Ramadan 2026: when does fasting start in France and Muslim countries?

As the month of Ramadan approaches, the question of the first day of fasting comes up every year with the same intensity. In France as in the rest of the Muslim world, this date can vary depending on the method used to determine the entry of the lunar month. For Ramadan 1447 AH, corresponding to the year 2026, these differences are clearly explained by the use of either astronomical calculation or visual observation of the lunar crescent.

Ramadan and the lunar calendar

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, a calendar based exclusively on the cycles of the moon. Each month begins with the new moon, which explains why Ramadan shifts each year by approximately eleven days in the Gregorian calendar. The central question is therefore not only astronomical, but also methodological: how to religiously determine entry into the month?

Two approaches coexist historically in the Muslim world: the observation of the lunar crescent (hilal) and astronomical calculation based on precise scientific data.

Astronomical data for Ramadan 2026

For Ramadan 1447H, the lunar conjunction — the moment when the moon and the sun are aligned — takes place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, during the day. From this moment on, the new moon exists from an astronomical point of view. However, the astronomical existence of the moon does not automatically mean that the lunar crescent is visible from Earth, which is a determining criterion for many religious authorities.

Visibility of the lunar crescent: what the scientific calculations say

Astronomical data clearly shows that Tuesday February 17, 2026 in the eveningthe lunar crescent is impossible to observeneither with the naked eye nor with the aid of optical instruments. The moon is too young, its elongation relative to the sun is insufficient and it sets almost at the same time as it.

On the other hand, the Wednesday February 18, 2026 in the evening, the lunar crescent potentially becomes visible to the naked eye, subject to favorable weather conditions. Scientifically, this is the first evening where the observation of the lunar crescent is realistic.

First day of fasting in France according to the method of French Council of Muslim Faith

In France, the French Council of Muslim Worship has chosen a method based exclusively on astronomical calculation. The principle retained is that, as soon as the lunar conjunction takes place before sunset, the new month is considered to have begun, regardless of the actual visibility of the crescent.

For the year 2026, the conjunction of February 17 occurring before sunset in France, the criteria retained by the CFCM are met.

First day of fasting in France: Wednesday February 18, 2026.

First day of fasting in countries based on visual observation

In many Muslim countries and for many communities, the determining criterion remains the visual observation of the lunar crescent. When this is not visible, the previous month is completed at thirty days.

In the case of Ramadan 2026, the scientific impossibility of observing the crescent on February 17 leads these countries and communities to wait until the following evening, when visibility becomes possible.

First day of fasting in these countries: Thursday February 19, 2026.

The observed shift is therefore based on an objective criterion: the real visibility or not of the lunar crescent.

Why the scientific method makes it easier to organize the faithful

One of the main arguments put forward in favor of the method based on astronomical calculation is its practical consequences in daily life. By making it possible to know in advance and with certainty the first day of fasting, this approach offers essential visibility in societies where professional, educational and administrative constraints are strong.

This predictability allows the faithful to better prepare and organize themselves: taking days off, adapting their working hours, informing employers, organizing family life, preparing children for school or anticipating the highlights of the month of Ramadan. It also facilitates the planning of mosques, associations and solidarity initiatives.

Conversely, a late announcement based solely on visual observation can sometimes place believers before a fait accompli, just a few hours before the start of the fast. In the Western context, this uncertainty can generate practical difficulties and a feeling of disconnect with social realities.

For its defenders, the scientific method therefore does not aim to weaken the spiritual dimension of Ramadan, but on the contrary to allow the faithful to engage in it in more serene conditions, reconciling religious practice and contemporary constraints.

An ancient and recognized divergence in Islam

The difference between astronomical calculation and visual observation constitutes neither a novelty nor an anomaly. It runs through the history of Muslim law and is based on recognized legal interpretations. Each approach has its own consistency, without calling into question the validity of fasting. For the majority of scholars, the essential thing lies in respecting the method followed by the community, and not in the worldwide uniformity of the date.

What to remember for Ramadan 2026

• In France, according to the CFCM method :
  → first day of fasting: Wednesday February 18, 2026

• In countries and communities based on visual observation :
  → first day of fasting: Thursday February 19, 2026

• From a scientific point of view :
  → crescent not visible on the evening of February 17,
  → crescent potentially visible on the evening of February 18.

Beyond these calendar differences, Ramadan remains above all a time of spirituality, inner discipline and solidarity, the meaning of which goes far beyond the question of a day apart.