Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims through fasting, prayer, reflection, charity and community. In Australia, Ramadan dates are usually estimated in advance but should be confirmed closer to the time by moon sighting or by the Islamic authority followed by each community.
Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin around Wednesday 18 February or Thursday 19 February 2026 in Australia, depending on moon sighting and the Islamic authority followed by each community.
Many Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, pray, reflect, give to charity and gather for iftar meals after sunset. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr.
No. Ramadan is not a national public holiday in Australia. It is an important religious period for many Australian Muslims, but it is not an official Australia-wide day off work or school.
Use this table for early planning. Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, so future Gregorian dates should be treated as expected until confirmed by moon sighting or by the Islamic authority followed by your community.
| Year | Expected Ramadan dates in Australia | Likely timing | Date status | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Around 18/19 February to 19/20 March 2026 | Late summer to early autumn | Expected; subject to moon sighting | Check local mosque, Islamic council or community announcements closer to the date. |
| 2027 | Around 8 February to 9/10 March 2027 | Summer | Expected; subject to moon sighting | May affect school, workplace and family planning early in the year. |
| 2028 | Around 28/29 January to 26/28 February 2028 | Summer | Expected; subject to moon sighting | Falls close to the start of the Australian school year. |
| 2029 | Around 16/17 January to 14/15 February 2029 | Summer | Expected; subject to moon sighting | Early-year workplace and school planning may be needed. |
| 2030 | Around 5/6 January to 3/4 February 2030 | Summer | Expected; subject to moon sighting | One of two Ramadan periods that may touch the 2030 calendar year. |
| 2030/2031 | Around 26 December 2030 to 25 January 2031 | Summer holiday period | Expected; subject to moon sighting | May overlap with Christmas, New Year and school holiday travel periods. |
| 2031/2032 | Around 16 December 2031 to 14 January 2032 | Summer holiday period | Expected; subject to moon sighting | Useful for long-range planning, but confirm dates closer to the time. |
Simple answer: Ramadan dates move earlier through the Australian calendar because the Islamic lunar year is shorter than the Gregorian year. Dates should always be confirmed locally.
Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar. Lunar months are based on the sighting of the crescent moon and the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian solar year, so Ramadan moves earlier by roughly 10 to 11 days each year.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The month begins when the new lunar month is confirmed.
Some communities rely on local crescent moon sighting, while others follow announcements from overseas or recognised Islamic authorities.
Calculated dates are useful for planning, but wording should remain “expected”, “around” or “subject to confirmation” until the local date is confirmed.
Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, Quran study, charity and community. It is one of the most important periods in the Islamic year and is observed by Muslims around the world, including many Australian Muslim families and communities.
Many Muslims fast from dawn until sunset during Ramadan. Fasting includes abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours for those who are required and able to fast.
Ramadan is a time for prayer, spiritual reflection, community connection, self-discipline and strengthening faith.
Giving to charity, helping others and sharing meals are important parts of Ramadan for many families and communities.
Respectful note: Ramadan practices can vary between families, communities, cultures and Islamic authorities. This page is a general Australian guide and should not replace local religious guidance.
Ramadan is often recognised publicly because of fasting, but the month is broader than not eating or drinking. It includes worship, patience, generosity, study, community and family routines.
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the day’s fast begins. Timing depends on local dawn prayer times.
Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast after sunset. In Australia, families, mosques and community groups may hold shared iftar meals.
Not every Muslim is required to fast. Exemptions can include illness, travel, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruation, age and other health-related circumstances.
Planning point: Ramadan times are local. Dawn, sunset, suhoor and iftar times differ between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and regional areas.
