2026 Messianic Jewish Holidays
In this article, we’ll dive into the 2026 dates of the Biblical Feasts and when the Jewish community and Messianic believers worldwide celebrate these incredible appointed times. From Sabbath to Passover, from Yom Kippur to Sukkot, these Jewish holidays are rich with Messianic significance and provide set apart moments in time where God, the King of the Universe, wants to meet with His people. If you’re unfamiliar with the meaning of each holiday, go ahead and read our overview of the biblical feasts (we’ll wait!)
Kiddush cup with round challah bread on holiday table (AI Image: The Ancient Way)
With the start of Rosh Hashanah last year, we entered into a new Hebrew year, 5786. If you aren’t familiar, the Hebrew calendar is different than the Gregorian calendar. Rather than tracking time with arbitrary dates based around seasons, the Jewish calendar follows the cycle of the new moon, with each new moon corresponding to a new month. While the Bible sets the beginning of the new year in the spring, connecting God’s miraculous deliverance of the Children of Israel from Egypt, the civil calendar begins in the Fall, and commences with Rosh Hashanah, the first of the fall feasts.
2026 Messianic Jewish Holiday Dates
| Feast | Sunset Begins | Ends (Nightfall) | Hebrew Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passover (Pesach) | April 1, 2026 | April 9, 2026 | Nisan |
| Feast of Unleavened Bread | April 2, 2026 | April 8, 2026 | Nisan |
| First Fruits* (Bikkurim – approx.) | ~ April 12, 2026 | ~ April 12, 2026 | Nisan |
| Counting of the Omer | April 2, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | Nisan–Sivan |
| Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) | May 21, 2026 | May 23, 2026 | Sivan |
| Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets / Rosh Hashanah) | September 11, 2026 | September 13, 2026 | Tishrei |
| Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) | September 20, 2026 | September 21, 2026 | Tishrei |
| Sukkot (Feast of Booths) | September 25, 2026 | October 2, 2026 | Tishrei |
| Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah | October 2, 2026 | October 4, 2026 | Tishrei |
| Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication) | December 4, 2026 | December 12, 2026 | Kislev–Tevet |
(Source: Hebcal)
*Firstfruits: Often celebrated the day after Shabbat during Passover. (April 12, 2026), but observance varies slightly by tradition. Some traditions observe the Feast of Firstfruits on April 5, 2026.
Additional Holidays
Shabbat: Every Friday night from sunset to nightfall on Saturday night (when three stars are visible), typically 40–72 minutes after sunset depending on location and tradition.
Purim – March 2–3, 2026 (14–15 Adar)
Lag BaOmer – May 4–5, 2026 (18 Iyar)
Tisha B’Av – July 22–23, 2026 (9 Av)
Now that we’ve listed actual dates, it’s important to note that there are many different views on which Jewish calendar is “the right one.” Some follow the ancient practice of the physical sighting of the new moon with the testimony of two or more witnesses. Karaite Jews follow a calendar based on the writings in the Torah alone and generally do not follow rabbinic decrees. Still others follow a 364-day calendar that aligns with the group of first-century believers known as the Qumran Community, revealed by the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
At The Ancient Way, we join with our brothers and sisters within the mainstream Jewish community that follows a fixed lunisolar calendar that was popularized by Hillel II during 359 CE.¹ Regardless of your belief around calendars, our heart is that we continue to unite around a common love of the Biblical Feasts that God has given his people as we seek to honor the covenant.
May you be richly blessed as you seek to follow our Father and King in 2026. 🙏
If you’re new to God’s appointed times, start here → What Are the Biblical Feasts?
¹ Leiman, S.Z. "Jewish religious year." Encyclopedia Britannica, September 24, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jewish-religious-year.
