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When does Lent start and end in 2026? Key dates to know
Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday dates for the 2026 Lent season
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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The 2026 Lent season will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and end on Thursday, April 2, lasting six weeks before Easter Sunday on April 5. Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, will be celebrated on February 17, the day before Ash Wednesday. Good Friday will fall on April 3, two days before Easter Sunday.
Why it matters
The Lenten season is an important time for many Christians, marked by fasting, repentance, and preparation for the celebration of Easter. Knowing the key dates for Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday helps Christians plan their observances and traditions during this sacred time of year.
The details
Lent is the 40-day period (not counting Sundays) of fasting and repentance leading up to Easter. During Lent, many Christians give up luxuries or indulgences as an act of penance. Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent, involves the distribution of ashes on the forehead as a symbol of repentance. Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, is the final day of feasting before the fasting of Lent begins. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, while Easter Sunday celebrates his resurrection.
- Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
- Lent ends on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
- Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- Ash Wednesday is on February 18, 2026.
- Good Friday is on April 3, 2026.
The players
Jesus Christ
The central figure of Christianity, whose crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday are commemorated during the Lenten season.
The takeaway
The Lenten season is a time of spiritual reflection and preparation for Christians, with key dates like Ash Wednesday, Fat Tuesday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday marking important milestones. Understanding when these events occur each year helps believers plan their observances and traditions accordingly.
