When is Islamic New Year?
In 2026, Islamic New Year falls on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. It is classified here as a paid public holiday.
History of Islamic New Year
Islamic New Year begins on 1 Muharram, the first day of the Hijri calendar. The calendar numbers years from the era of the Prophet Muhammad’s Hijra from Mecca to Medina in 622, although 1 Muharram is not the anniversary date of the journey itself. Mauritania’s holiday law lists Mouharram, making the year-opening date a paid national legal holiday.
The National Crescent Observation Commission did not receive verified sighting evidence on June 15, 2026 after contacting the country’s wilayas. It completed Dhu al-Hijjah at thirty days and declared Wednesday, June 17 as 1 Muharram 1448. The occasion is generally more reflective than either Eid and should not be given invented fireworks, feasting or a special congregational prayer.
Law 92.018 of December 7, 1992 expressly lists Mouharram, observed as the Islamic New Year among Mauritania’s legal holidays and states that legal holidays are non-working and paid. The statute contains no general Saturday, Sunday or Monday substitution rule. Its Article 3 instead allows the President to add a full or partial holiday by decree in special circumstances, with the decree specifying whether the time is recovered or exceptionally paid.
How Islamic New Year is observed
Paid, non-working legal holiday on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, confirmed after the national commission completed the previous lunar month.
Traditions of Islamic New Year
Community observance
People may exchange Hijri-year greetings, pray, read or reflect privately without treating the date as an Eid with prescribed festival rites. Practice varies by household, locality and means, so this describes documented possibilities rather than a universal Mauritanian custom.
Public programme
The crescent commission publishes the authoritative local date after contacting the wilayas, and public figures or religious institutions may issue messages. Venues and timings should be taken from the responsible mosque, union, municipality or public authority for that year.
Planning the holiday
Readers should distinguish 1 Muharram from Ashura on the month’s tenth day and await annual confirmation before booking future travel. Essential services and private businesses can publish separate operating arrangements despite the national holiday.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Mauritania official holiday calendar or legislation. Government, regional, school and employer schedules in Mauritania may differ; check the linked official source and current local notices before making time-sensitive plans.
History sources: Mauritania Ministry of Public Service: Law 92.018 on legal holidays, Mauritanian News Agency: 1 Muharram 1448 confirmed for June 17, 2026, Encyclopaedia Britannica: the Hijra and beginning of the Muslim era.
Continue exploring