Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027. That means the first taraweeh prayer will most likely be on the evening of Sunday 7 February, and the first suhoor in the early hours of Monday morning.
As always, the exact start depends on the new moon. If your community waits for a local sighting, Ramadan could begin on Tuesday 9 February instead. Your mosque will confirm it on the evening of 29 Sha'ban, which falls on 6 or 7 February.
The key dates at a glance
| What | Expected date (2027) |
|---|---|
| Sha'ban begins | Saturday 9 January |
| Moon sought for Ramadan | Evening of Saturday 6 or Sunday 7 February |
| First taraweeh | Sunday 7 February (evening) |
| First fast, 1 Ramadan | Monday 8 February |
| Last ten nights begin | Saturday 27 February (evening) |
| Night of the 27th | Friday 5 March (evening) |
| Eid al-Fitr | Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March |
These come from the Umm al-Qura calendar. Shift everything by one day if your community starts a day later.
A short, cold Ramadan
For anyone in the northern hemisphere, Ramadan 2027 falls in late winter, which brings some real advantages. The days are short, so fasts are short. In London, for example, the fast will run roughly 11 to 13 hours, getting a little longer each week as spring approaches. In much of the Middle East and South Asia it'll be around 12 to 13 hours, and it's cool enough that thirst is much less of a struggle than in a summer Ramadan.
The flip side is that the nights are long and the evenings come early. Iftar might fall around 5 pm in northern Europe, which can clash with work and the school run. Taraweeh can end late enough that suhoor feels like it's only a nap away. In the southern hemisphere it's the other way round: late summer, longer days and warmer weather.
For exact suhoor and iftar times, use your local mosque's timetable. Different calculation methods can give noticeably different fajr times, especially at higher latitudes, and it's best to follow the one your community uses.
Getting ready in Sha'ban
The month before Ramadan, Sha'ban, starts on 9 January 2027. The Prophet ﷺ used to fast more in Sha'ban than in any other month apart from Ramadan, as Aisha reported (Sahih al-Bukhari 1969). It's a natural time to start warming up.
A few things that genuinely help:
- Make up missed fasts from last year. If you still owe days from Ramadan 1447, Sha'ban is the last chance before the new month.
- Try a few voluntary fasts. A couple of Mondays or Thursdays in January helps your body remember what fasting feels like.
- Cut back on caffeine gradually. Anyone who has spent the first three days of Ramadan with a headache knows why.
- Pick a Qur'an goal you can actually keep. A full reading in the month is roughly 20 pages a day. If that's not realistic, choose something that is and stick to it.
- Talk to work early. Ask about flexible hours around iftar, a quiet space to pray, and leave for both possible Eid days.
Who doesn't have to fast
Ramadan is meant to be a mercy, not a hardship that harms people. The Qur'an exempts those who are ill or travelling, who make up the days later (2:184–185). Others who are usually excused, or should take advice, include:
- People with a medical condition that fasting would make worse. Diabetes is the most common example, and it's important to speak to a doctor well before Ramadan.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women who are worried about their own health or their baby's.
- Women during their period or after childbirth, who make up the days afterwards.
- Elderly people who can't fast, who usually give fidya (feeding a poor person for each day missed) instead.
- Children who haven't reached puberty, though many like to try a few fasts.
If any of these apply to you, speak to a scholar about your situation and to a doctor about your health. Neither should be guessed at.
And then, Eid
About 29 or 30 days after that first suhoor, the crescent of Shawwal will be sought on the evening of Monday 8 March, and Eid al-Fitr will follow on the 9th or 10th. You can follow the countdown on our homepage the whole way through.
Dates are estimates from the Umm al-Qura calendar and astronomical data. Please confirm with your local mosque or moon-sighting committee.