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Passover 2026: When Does Passover Start?

happy passover
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Passover (Pesach) is one of the most important Jewish holidays, celebrating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The weeklong festival is observed with special traditions, including the seder meal, symbolic foods, and the retelling of the Exodus story. In 2026, Passover begins at sundown on April 1 and ends on April 9.

What Is Passover?

The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, is an annual weeklong festival commemorating the emancipation of Jewish peoples from slavery (in ancient Egypt). The Hebrew name for the holiday, Pesach, means to pass over and is a reference to the plague—sent to kill all firstborn children of Egypt—having passed over the Israelites’ homes, sparing the lives of their firstborns.

When Is Passover 2026?

The dates are based on the Hebrew calendar, from the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan (or Nisan) through the 22nd day.

Passover 2026 will be celebrated from April 1 to April 9. The first seder will be on April 1 after nightfall, and the second seder will be on April 2 after nightfall.

YearPassover Begins (at sundown)Passover Ends (at nightfall, when 3 medium stars become visible)
2026Wednesday, April 1Thursday, April 9
2027Wednesday, April 21Thursday, April 29
2028Monday, April 10Tuesday, April 18
2029Friday, March 30Saturday, April 7

Note: What is often called Passover today has its origins in two ancient observances. Nissan 14 was the Passover as mentioned in the Torah; at this time, an offering was made to the Lord—the sacrifice of a lamb, which was slaughtered and prepared during the afternoon. Nissan 15 (the new day starting at sundown) was the beginning of the seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread. At the start of Nissan 15, the Passover lamb was eaten, along with unleavened bread. Over time, the Festival of Unleavened Bread became more commonly known as Passover and is now usually considered to begin at sundown between Nissan 14 and Nissan 15.

Celebrating Passover

In many Reform Jewish communities, Passover is celebrated for seven days, not eight. In more traditional Jewish communities—including both Orthodox and Conservative communities—Passover is celebrated for eight days.

Family and friends gather together after nightfall on the first and second nights of the holiday for the high point of the festival observance, the seder. During the seder, which means order in Hebrew, the experience of the Exodus is told in story, song, prayer, and the tasting of symbolic foods. The seder meals include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.

The Meaning of Passover

(Note: To some followers of Judaism, it is considered disrespectful to write out the name of the Lord in full. Because Passover is primarily a Jewish holiday, we have elected to follow this custom on this page by using “G-d” to refer to Him. Thank you for your understanding.)

In Hebrew, this festival is known as Pesach (which means to pass over), because G-d passed over the Jewish homes to spare them from death that first Passover eve.

The Israelites had been enslaved by Egyptian pharaohs for many decades. Moses tried to appeal to the Egyptians with a message from G-d, but this was ignored. Devastating plagues destroyed crops and livestock.

On the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE), the last of the 10 plagues afflicted the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn children. However, G-d spared the children of Israel; the plague “passed over” their homes because G-d had instructed Moses to tell them to mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood. The pharaoh relented at last. Six hundred thousand adult males, plus many more women and children, left Egypt on that day and began the trek to Mount Sinai.

Passover Recipes

Popular Passover Foods

  • Matzah (unleavened bread)
  • Charoset
  • Bitter herbs (maror)
  • Gefilte fish
  • Matzo ball soup
  • Beef brisket

Perhaps the most well-known of Passover foods are maror (bitter herbs) and matzah (unleavened bread), a reminder of the haste with which the enslaved people left Egypt because they did not even have time for the bread to rise.

For the duration of Passover, no leavened or fermented food or drink is eaten, including cake, cookies, cereal, pasta, and most alcoholic beverages.

Passover Charoset (or Haroset)

Traditionally, the matzah is served with a sweet condiment called charoset, a mixture of apples, nuts, and wine. This symbolic dish represents the bricks used by the enslaved Jews to build the pharaoh’s cities. The basic recipe (though it varies) is:

  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 3 apples, unpeeled, cored and cut into about 8 pieces
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or to taste
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons grape juice or sweet Passover wine

Put the walnuts in the chopping bowl, if doing it by hand, or a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Roughly chop into large dice or pulse just a few times in the processor, being careful not to overprocess. Add the apple pieces and chop or pulse to the desired consistency. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well to blend. Makes about 2 cups.

The above recipe is the most basic version. Below is another charoset recipe, which uses honey, raisins, and dried apricots.

Close-up of a bowl of charoset.
Here is another charoset recipe, which uses honey, raisins, and dried apricots.
Credit: Chatelaine

A traditional Passover meal also includes gefilte fish and matzo ball soup for starters. A classic dinner dish is a beef brisket.

Beef brisket.
Beef brisket.

Note: For the duration of the 8 days (or, in Israel, 7 days) of Passover, chametz (leaven) is avoided.

If you observe Passover, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable celebration!

