Dates
Purim 2026
Begins at sundown on March 2, 2026 and ends at nightfall on March 3, 2026.
Starts
March 2, 2026
at sundown
Ends
March 3, 2026
at nightfall
Length
1 day
work permitted
Years on file
7 years
2024 to 2030
Purim 2026 ended on March 3, 2026. The dates, times and customs below are kept as a record.
Next: Purim 2027, sundown March 22, 2027 →Israel or the diaspora?
Purim falls on 14 Adar in most places. Walled cities from the time of Joshua, Jerusalem chief among them, keep Shushan Purim on 15 Adar instead, one day later.
Purim celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia told in the Book of Esther: costumes, a public Megillah reading, food gifts to friends, gifts to the poor, and a festive daytime meal.
On the ground
What happens in Israel
Costumes everywhere for a week, street parties, and the Adloyada parades. Jerusalem celebrates a day after the rest of the country, so many people do both.
Practice
How it is observed
- Hearing Megillat Esther read, with noise at every mention of Haman
- Mishloach manot: sending food gifts to friends
- Matanot la'evyonim: gifts to at least two people in need
- Costumes, carnivals and a festive daytime meal
"Chag Purim sameach" or "Freilichen Purim"
Hamantaschen, the triangular filled cookies, and a festive seudah with wine.
Every year on file
Purim in other years
The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, so the Gregorian date moves by up to a month from year to year but stays in the same season.
The rest of 2026
Other Jewish holidays in 2026
8 of the 14 other dates on the 2026 calendar, in the order they fall. Each has its own page for 2026.
February 2, 2026
Tu BiShvat 2026
The new year of the trees. Tree planting in Israel and eating the fruits of the land.
April 2, 2026
Passover (Pesach) 2026
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
April 14, 2026
Yom HaShoah 2026
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
April 21, 2026
Yom HaZikaron 2026
Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, the day before Independence Day.
April 22, 2026
Yom HaAtzmaut 2026
Israel's Independence Day, marking the declaration of the state in 1948.
May 5, 2026
Lag BaOmer 2026
The 33rd day of the Omer count. Bonfires, weddings and celebrations at Mount Meron.
May 22, 2026
Shavuot 2026
The festival of receiving the Torah at Sinai. All-night learning and dairy foods. Two days in the diaspora, one in Israel.
July 23, 2026
Tisha B'Av 2026
Fast day mourning the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem. If the 9th of Av falls on Shabbat, the fast is observed on Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
When is Purim 2026?+
Purim 2026 begins at sundown on March 2, 2026 and ends at nightfall on March 3, 2026. Jewish days start in the evening, so the first full day is March 3, 2026.
How long is Purim?+
1 day. Purim falls on 14 Adar in most places. Walled cities from the time of Joshua, Jerusalem chief among them, keep Shushan Purim on 15 Adar instead, one day later.
Is Purim different in Israel?+
Purim falls on 14 Adar in most places. Walled cities from the time of Joshua, Jerusalem chief among them, keep Shushan Purim on 15 Adar instead, one day later.
What happens in Israel on Purim?+
Costumes everywhere for a week, street parties, and the Adloyada parades. Jerusalem celebrates a day after the rest of the country, so many people do both.
What do you say on Purim?+
The standard greeting is "Chag Purim sameach" or "Freilichen Purim".