2026 Fasting Calendar
Orthodox Fasting Calendar 2026
Every fast day and feast of the year, from Clean Monday through the Nativity of Christ.
The four fasts of 2026
Great Lent
Begins
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Ends
Sunday, April 12, 2026 (Pascha)
Apostles' Fast
Begins
Monday, June 8, 2026
Ends
June 28, 2026
Dormition Fast
Begins
August 1, 2026
Ends
August 14, 2026
Nativity Fast
Begins
November 15, 2026
Ends
December 24, 2026
Key dates in 2026
- Clean Monday — Sunday, February 22, 2026: Great Lent begins.
- Sunday of Orthodoxy — Sunday, March 1, 2026.
- Palm Sunday — Sunday, April 5, 2026: fish, wine & oil allowed.
- Great & Holy Pascha — Sunday, April 12, 2026: the Feast of Feasts.
- Ascension — Thursday, May 21, 2026.
- Pentecost — Sunday, May 31, 2026.
- Apostles' Fast begins — Monday, June 8, 2026.
- Sts. Peter & Paul — June 29, 2026: end of Apostles' Fast.
- Transfiguration — August 6, 2026.
- Dormition of the Theotokos — August 15, 2026.
- Nativity of the Theotokos — September 8, 2026.
- Exaltation of the Cross — September 14, 2026: strict fast.
- Entrance of the Theotokos — November 21, 2026.
- Nativity of Christ — December 25, 2026.
How to read this calendar
On strict-fast days, refrain from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, and oil. Wine and oil are typically permitted on weekends within a fast; fish is allowed on major feasts falling in the fast, and on many weekdays of the Apostles' and Nativity Fasts. See our fasting guide for the full rules.