Saudi Arabia Confirms May 27 Eid al-Adha Date for Nearly 2 Billion Muslims

6 articles · Updated · The Columbus Dispatch · May 26

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, will mark Eid al-Adha after Saudi moon-sighting authorities confirmed the holiday’s start on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah.
May 18 began Dhul Hijjah in Saudi Arabia, setting the final month of the Islamic calendar and the countdown to Eid, Hajj rites in Mecca, and the Day of Arafah.
Nine days of fasting and worship precede the festival, but fasting is forbidden on Eid itself, when Muslims gather for prayers, family visits and greetings of “Eid Mubarak.”
Qurbani remains a central practice of Eid al-Adha, with goats, sheep, cows or camels sacrificed in remembrance of Abraham and the meat split among the needy, relatives and the household.
The holiday is one of Islam’s two major annual festivals and carries global significance for roughly 2 billion Muslims observing the close of the lunar year.

With rising temperatures and digital charity, how is the core meaning of sacrifice evolving for Muslims celebrating Eid worldwide?

As fatal heatwaves threaten Mecca, can Saudi Arabia's green tech truly safeguard the future of the ancient Hajj pilgrimage?

How is Saudi Arabia using the Hajj and digital permits to reshape its global influence and post-oil economy?