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When Is Easter in 2027? Why It Falls So Early

"Why Easter Changes Dates Every Year", image of roses and easter eggs. When is Easter?
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Easter Sunday falls on March 28 in 2027. Easter is a holiday set by the Moon and the arrival of spring, which is why its date hops around the calendar from year to year. But why is Easter so early in 2027?

The holiday is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, making March 28 one of its earliest possible dates. See when Easter falls this year, next year, and beyond in the chart below, then discover how the date is determined.

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.

Easter Dates

YearEaster SundayOrthodox Easter
2026April 5April 12
2027March 28May 2
2028April 16April 16
2029April 1April 8
2030April 21April 28

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.

Curious why Easter is so early in 2027? Jump to the explanation below—or keep reading to learn how Easter’s date is determined.

How Is the Date of Easter Determined?

Here’s the basic rule: Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon on or after March 21.

While the actual start of spring (spring equinox) can shift between March 19, 20, and 21, the Church always uses March 21 as the start of spring for calculating Easter. This keeps the calculation consistent year after year. 

But the Church doesn’t use the exact date of the Full Moon we see in the sky. Instead, it uses a calendar based on the Moon’s repeating 19-year cycle.  The Full Moon date the Church uses is called the Paschal Full Moon (say PASS-kul). Paschal means “relating to Easter” and comes from Pascha, a traditional name for the holiday. 

Did you know? The Church’s Paschal Full Moon and the actual Full Moon in the sky fall on the same date in 2027: March 22. See upcoming Full Moon dates using our Moon Phase Calendar.

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

Full Moon reflected in water during early spring

Why Is Easter So Early in 2027?

Easter is unusually early in 2027 because the Full Moon that sets its date arrives almost as soon as spring begins!

Remember the basic rule: The Church uses March 21 as the start of spring for calculating Easter, and Easter falls on the Sunday after the next Full Moon. In 2027, that Easter Full Moon falls on March 22—just one day later!

Because the Full Moon arrives so early, Easter lands on the very next Sunday: March 28, 2027.

Is Easter Always in March or April?

Yes! Easter Sunday always falls between March 22 and April 25. Depending on where you live, Easter may arrive with the first spring bulbs—or when flowering trees and shrubs are already putting on a show.

Orthodox Easter follows a different calendar, so the holiday can fall in May. That’s the case in 2027, when Orthodox Easter is celebrated on May 2.

Easter crosses against a sunset sky

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

In the Western Christian calendar, the weeks leading up to Easter bring several important observances. Here’s when they fall in 2027 and what each one means.

Observance2027 DateWhat It Marks
Ash WednesdayFebruary 10The start of Lent and a day of fasting and reflection.
LentBegins February 10The traditional 40-day season of preparation before Easter.
Palm SundayMarch 21The Sunday before Easter and the start of Holy Week.
Good FridayMarch 26The Friday before Easter, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

And now you’ll know just when to dust off your hot cross buns recipe—a Good Friday tradition!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When is Easter next year?

    Easter Sunday falls on March 28 in 2027. In 2028, Easter will be celebrated on April 16.

  • Is Easter always in April?

    No! Easter Sunday can fall in March or April, on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In 2027, Easter arrives early, on March 28.

  • Why does Easter change every year?

    Unlike holidays with fixed dates, Easter follows the Moon and the arrival of spring. Its date is determined by the first Sunday after the Church’s Paschal Full Moon on or after March 21.

Easter
Sources
  1. U.S. Naval Observatory — The Date of Easter
  2. U.S. Census Bureau — Easter Dates from 1600 to 2099
  3. Ohio Journal of School Mathematics — The Mathematics of Easter

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann
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Comments

