liturgical dates 2026
📅 major dates
- first sunday of advent: november 30, 2025
- ash wednesday: february 18, 2026
- palm sunday: march 29, 2026
- holy thursday: april 2, 2026
- good friday: april 3, 2026
- holy saturday: april 4, 2026
- easter sunday: april 5, 2026
- ascension thursday: may 14, 2026
- ascension transferred in many dioceses: may 17, 2026
- pentecost sunday: may 24, 2026
- the most holy body and blood of christ: june 7, 2026
- first sunday of advent: november 29, 2026
- christmas: december 25, 2026
🕰️ lectionary cycles
- sunday cycle: year a, through november 22, 2026
- sunday cycle: year b, beginning november 29, 2026
- weekday cycle: cycle 2
🕯️ liturgical rhythm
lent
- begins with ash wednesday on february 18
- moves through repentance, fasting, prayer, and return
- leads into holy week
holy week
- palm sunday: march 29
- holy thursday: april 2
- good friday: april 3
- holy saturday: april 4
easter season
- begins easter sunday, april 5
- continues through pentecost, may 24
advent
- begins november 29, 2026
- begins the next liturgical year
🧠 note to self
this is not just a schedule.
it is the church turning the year into a prayer wheel.
some dates move every year because easter moves, because apparently calendars needed spiritual jazz hands.