The church year

Christian Calendar 2026

The Christian year walks through the life of Christ — waiting in Advent, rejoicing at Christmas, repenting in Lent, celebrating at Easter and growing through Pentecost. Here are this year's dates; Easter and the days that depend on it move each year.

Holy dayDate in 2026Season
EpiphanyTuesday, January 6, 2026Christmastide
Baptism of the LordSunday, January 11, 2026Epiphany
Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)Monday, February 2, 2026Epiphany
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)Tuesday, February 17, 2026Before Lent
Ash WednesdayWednesday, February 18, 2026Lent
St. Patrick's DayTuesday, March 17, 2026Lent
The AnnunciationWednesday, March 25, 2026Lent
Palm SundaySunday, March 29, 2026Holy Week
Maundy ThursdayThursday, April 2, 2026Holy Week
Good FridayFriday, April 3, 2026Holy Week
Holy SaturdaySaturday, April 4, 2026Holy Week
Easter SundaySunday, April 5, 2026Easter
Orthodox Easter (Pascha)Sunday, April 12, 2026Easter
National Day of Prayer (USA)Thursday, May 7, 2026Easter
Ascension DayThursday, May 14, 2026Easter
PentecostSunday, May 24, 2026Pentecost
Trinity SundaySunday, May 31, 2026Ordinary Time
Corpus ChristiThursday, June 4, 2026Ordinary Time
The TransfigurationThursday, August 6, 2026Ordinary Time
Reformation DaySaturday, October 31, 2026Ordinary Time
All Saints' DaySunday, November 1, 2026Ordinary Time
Christ the King SundaySunday, November 22, 2026Ordinary Time
Thanksgiving Day (USA)Thursday, November 26, 2026Ordinary Time
First Sunday of AdventSunday, November 29, 2026Advent
Christmas EveThursday, December 24, 2026Advent
Christmas DayFriday, December 25, 2026Christmastide

Seasons of the church year

Advent

Four Sundays of preparation before Christmas; color: purple or blue.

Christmastide

The twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany; color: white.

Epiphany

Christ revealed to the nations; color: green after the feast.

Lent

Forty days of repentance, prayer and fasting before Easter; color: purple.

Holy Week

From Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday: Jesus' last week, death and burial.

Easter

Fifty days celebrating the resurrection, ending at Pentecost; color: white or gold.

Pentecost

The coming of the Holy Spirit; color: red.

Ordinary Time

The long season of growth after Pentecost; color: green.