<span>Luni-Solar</span> Sat, 03/09/2013 - 08:12
I agree completely, and Passover is properly calculated using the original Calendar. The Luni-Solar calendar based on each month starting with the New Moon. Passover is always the 14 day of the month. Sabbath's are always the 8th 15th 22th and 29th. There was no Julian or Gregory so their fictitious calendar's had not been "invented" yet.
<span>Adlai Wordsworth</span> Sun, 04/20/2014 - 02:06
Esther. Is there any chance that we over look the fact that Queen Esther who was Jewish, who married King Ahasurus? of Persia, may have the significance of Purim, associated with "Easter". Accordingly, Purim is celebrated, in commemoration either the 1 st of the month of March, in like manner, honoring and establihing a holiday for the rememberance, and commemoration of the exodus the childewn of Israel out of Egypt, and celebrating the Joyous exoneration of the decree in Persia to set the Jewish people free of hostilities. Purim celebrates the, cleansing, newness of life the rebirth and Sacred Holiness of God's Provision, Intervention and love for His Holy People. I keep thinking in my mind that Esther, rather, that anything else brings into mind like the "Passover" the next Holiday after Passover commemorating the Manna from Heaven-God's provision, would be a day like unto "Purim" in which we see God's provision, manifestation and Intervention, which is the Resurrection of His Holy Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Messiah, on a Holy day like unto the rebirth, cleansing and Sacred Holiness of God's Provision of Manna from Heaven in the Resurrection of His Only Holy Begotten Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I feel Esther truly is associated with Easter fro the reasons mentioned above. While it is interesting to associate and try to assimilate different faiths it is not appropriate to disregard time lines and sequence of events of Scripture. The Story of the Jewish people shows a time line of events and unparallelled history; and remembrance of events was celebrated by establishing Holidays. such as Passover, then hundreds of years later, Purim. Easter, celebrates the continuing timeline of the Resurrection. The story seems to say first separate from "Egypt" a worldly place of sin, Passover- sacrificial lamb, then Purim- consecrate one self in Holiness and righteousness to the Lord, and Resurrect- Re borne, rise again with a new life, with the Life of Christ within you.
<span>Ms Stearne</span> Sun, 03/01/2015 - 20:44
Thank you for broadening my historical facts of easter it was informative
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 02/05/2013 - 15:50
Hello, readers, We appreciate the helpful comments! Since there is such variability, we have made some adjustments to our article. Thank you, the OFA editors
<span>Bill Buksa</span> Sat, 04/14/2012 - 19:30
I am trying to verify if June 29, 2013 is good to be married in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada following the Julian Calendar given that June 29 is on Sts Peter and Paul Feast Day per the Gregorian Calendar. Please advise, our church calendars for 2013 are not available. Thank you and Xpucmoc Bockpec.
<span>First Generati…</span> Tue, 04/10/2012 - 13:48
Even though my family is from Russia/Ukraine, I am American-made and American-born. So, I was brought up to celebrate both holidays, such as Easter. All I understand is that Russian holidays follow the week after American holidays. This is what I was told/taught. Anyone feel like enlightening me some more? I haven't learned much and so I am a bit naive. Happy Easter and HRISTOS VOSKRESE! :) Thank you!
<span>Nafstika</span> Tue, 04/03/2012 - 15:37
Always interesting how Easter is determined. Being Greek Orthodox our house gets two Easters--one with the baskets and bunnies and ham the other with Holy Week, red eggs and lamb. Best of both!
<span>Bishop Emanuel</span> Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:25
Pascha (Easter) is celebrated after Passover as Christ celebrated the Passover before his crucifixion. All else has been decided by Church Councils which came after the Apostolic Era was over. The Orthodox tradition is older. A Universal Church Council could regulate this. I might even live to see it!
<span>Alessa</span> Sun, 02/10/2013 - 17:59
yes, agreed. but this doesn't explain 2013 since Passover begins March 26th and Pascha is May 5th.
<span>Zuki77</span> Tue, 11/22/2011 - 10:12
It is incorrect and misleading to classify Julian calendar feasts and dates as Orthodox. There are other churches, such as , e.g. Ukrainian Catholic or Romanian Catholic who also follow this calendar. It is amazing that in the 21-st century, when there is so much accommodation for even tiny splinter sects and religious groups, this kind of inaccuracy continues to be perpetuated by news services and other sources of supposedly accurate information.