Eid al-Adha 2026 in the United Kingdom was observed on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), following the moon-sighting announcement from Saudi Arabia. The next Eid al-Adha falls on Monday, 17 May 2027.
The UK has approximately 4 million Muslims (~6.5% of the population, 2021 census), concentrated in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Leicester, and Luton. Eid al-Adha is one of two major Islamic holidays observed across the British Muslim community.
Quick reference: Eid al-Adha 2026 in the UK
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date observed | Wed 27 May 2026 |
| Hijri date | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH |
| UK bank holiday | No (Eid is not a statutory bank holiday in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) |
| Estimated UK Muslims | ~4 million (2021 census) |
| Next Eid al-Adha | Mon 17 May 2027 |
| Next Islamic holiday | Mawlid al-Nabi — Tue 25 Aug 2026 |
Is Eid al-Adha a public holiday in the UK?
No. Despite the size of the British Muslim community, neither Eid al-Adha nor Eid al-Fitr is a national bank holiday in any UK jurisdiction. Muslims who observe typically request paid leave or use floating holiday entitlements.
Some employers — particularly in cities with large Muslim populations (e.g. Tower Hamlets council, NHS trusts in Bradford and Birmingham) — offer flexible leave policies recognising Eid. Schools in heavily Muslim areas may schedule INSET days or authorised absences.
For the official list of England's 2026 bank holidays, see /gb/calendar.
Eid prayer (Salat al-Eid) across the UK
Eid prayer was held shortly after sunrise on 27 May 2026 at mosques and outdoor venues across the country. Notable congregations:
- London — East London Mosque (Whitechapel), Regent's Park Mosque, Finsbury Park Mosque, Lewisham Islamic Centre; large outdoor jama'at in Trafalgar Square organised by the Mayor of London
- Birmingham — Central Mosque (Highgate) and the Small Heath Park Eid celebration, historically the largest outdoor Eid prayer in Europe (often 100,000+ attendees)
- Manchester — Manchester Central Mosque (Victoria Park), Didsbury Mosque; outdoor prayer at Platt Fields Park
- Bradford — Bradford Grand Mosque (Howard Street); outdoor prayer at Bradford Park Avenue
- Glasgow — Glasgow Central Mosque (Gorbals); outdoor prayer at Glasgow Green
- Cardiff — South Wales Islamic Centre; outdoor prayer at Bute Park
Local prayer timings vary by 5–15 minutes between cities; consult your local mosque or the Muslim Council of Britain announcements.
How the date was determined
The UK Muslim community follows multiple methodologies:
- Saudi moon-sighting — most large mosques and the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) announced 27 May based on the Saudi announcement on 24 May 2026
- Local UK sighting — a minority of communities wait for a sighting from within the UK, which occasionally results in observing Eid one day later
- Astronomical calculation — some mosques use predetermined dates from the Fiqh Council of North America (matched closely to Saudi this year)
This year there was no split — the UK community largely observed on the same Wednesday.
Qurbani in the UK
UK Muslims arranging Qurbani (the ritual sacrifice) typically:
- Donate to international charities such as Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Penny Appeal, Human Appeal which arrange sacrifice in countries with food insecurity (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria, Somalia)
- Or arrange domestic sacrifice through DEFRA-licensed halal abattoirs (typical cost: £160–£300 for a sheep, £700+ for cattle share)
The meat is divided traditionally: one-third for family, one-third for friends and relatives, one-third for the poor.
Eid greetings used in the UK
- Eid Mubarak — universal across British Muslim communities
- Eid Sa'eed — Arabic ("Happy Eid")
- Bayramınız Mübarek Olsun — used in Turkish-speaking communities (Stoke Newington, North London)
- Eid Mubarak ho — Urdu/Hindi, common in South Asian heritage families
Looking ahead: Eid al-Adha 2027
Eid al-Adha 2027 in the UK is expected on Monday, 17 May 2027 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH). Because the Islamic calendar is purely lunar (354 days), Eid al-Adha shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
Forward projection:
- 2026: Wed 27 May ✓
- 2027: ~Mon 17 May
- 2028: ~Fri 5 May
- 2029: ~Tue 24 April
- 2030: ~Sat 13 April
Next Islamic holiday in the UK
After Eid al-Adha, the next major date observed by UK Muslims is Mawlid al-Nabi (Mawlid) — the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad — falling on Tuesday, 25 August 2026 this year. Mawlid is not universally observed; it is celebrated by Sunni communities (especially Barelvi and Sufi traditions) and at some Shia mosques.
Related references
- Eid al-Adha 2026: dates by country, Hajj, Feast of Sacrifice
- Eid al-Fitr 2026 dates by country
- Eid al-Adha explained: meaning and Qurbani
- UK 2026 holidays (bank holidays)
- Islamic Hijri calendar 1447–1448 AH
- May 2026 calendar
Eid dates depend on Saudi moon-sighting and local jurisdictional announcement. Verify with your local mosque or the Muslim Council of Britain before planning leave or ceremonies.