Moon Mystery: When Will Eid-ul-Adha Fall This Year?

News Desk

Islamabad: The festival of Eid-ul-Adha is expected to be observed in Pakistan on May 27, 2026, according to astronomical estimates shared by religious experts.

Khalid Ijaz Mufti, Secretary General of the Ruet-e-Hilal Council, stated that scientific data indicates the moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1447 AH will be born at around 1:15 am between the night of May 16 and 17.

He explained that by the evening of May 17, the crescent will be sufficiently visible across different parts of the country. 

In major cities such as Karachi and Peshawar, the moon is expected to remain above the horizon for a significant duration after sunset, approximately 55 minutes in Karachi and 63 minutes in Peshawar, improving the likelihood of sighting.

If weather conditions remain clear, the crescent is likely to be sighted on Sunday evening, May 17. In that case, the first day of Dhul-Hijjah would fall on May 18, and Eid-ul-Adha would be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27. 

Experts also suggest that the festival may fall on the same date in Saudi Arabia this year.

However, officials cautioned that cloudy weather or poor visibility could delay the moon sighting. In such a scenario, Eid-ul-Adha may instead be observed on Thursday, May 28.

Authorities emphasized that the final announcement will be made after an official meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, following verified moon sighting reports from across the country.