Eid Al-Adha 2026 Date: Is Bakrid On May 27 Or May 28? Centre Revises Holiday After Moon Sighting Confusion

Muslim community in India will celebrate Eid Al-Adha 2026, popularly known as Bakrid or Eid-ul-Zuha next week. But like every year a confusion has arisen regarding the date of the festival which is dependent on the moon sighting. So people are wondering whether Bakrid would be celebrated on May 27 or May 28.

After the latest announcements from religious bodies and government authorities, Eid Al-Adha in most parts of India has now been officially confirmed for Thursday, May 28.

The confusion over the Eid holiday date also forced the Central Government to revise its official Bakrid holiday notification at the last minute.

Bakrid 2026 Date Confirmed In India

According to moon sighting committees and Islamic religious organisations, the crescent moon for Zil Hajj was not sighted in several parts of India on Sunday evening. After this, authorities confirmed that Eid-ul-Adha would be observed a day later on May 28.

The Jama Masjid Shahi Imam also announced that the moon was expected to be visible on Monday, which shifted the Bakrid 2026 celebration date in India to Thursday.

Muslims across the country are now preparing for Eid prayers, Qurbani rituals, and family gatherings on May 28.

Central Government Revises Bakrid Holiday Date

The moon sighting confusion also impacted the official government holiday calendar.

In a revised notification, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions stated that all Central Government Administrative Offices located in Delhi and New Delhi will remain closed on May 28, 2026, on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid).

Earlier, the government holiday had initially been announced for May 27. However, after the updated moon sighting reports, the holiday date was officially changed to May 28.

The revised Eid holiday announcement quickly became a trending topic online as people searched for updates regarding schools, banks, offices, and public institutions.

Kashmir Likely To Celebrate Eid On May 27

Unlike most parts of India, Kashmir is likely to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday, May 27, after local clerics reportedly confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon there.

Similarly, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Indonesia have also announced May 27 as the official date for Eid Al-Adha celebrations this year.

Saudi Arabia Announces Eid Al-Adha On May 27

Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the Dhu al-Hijjah crescent moon on Sunday evening. Following the announcement, Monday, May 18, 2026, was declared the first day of Zil Hajj 1447.

As per the Islamic calendar, Eid Al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, resulting in Bakrid being observed in Saudi Arabia on May 27.

Several Gulf countries and Muslim-majority nations are also following the same schedule.

Why Eid Dates Differ Across Countries

The date of Eid-ul-Adha changes from country to country because the Islamic calendar depends on lunar moon sightings.

Since the crescent moon may become visible at different times across regions due to geography and weather conditions, some countries celebrate Eid a day earlier or later than others.

This is one of the main reasons why India, Saudi Arabia, Kashmir, Malaysia, and Indonesia may sometimes observe Bakrid on different dates.