Ra's as-Sana 2026
David Chelly, January 12, 2026
Date of Sana Hijriya in 2026
Ra's as-Sana, also called Ra's as-Sanah or the Hijri New Year, corresponds to the 1st of Muharram, the first day of the Muslim calendar. In 2026, the most commonly announced date is Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with a possible one-day variation depending on the country, since the start of the month depends on the local sighting of the crescent moon or on calculations adopted by religious authorities.
What is being commemorated
This New Year marks the start of a new year of the Hijri era, which begins with the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622. It is not a festive celebration in the Western sense, but rather a more subdued moment, associated with remembrance, reflection, and, in some cultures, wishes of peace and protection.
Hijri and Hijra
Hijri refers to the Islamic calendar, a purely lunar calendar. The Hijra is the historical event that serves as the starting point for counting the years. In practical terms, the year 1448 of the Hijra begins on the 1st of Muharram 1448 AH, a date that falls in June 2026 on the Gregorian calendar.
Why does the date change every year?
The Hijri calendar has 12 months of 29 or 30 days, or 354 or 355 days a year, which explains a shift of about 10 to 11 days each year compared to the Gregorian calendar. This mechanism causes Muslim holiday dates to "rotate" through the seasons. Depending on the region, two approaches coexist for setting the start of the months: sighting with the naked eye and astronomical calculations, hence the possible differences from one country to another.
Useful facts about Muharram
Muharram is one of the sacred months in Islam. For many Sunni Muslims, the 10th of Muharram, called Ashura, has an important spiritual dimension and can be associated with fasting, often complemented by the 9th of Muharram depending on practice. In 2026, if the 1st of Muharram falls on June 16, Ashura falls around June 25, 2026, with the same caveat about a possible shift depending on the calendar followed.