Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026

This event has ended. The next edition is Ramadan 2027, 8 Feb – 9 Mar 2027 (expected).

Ramadan changes the pace of daily life in Egypt. In 2026 the fasting month began around 18 to 19 February and ended with Eid al-Fitr, a public holiday of about three days around 20 to 22 March. During the day, offices keep shorter hours and many restaurants close until sunset, while museums and sites usually shorten their opening times. After the sunset meal (iftar) the streets fill up: lanterns (fawanees) hang everywhere, charity tables feed passers-by, and the area around Al-Hussein Mosque and Al-Muizz Street in Islamic Cairo stays busy until the early hours with cafes, Sufi music and night markets. Visitors are welcome to join the atmosphere but should avoid eating or drinking openly in public during fasting hours. All dates depend on moon sighting and are announced by Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta.

Dates: expected (based on previous years; confirm nearer the time).

What to expect

Fasting runs from dawn to sunset. Many people eat a second meal, suhoor, in the hours before dawn, and mosques fill for the evening tarawih prayers. Television stations launch their big Ramadan drama series, and bakeries and sweet shops sell seasonal treats such as kunafa and qatayef.

Traffic is heavy in the hour before sunset as people rush home, then the streets go quiet during iftar before filling up again later in the evening. Many hotels and restaurants serve special iftar menus.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid begins with morning prayers, followed by family visits, new clothes for children and sweet biscuits called kahk. Parks, cinemas and the Nile Corniche are busy, and many Egyptians head to the coast for the holiday, so book trains and flights early if you plan to travel then.

Ramadan etiquette

• Dress modestly, especially in older neighbourhoods and around mosques: cover shoulders and knees.
• Hotels and tourist restaurants usually continue to serve food and drink to non-fasting guests during the day.
• If you are invited to share iftar, it is a warm gesture; arriving a little before sunset is polite.
• Plan errands and sightseeing for the morning, when offices and sites are open and things run most smoothly.