Holidays

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>Vincent 1961</span> Tue, 02/25/2014 - 03:35
I read that the spring equinox determined the 1st day of the year. 14 days later at sundown (15th) began passover. Christ was crucified on that day on what would've been our Wed.(high sabbath). Rose 3 days later on Sat.(wkly sabbath). Fri thru Sun isn't 3 days. To the person that say we're not to observe passover, I'd say you should read Colossians. Christ is our Passover. The word easter is only in the bible one time. If you look in the Greek concordance you'll see the word was pesach (passover).
<span>Steven Surabian</span> Mon, 03/30/2015 - 23:33
I agree with you, Jesus did die in the afternoon on the 15th day which was a Wednesday. The Jews kept Passover a day late that year just like this year 2015. Jesus died on the Holy day, then three full days later in the afternoon on Saturday Jesus was resurrected which was the18th day or 4th day of Passover but a Sabbath day. What better day to be resurrected. That night which became Sunday at dark Jesus left the tomb, so at dawn with first light, the tomb was empty. Jesus did not resurrect on Sunday but at the end of the Sabbath on Saturday. Three full days and three full night.72 hours from death to resurrection. Remember Nehemiah 13:19 shows us that at sundown the new day does not begin, proving the Jews kept the days wrong. The new day begins with darkness, read what God says "there was light then darkness the new day. Jews showed us that by not following but showing us the way.
<span>Steven Surabian</span> Tue, 03/31/2015 - 10:18
Meant to say last sentence, Jesus Showed us that by not following the Jews, Jesus showed us the way. The way to count, which is 1,2,3,4 etc. not to skip or add a day extra. Thank you, Steve Surabian, True Israelite.
<span>Roving Sprite</span> Wed, 02/26/2014 - 16:04
To further clarify your calculations, Passover begins on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan (originally called Abib). That month begins with the nearest new moon to the Spring Equinox (March 21) as observed over Jerusalem. Thus this year, the nearest new moon will occur around April 1st., putting the celebration of the Passover 14 days later (beginning the evening of April 14 - since the Jewish "day", i.e. 24 hours, starts at sundown). Regarding the use of the word “Easter” in the Bible at Acts 12:4, Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words makes some interesting comments. It says “Pascha is mistranslated "Easter" in Acts 12:4, AV, (it)denotes the Passover (RV). The phrase "after the Passover" signifies after the whole festival was at an end.” Also of interest is this comment: “The term "Easter" is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by Christ, nor was it connected with Lent. From this Pasch the pagan festival of "Easter" was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity.”
<span>Crystal Chukwuemeka</span> Sat, 02/08/2014 - 10:51
Pls when is the actual date for the feast of passover 2014,since they have 2 Adar
<span>John Joseph Gavin</span> Wed, 03/19/2014 - 18:21
very large subject for years my family has used a predescribed calander from shoprite-than I began to have questions concerning what I was doing and my show of or privacy for prayer-celebrations etc-according to month it is nisan exodus-12for years we had no lamb Christ being the lamb we used unleaved flour for the body and fruit of the vine for the cup of the new an everlasting covenant-according to the moon this became another question new moon I was told the first cresent so for years-than I thought when is a house a new house when I put the first 2x4 up or the last shingle?am I a new born when conceived or born?so when the moon is in dark and at each phase it is working toward new at full which was march 17th between12am an 1am and reigned until the same on the 18th-now remember genesis 1v5 evening and morning so actually it was the 18th an 19th and I set aside the flour an wine and today I set aside even the water for the bread/body-your ? my answer Passover april 1st than 7days of unleaved bread enjoy and be on the look out for the unity of his spirit with confirmation in the heavens
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 02/12/2014 - 16:17

Passover begins at sunset on April 14, 2014. The first full day is April 15.

For more information, you might be interested in:

http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1723/jewish/Passover-Calendar.htm

 <span>Lisadiane111</span> Tue, 03/26/2013 - 15:55
I have noticed there is a little division as to when the passover is. An example is this article. It states that Passover begins with the new moon, which is said to be on the 27th, yet it shows that Passover began the evening before the 26th this year. Does anyone have any clarification on this?
<span>Yochanan</span> Fri, 03/28/2014 - 03:29
Actually, Passover begins at the FULL moon (after the new moon that is closest to the spring equinox). Also, keep in mind that each Jewish day is from sunset to sunset, so the holiday actually starts the evening before the date marked on most secular calendars. That is the night of the Passover Seder. Clear?
<span>Fredmacmurray</span> Thu, 03/28/2013 - 13:43
The chronological reckoning between John’s gospel and the synoptics presents a challenge, especially in relation to the time of the Last Supper (13:2). While the synoptics portray the disciples and the Lord at the Last Supper as eating the Passover meal on Thursday evening (Nisan 14) and Jesus being crucified on Friday, John’s gospel states that the Jews did not enter into the Praetorium “lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover” (18:28). So, the disciples had eaten the Passover on Thursday evening, but the Jews had not. In fact, John (19:14) states that Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were on the day of Preparation for the Passover and not after the eating of the Passover, so that with the trial and crucifixion on Friday Christ was actually sacrificed at the same time the Passover lambs were being slain (19:14). The question is, “Why did the disciples eat the Passover meal on Thursday?” The answer lies in a difference among the Jews in the way they reckoned the beginning and ending of days. From Josephus, the Mishna, and other ancient Jewish sources we learn that the Jews in northern Palestine calculated days from sunrise to sunrise. That area included the region of Galilee, where Jesus and all the disciples, except Judas, had grown up. Apparently most, if not all, of the Pharisees used that system of reckoning. But Jews in the southern part, which centered in Jerusalem, calculated days from sunset to sunset. Because all the priests necessarily lived in or near Jerusalem, as did most of the Sadducees, those groups followed the southern scheme. That variation doubtlessly caused confusion at times, but it also had some practical benefits. During Passover time, for instance, it allowed for the feast to be celebrated legitimately on two adjoining days, thereby permitting the temple sacrifices to be made over a total period of four hours rather than two. That separation of days may also have had the effect of reducing both regional and religious clashes between the two groups. On that basis the seeming contradictions in the gospel accounts are easily explained. Being Galileans, Jesus and the disciples considered Passover day to have started at sunrise on Thursday and to end at sunrise on Friday. The Jewish leaders who arrested and tried Jesus, being mostly priests and Sadducees, considered Passover day to begin at sunset on Thursday and end at sunset on Friday. By that variation, predetermined by God’s sovereign provision, Jesus could thereby legitimately celebrate the last Passover meal with His disciples and yet still be sacrificed on Passover day. The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.