Easter 2027: When Is Easter?

Easter Sunday falls on March 28 in 2027. The holiday hops around the calendar year to year based on the phases of the Moon and the changing of the season from winter to spring. Figuring out the date of Easter each year is more complicated than you might think! But don’t worry, we won’t make you do any hard work. 

Stick with us for a chart of Easter dates, plus a brief history of why Easter falls on different days and how we can predict those days years in advance. We’ll also look at the dates for Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday in 2027, so you’ll know just when to dust off your hot cross buns recipe.

When Is Easter in 2027?

In 2027, Easter Sunday is March 28 for most Christians in the U.S. and Canada. Orthodox Easter, observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, falls later, on May 2.

Did you know? Most Western churches calculate Easter’s date using the Gregorian calendar (the kind hanging on your kitchen wall). The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the older Julian calendar. 

Why Does Easter’s Date Change Every Year?

Easter is known as a “movable feast,” which is a fancy way of saying that the date it falls on the calendar changes from year to year. The date is tied to both the spring equinox (the first day of spring) and the Moon.

In the Gregorian calendar—the modern one that most of us around the world use today—Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.

Curious why Easter is so early in 2027? Jump to the explanation below. Or follow along to find out exactly how Easter is calculated first.

How Is the Date of Easter Determined?

The general rule for finding the date of Easter is this: Easter is on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon of spring, also known as the Paschal Full Moon (say PASS-kul). The word “Paschal” comes from Pascha, an old word for Easter.

Christian Church leaders came up with that rule long ago, building a system around it. They set March 21 as the first day of spring (even though the real spring equinox can fall on March 19, 20, or 21), and they used a table of Full Moon dates based on a 19-year cycle.

The Church’s system makes it easy to predict the date of Easter every year, though the Paschal Full Moon can be a day or two different from the Full Moon we see in the sky. 

For more on the connection between the Moon and Easter, see Easter and the Full Moon: Understanding the Paschal Moon Rule. 

Why Is Easter So Early in 2027?

Easter is on the early side in 2027 because the Paschal Full Moon falls on March 22, just one day after the Church’s fixed spring equinox date. The Sunday after that is March 28, making that Easter Sunday.

Is Easter Always in March or April?

In the modern Gregorian calendar, Easter Sunday is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25.

When Are Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday?

Use the chart below to find the dates for Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday in 2027. These time-honored days mark the path to Easter Sunday and the beginning of a season that’s rich with tradition and meaning for many Christians.