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Baháʼí Holy Days · 2026 – 2027

Eleven days of observance.

Baháʼís commemorate eleven Holy Days each year — suspending work on nine of them — plus two other significant periods, Ayyám-i-Há and the Month of Fasting. Dates below cover 2026 and 2027, drawn from the Badí calendar confirmed each year by the Universal House of Justice.

Holy Day
2026
2027

  • Naw-Rúz

    The Baháʼí New Year, coinciding with the spring equinox.

    March 21
    March 21

  • First Day of Riḍván

    Commemoration of Bahá'u'lláh's declaration of His mission in 1863.

    April 21
    April 21

  • Ninth Day of Riḍván

    Family of Bahá'u'lláh joined Him in the Garden of Riḍván.

    April 29
    April 29

  • Twelfth Day of Riḍván

    Bahá'u'lláh departed from the Garden of Riḍván.

    May 2
    May 2

  • Declaration of the Báb

    Commemoration of the Báb's declaration to Mullá Ḥusayn in 1844.

    May 24
    May 24

  • Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh

    The passing of Bahá'u'lláh in 1892.

    May 29
    May 29

  • Martyrdom of the Báb

    Commemoration of the Báb's execution in 1850.

    July 10
    July 10

  • Birth of the Báb

    Birth of the Báb in 1819 (twin holy birthdays).

    November 10
    October 30

  • Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

    Birth of Bahá'u'lláh in 1817 (twin holy birthdays).

    November 11
    October 31

  • Day of the Covenant

    Commemorates Bahá'u'lláh's appointment of His son, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, as the One to whom His followers should turn after His passing.

    November 26
    November 26

  • Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

    Marks the passing of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in 1921.

    November 28
    November 28

Work not suspended; Baháʼís are enjoined to suspend work and school attendance on all but these two Holy Days.

Other significant days

Ayyám-i-Há and the Fast

Ayyám-i-Há 2026 falls on February 25 – March 1, and in 2027 on February 26 – March 1. These four or five Intercalary Days come immediately before the nineteen-day Fast, which runs March 2 – 20 in both years and ends at sunset with the arrival of Naw-Rúz.

Observance
2026
2027

  • Ayyám-i-Há

    The Intercalary Days — a period of celebration devoted to charity, gift-giving, and festivities prior to the annual period of Fasting.

    February 25 – March 1
    February 26 – March 1

  • The Month of Fasting

    Baháʼís from the age of 15 abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. Exemptions include those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

    March 2 – 20
    March 2 – 20
Naw-Rúz in depthThe Fast in depthDownload 1-page PDF (2026–2027)Full Badíʻ calendarUniversal House of Justice

Frequently asked

About the Baháʼí Holy Days.

How many Bahai Holy Days are there?
There are eleven Baháʼí Holy Days each year. Baháʼís (also spelled 'Bahais') suspend work on nine of them: Naw-Rúz, the First, Ninth, and Twelfth Days of Riḍván, the Declaration of the Báb, the Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh, the Martyrdom of the Báb, and the Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Baháʼu'lláh. Two additional Holy Days — the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá — are commemorated but work is not suspended.
Why do the Bahai Holy Day dates shift from year to year?
Since 2015, the Baháʼí calendar (Badíʻ calendar) is anchored to the moment of the vernal equinox as observed in Tehran, and the Twin Holy Birthdays are set by the first and second days after the eighth new moon following Naw-Rúz. Because these astronomical events fall on slightly different Gregorian dates each year, the Bahai Holy Days shift accordingly.
When is Naw-Ruz, the Bahai New Year?
Naw-Rúz (also written 'Naw-Ruz' or 'Nowruz') falls on March 21 in both 2026 and 2027. It marks the spring equinox and the start of the new Baháʼí year. Baháʼís celebrate with prayers, community gatherings, music, and shared meals following the conclusion of the Month of Fasting.
When are the Twin Holy Birthdays in 2027?
In 2027, the Birth of the Báb is observed on October 30 and the Birth of Baháʼu'lláh on October 31. These dates — commonly called the Twin Holy Birthdays or the Twin Holy Days — are set annually by the Universal House of Justice based on the lunar calendar.
Do Bahais observe Ayyam-i-Ha on these days?
No. Ayyám-i-Há (also spelled 'Ayyam-i-Ha' or 'Ayyamiha') is a separate four- or five-day period of hospitality and gift-giving that falls just before the Month of Fasting — February 25 to March 1 in 2026 and February 26 to March 1 in 2027. It is listed under Other Significant Days on this page, not among the eleven Holy Days.
What is Ridvan?
Riḍván (pronounced 'RIZ-wahn' and often written 'Ridvan' without accents) is a twelve-day festival — from April 21 to May 2 — commemorating the twelve days in 1863 when Baháʼu'lláh declared His mission in the Garden of Riḍván outside Baghdad. Three of its days are Holy Days on which Baháʼís suspend work: the First, Ninth, and Twelfth Days of Riḍván. Riḍván is also the season when Baháʼí community elections are held each year.
What is the Bahai Fast?
The Bahai Fast is a nineteen-day period — the Baháʼí month of ʻAláʼ (Loftiness), March 2 to 20 each year — during which Baháʼís from the age of 15 to 70 abstain from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset. The Fast is a time of prayer, meditation, and inward renewal, ending at Naw-Rúz. Baháʼu'lláh described it as 'the cause of the awakening of the soul, and the wellspring of tranquility'.

See also: Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼu'lláh · The Baháʼí daily practice

Who is exempt from the Bahai Fast?
Those exempted from Fasting include: anyone under 15 or over 70, the sick, women who are pregnant, nursing, or menstruating, travelers who meet certain distance and duration conditions, and those engaged in heavy labor. Exemption is a mercy, not an obligation — those exempted may still keep the Fast if they wish. The Bahai Fast is a spiritual, not a physical, discipline, and its purpose is inward transformation.
Is Naw-Ruz a public holiday?
Naw-Rúz is a public holiday in several countries — including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — where it is celebrated as the Persian / Central Asian New Year. In most other countries it is not a civil holiday, but Baháʼís everywhere observe it as a Holy Day and suspend work and school attendance.
What is a Nineteen Day Feast?
The Nineteen Day Feast is the regular gathering of a Baháʼí community held on the first day of each Baháʼí month — nineteen times a year. It has three parts: a devotional portion of prayers and readings from the sacred writings, an administrative or consultative portion where the community discusses its affairs, and a social portion of hospitality. The Feast is distinct from the eleven Holy Days.

Alternate spellings and search terms: Bahai Holy Days, Bahai holidays, Bahai calendar, Naw-Ruz, Nowruz, Ridvan, Ayyam-i-Ha, Ayyamiha, Abdul-Baha, Bab, Bahaullah, Bahai Fast, Baha'i feasts.

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