When does Lent 2026?
In 2026, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 (Ash Wednesday) and ends on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (Holy Thursday).
Lent is the forty-day penitential season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares the Church for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, when the Easter Triduum begins.
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Key liturgical dates in 2026
| Ash Wednesday | February 18, 2026 |
| Palm Sunday | March 29, 2026 |
| Good Friday | April 3, 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | April 5, 2026 |
| Ascension | May 14, 2026 |
| Pentecost | May 24, 2026 |
See all liturgical calendar dates →
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lent in 2026?
In 2026, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 and runs until Thursday, April 2, 2026.
Why does the date of Lent change each year?
Its date depends on the date of Easter, which is a movable feast set as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. Because Easter moves, so do the feasts calculated from it.