Easter is one of the most date-shifting holidays on the Gregorian calendar — falling anywhere between March 22 and April 25. Here is the definitive table of Easter dates for the next several years.
Easter dates 2026-2030 (Western Christianity)
| Year | Easter Sunday | Good Friday | Easter Monday | Ash Wednesday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 5 | April 3 | April 6 | February 18 |
| 2027 | March 28 | March 26 | March 29 | February 10 |
| 2028 | April 16 | April 14 | April 17 | March 1 |
| 2029 | April 1 | March 30 | April 2 | February 14 |
| 2030 | April 21 | April 19 | April 22 | March 6 |
Easter dates 2026-2030 (Orthodox Christianity)
| Year | Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox Easter Monday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 12 | April 10 | April 13 |
| 2027 | May 2 | April 30 | May 3 |
| 2028 | April 16 * | April 14 | April 17 |
| 2029 | April 8 | April 6 | April 9 |
| 2030 | April 28 | April 26 | April 29 |
\2028 is a rare year where Western and Orthodox Easter coincide.*
Why does Easter date change every year?
Unlike Christmas (always Dec 25) or Independence Day (fixed national dates), Easter follows a lunar formula established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE:
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21).
The formula was crafted to:
- Keep Easter tied to spring (the historical season of the Resurrection)
- Avoid coinciding with Passover (the Jewish festival that Jesus was observing at his death)
- Always fall on a Sunday (the day of the Resurrection)
Why is Orthodox Easter usually different?
The Eastern Orthodox Church calculates Easter using:
- The Julian calendar (13 days behind Gregorian for the equinox)
- The original ecclesiastical lunar tables
Result: Orthodox Easter is usually 1-5 weeks after Western Easter, but occasionally they coincide (as in 2028).
How long is the Easter season?
| Day | Marks |
|---|---|
| Ash Wednesday | Start of Lent (40 days of fasting before Easter) |
| Palm Sunday | One week before Easter — Jesus's entry to Jerusalem |
| Maundy Thursday | Last Supper |
| Good Friday | Crucifixion |
| Holy Saturday | Sabbath day |
| Easter Sunday | Resurrection |
| Easter Monday | Continued celebration (public holiday in many countries) |
| Ascension Day | 40 days after Easter (Jesus's ascension) |
| Pentecost | 50 days after Easter (Holy Spirit) |
Easter is a public holiday in...
Good Friday and/or Easter Monday are public holidays in: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, and most Christian-majority countries.
The US is the major exception — Easter Sunday is a religious observance but neither Good Friday nor Easter Monday is a federal holiday (though some states observe Good Friday).
See more
- Easter holiday detail — history, traditions, foods, greetings
- Good Friday detail
- Easter Monday detail
- All Christian holidays in 2026
Easter date calculations follow the 325 CE Council of Nicaea formula. Dates may vary by ±1 day in some traditions.