When is Hijri New Year?
In 2026, Hijri New Year falls on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. It is classified here as a Lebanese public holiday.
History of Hijri New Year
Hijri New Year begins on 1 Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The calendar’s epoch is the Hijra—the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE—which became the reference point for numbering years in Muslim religious and historical life.
Lebanon’s holiday decree recognises the day as a nationwide closure, alongside other Muslim and Christian dates. The tone is often reflective rather than festive: sermons, religious teaching, family conversations and quiet greetings may mark the transition. Its Gregorian date changes every year because the Hijri calendar is lunar.
Civil dates are announced through annual Lebanese government memoranda. The date shown here helps with long-range planning, but the current Council of Ministers notice remains authoritative.
The government memorandum for 2026 fixed the civil closure on Tuesday, 16 June. That confirmed date replaces a calculated forecast for the site’s 2026 calendar, while other years remain subject to their own notices. The holiday is legally shared across Lebanon, but devotional emphasis differs among Sunni, Shi'a and other Muslim communities. It is generally not treated as a secular countdown equivalent to 31 December; reflection on migration, time and ethical renewal is more characteristic.
How Hijri New Year is observed
A nationwide public holiday on 1 Muharram. Confirm the annually announced civil date before travel or work planning.
Traditions of Hijri New Year
Worship and reflection
Lebanese congregations mark Hijri New Year through services, prayer and teaching shaped by their own rite, local clergy and community calendar.
Visiting and hospitality
Relatives, neighbours and friends commonly exchange greetings and share food, while the precise menu and visiting pattern differ among Lebanon’s communities.
Giving and care
Charitable gifts, food distributions, remembrance of people in need and attention to older relatives connect Lebanese religious practice with practical care.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Lebanese official and legal guidance. Lunar dates, decree updates and public-service schedules should be confirmed against official notices.
History sources: Lebanese Ministry of Industry: Working Hours and Holidays (Decree No. 15215, as amended), Council of Ministers: official holidays and public closures, Council of Ministers: 2026 Hijri New Year closure memorandum.
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