Ramadan is observed in Muslim communities across Australia. The exact start date, prayer times, iftar events and community programs should be checked with local mosques, Islamic councils and community organisations.
| City or region | Common locations or communities | Typical Ramadan activity | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Western Sydney, Lakemba, Auburn, Bankstown, Liverpool and mosque communities | Daily fasting, mosque prayers, community iftars, charity drives and Eid planning | Large community events may need early transport and parking planning. |
| Melbourne | Northern and western suburbs, Dandenong, mosque communities and Islamic centres | Tarawih prayers, iftar gatherings, family events and charity programs | Check mosque announcements for confirmed dates and prayer times. |
| Brisbane | Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Gold Coast and mosque communities | Iftar meals, mosque activities, community programs and Eid planning | Local date announcements may vary by authority followed. |
| Perth | Perth metro, mosque communities and Islamic centres | Fasting, prayers, iftar, charity and community events | Check WA-based Islamic organisations and local mosques. |
| Adelaide | Adelaide mosque communities, community halls and cultural organisations | Fasting, prayers, family gatherings, charity and community activities | Local announcements are important for confirmed dates. |
| Canberra, Hobart, Darwin and regional centres | Local mosques, Islamic associations and multicultural community groups | Community iftars, prayers, family gatherings and local programs | Check local organisations closer to the date. |
Content opportunity: This page can later support local pages such as “Ramadan Sydney”, “Ramadan Melbourne”, “Ramadan Brisbane” and “Ramadan prayer times Australia” if you want to build a broader Islamic calendar content cluster.
Because Ramadan is not a national public holiday in Australia and involves daily fasting, schools and workplaces should plan with respect, flexibility and practical awareness.
Ramadan is often searched together with Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, but these are different events in the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan is the month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. It ends when the month of Shawwal begins.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and begins on the first day of Shawwal.
Eid al-Adha is linked with Hajj and sacrifice, and falls later in the Islamic calendar on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah.
This site mainly covers Australian public holidays, but Ramadan belongs in the broader events calendar because Australians search for its date, meaning, fasting information, school planning, workplace guidance and Eid connection.
| Event or holiday | Fixed or changing date? | Public holiday in Australia? | Why people search it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramadan | Changes each year | No, not a national public holiday | Start date, fasting, iftar, prayer times, school/workplace planning and Eid al-Fitr timing. |
| Eid al-Fitr | Changes each year | No, not a national public holiday | End of Ramadan, expected date, Eid prayers and community celebrations. |
| Eid al-Adha | Changes each year | No, not a national public holiday | Hajj connection, sacrifice, expected date and Eid prayers. |
| Easter | Changes each year | Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays across Australia | Easter dates, school holidays, travel and annual leave planning. |
Site structure recommendation: Keep this page as a top-level event page at /ramadan/. Do not make it a child page of public holidays, because Ramadan is not a national public holiday in Australia. Link it from the /events/ hub, /eid-al-fitr/ and /eid-al-adha/.
Use these pages to plan around public holidays, long weekends and other major calendar events in Australia.
Ramadan starts on a date determined by the Islamic lunar calendar and may vary by moon sighting. Each year’s expected date should be confirmed by the relevant Islamic authority or local community.
Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin around Wednesday 18 February or Thursday 19 February 2026, subject to moon sighting and community confirmation.
No. Ramadan is not a national public holiday in Australia.
Ramadan moves because the Islamic calendar is lunar and shorter than the Gregorian calendar, so Ramadan usually moves around 10 to 11 days earlier each year.
Many Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, pray, reflect, give to charity and gather for iftar meals after sunset.
Iftar is the meal that breaks the daily fast after sunset during Ramadan.
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the day’s fast begins.
Yes. Ramadan ends when the next Islamic month, Shawwal, begins. Eid al-Fitr is observed at the end of Ramadan.
Yes. Some communities follow local moon sighting, while others follow overseas announcements or specific Islamic authorities. Always check with the mosque or Islamic organisation you follow.
No. Ramadan should be a top-level event page at /ramadan/ because it has direct search demand and is not a child of a public holiday. It should be linked from the /events/ hub and related Islamic calendar pages.