The Islamic religious festival is observed by Muslims worldwide annually. So, when did Ramadan fasting start and end in 2026? This year’s calendar began on Wednesday 18th February in Nigeria with fasts and prayers. Fasting offers Muslims ample time to reconnect with Allah.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways:
- Ramadan began on 18 February 2026 in Nigeria and most parts of the world.
- The holy month ended on 19th March 2026.
- Ramadan fasting means no food or drink can be consumed during sunlit hours.
- Muslims also pray and repent during Ramadan.
- Sharing food, time, and acts of kindness with friends, family, neighbours, and strangers is also encouraged.
When did Ramadan fasting start and end in 2026?
In 2026, Muslims in Nigeria began Ramadan on Wednesday 18 February. The date was announced by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar. This was after the sighting of the crescent moon on 17 February in Bama and Maiduguri.
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Ramadan ended on 20 March after the the sighting of the moon. In Islam, the holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It begins with the sighting of a crescent moon and marks the start of fasting.
The Muslim calendar year is notably shorter than the Gregorian calendar. As a result, this holy month normally starts between 10 and 12 days earlier than the previous year.
During this month, Muslims conduct a lot of introspection, reading the Quran, and communal prayers called salat.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It falls in the ninth month. Muslims around the world are expected to spend this period fasting, praying, reflecting and being in community.
Ramadan begins when the crescent moon is sighted in the ninth month and lasts about 29 to 30 days. According to the Ramadan 2026 fasting schedule, Muslims fast from food and drink during sunlit hours, starting at Sehri (dawn) and ending at Iftar (dusk).
Ramadan is the most prominent celebration in Islam. It is a sacred month marked by daily fasts and the Eid ul-Fitr celebration. Ramadan’s history dates back to 610CE when Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran from Allah. Ramadan is a commemoration of this revelation.
Source: Facebook
How long was Ramadan in 2026?
In 2026, the holy month lasted 29 days. The Ramadan 2026 calendar indicates that Eid al-Fitr was celebrated on 20th March bringing the holy month to a close.
2026 Ramadan Eid date
Eid 2026 fell on the 20th of March. This marked the end of Ramadan fasting.
Fasting time
During Ramadan fasting, Muslims worldwide do not consume any food or drink from sunrise to sunset. Sawm time is not uniform worldwide due to global time differences.
Therefore, a specific morning and evening time is given for beginning and ending the fast daily. A pre-sunrise meal called suhoor (suhur or sahur) is eaten before sawm starts. The end of a daily fast is marked by an evening meal called iftar.
Suhoor and Iftar meals in Nigeria
Muslims eat two main meals during this holy month: suhoor at dawn and iftar after dusk. The meals eaten depend on what a household or individual can afford. This means that regular Nigerian dishes can be prepared during this period.
Some of the meals Nigerians prepare for suhoor are listed below.
- Bread sandwich with a hot beverage
- Instant noodles and egg
- Moi-Moi with custard or pap
- Cereal
- Okpa
- Ewa Agoyin with Agege bread
- Fried plantain, yam, and egg stew
- Bran muffins with juice
- Mashed beans, wheat toast, and fried eggs
- Breakfast grain salad
Below are examples of commonly consumed iftar meals in Nigeria. Usually, these meals are spicy and delicious.
- Goat meat and plantain pepper soup
- Rice dishes like jollof rice and coconut jollof rice with stew/sauce
- Fura da nunu
- Ukang
- Chicken sauce with mushroom
- Amala, eba, fufu with egusi or vegetable soup
- Baked chicken with oat sticks
- Vegetable or fruit salads
- Chicken croquettes
- Minced meat semolina pancake
- Fish delicacies with vegetable or meat soup
- Barbeque beef riblets, yam, and esa soup
- Potatoes and chicken carrot stew
Source: Twitter
Basic Ramadan fasting rules
People fasting for Ramadan 2026 in Nigeria and other parts of the world follow some rules, as listed below.
- One must not consume any food or drink during the hours of daylight.
- One must abstain from sexual activity during sawm.
- Sawm is obligatory for every adult Muslim, male or female, who has reached puberty. However, pregnant, menstruating, and nursing mothers are exempted from sawm. People who have diabetes or are severely ill are also exempted, as are those travelling long distances.
- One should say five prayers a day. Before sunrise, the first session of prayer called the Fajr should be said after suhoor. Zuhr is observed afternoon, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib after sunset, and Isha at night.
- One must abstain from all ill talks and deeds during sawm.
- One must do acts of charity and goodness to others during this period.
- One should increase their worship of Allah and read the Quran more.
When did Ramadan fasting start and end in the year 2026 in Islam?
Fasting began on the 18th of February and ended on 20th of March in Nigeria. These dates can differ from place to place since they are based on crescent moon sightings.
What is the start of Ramadan called?
The start of Ramadan is often called “Ramadan’s beginning”, but more specifically, the first day of fasting is marked by the sighting of the crescent moon.
How do we know when Ramadan starts and ends?
The end depends on the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the close of fasting. The moon is mostly sighted after 29 or 30 days every year.
Source: Facebook
What time to start and end fasting in Ramadan?
Fasting during Ramadan follows dawn to sunset daily:
- Start (Sehri/Suhur): Just before Fajr (dawn) prayer
- End (Iftar): At Maghrib (sunset) prayer
Times vary slightly by location. For example, in Lagos, Nigeria in 2026:
- Sehri: ~5:35 AM
- Iftar: ~6:40 PM
Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and other physical indulgences between these times.
What day was Eid confirmed?
Eid al-Fitr 2026 was officially confirmed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Friday, 20 March 2026, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.
How does Ramadan fasting affect cholesterol?
Ramadan fasting can have positive effects on cholesterol levels if done healthily:
- Lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: Intermittent fasting can reduce levels of harmful cholesterol.
- Increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol: Some studies show slight improvement.
- Triglycerides: Levels may drop, especially if high-sugar foods are limited.
Ramadan fasting is a deeply spiritual practice observed by millions around the world. It involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical indulgences from dawn to sunset, fostering self-discipline, reflection, and community. By following the proper Ramadan fasting schedule, individuals can experience both spiritual growth and potential health benefits.
Legit.ng recently published the history of Ramadan and its meaning and purpose. The Holy Month is characterised by fasting, introspection, and reading the Quran. It is a period dedicated to doing good and cementing one’s relationship with Allah.
The holy month was first marked in 610 AD and has been marked every year since then. Muslims do not consume any food or drink between sunrise and sunset during this period. A moon-sighting committee announces the start and end of this period.
Source: Legit.ng
