Lagos, Nigeria — Authorities in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20, 2026, after reports that the crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan was not sighted.
The announcement was shared on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, through HaraminInfo, a platform known for providing updates on religious matters in the kingdom. The statement clarified that the absence of a confirmed moon sighting means fasting will continue for an additional day, pushing the celebration to Friday.
“The crescent moon has NOT been sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, #EidAlFitr will be celebrated on Friday, 20th March 2026.
“May Allāh allow us to utilise the remaining moments of this blessed month to engage in that which pleases Him, may He accept our siyām, qiyām & a’māl and may He allow us to witness many more Ramadāns in good health. Āmīn,” the platform wrote.
Eid al-Fitr marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. The exact date of the celebration depends on the sighting of the new moon, a process that often varies across countries due to geographical and observational differences.
Okay News reports that the announcement from Saudi Arabia is closely watched by many Muslim communities worldwide, including in Nigeria, where religious authorities rely on local moon sightings before making an official declaration.
In Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), is responsible for announcing the official date of Eid al-Fitr for the country. As of the time of this report, no formal declaration had been made, leaving millions of Nigerian Muslims awaiting confirmation.
The difference in timing between countries is not unusual, as each nation follows its own moon sighting processes. This can result in variations of one or more days in marking the festival.
For many Muslims in Nigeria and across West Africa, the coming announcement will determine the end of fasting, the timing of Eid prayers, and the start of celebrations that include communal prayers, charity, and family gatherings.
Further updates are expected from Nigerian religious authorities as the moon sighting process continues.
