritual joy.
June 2026 – Sivan: Shavuot
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 12–13 | Sivan 6–7 | Shavuot | Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| June 13 | Sivan 7 | Dairy meals, Tikkun Leil Shavuot | Night-long Torah study |
Shavuot celebrates Torah and the covenant between God and Israel.
July 2026 – Tamuz and Tisha B’Av Preparations
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Tamuz 2 | Minor Shabbat | Torah readings |
| July 17 | Tammuz 18 | Fast of the 17th of Tammuz | Commemorates siege of Jerusalem |
Fasts like the 17th of Tammuz highlight mourning and reflection on historical hardships.
August 2026 – Av: Tisha B’Av
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 6–7 | Av 9 | Tisha B’Av | Mourning destruction of the First and Second Temples |
Tisha B’Av is a solemn day observed with fasting, reading Lamentations, and reflection on exile and destruction.
September 2026 – Elul and Rosh Hashanah Preparations
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 5 | Elul 1 | Start of Elul | Month of repentance and introspection |
| September 24–25 | Tishrei 1–2 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish New Year, prayer, and reflection |
Rosh Hashanah begins the Ten Days of Repentance, leading up to Yom Kippur.
October 2026 – Tishrei: Yom Kippur & Sukkot
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3 | Tishrei 10 | Yom Kippur | Day of Atonement, fasting, and prayer |
| October 8–14 | Tishrei 15–21 | Sukkot | Feast of Tabernacles; temporary shelters, gratitude for harvest |
| October 15 | Hoshana Rabbah | Final day of Sukkot prayers |
Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism, devoted to reflection, repentance, and spiritual renewal.
November 2026 – Cheshvan
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2 | Cheshvan 1 | Shabbat | Torah readings; no major festivals |
| November 12 | Cheshvan 11 | Minor observance | Month of reflection continues |
Cheshvan has no major holidays, often called “Mar Cheshvan,” a time for everyday observance.
December 2026 – Kislev and Hanukkah
| Date | Jewish Month | Holiday / Observance | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 25–January 1 | Kislev 25–Tevet 2 | Hanukkah | Festival of Lights; commemorates rededication of the Temple |
| Each night | Kislev 25–Tevet 2 | Lighting menorah, playing dreidel | Celebrates Jewish perseverance and miracle of oil |
Hanukkah is widely celebrated with family gatherings, candles, games, and traditional foods.
Key Jewish Holidays Summary – 2026
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Tu Bishvat – February 5
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Purim – March 14–15
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Passover – April 4–11
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Lag BaOmer – May 3
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Shavuot – June 12–13
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Tisha B’Av – August 6–7
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Rosh Hashanah – September 24–25
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Yom Kippur – October 3
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Sukkot – October 8–14
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Hanukkah – December 25–January 1
Observing the Jewish Calendar 2026
The Jewish Calendar 2026 provides a spiritual framework for worship, reflection, and celebration. From joyous festivals like Passover and Hanukkah to solemn fasts like Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur, each observance deepens faith, strengthens community, and preserves Jewish history and culture.
By following the Jewish calendar alongside the Gregorian calendar, individuals and families can plan religious observances, educational activities, and cultural celebrations throughout 2026.
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