Why does Easter change date every year?

It is tied to the church's calculation of the spring full moon, which shifts against the calendar each year.

When is Orthodox Easter?

Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar for the calculation, so their Easter is often one to five weeks later.

Is Good Friday a holiday?

It is not a federal holiday in the US, but it is a public holiday in many other countries and some US states.

How many days until Easter?

Easter 2026 is on Sunday, April 5, 2026. In 2027 it falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027.

Western Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, so it falls between March 22 and April 25.

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, and in many homes it also means egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and a spring family lunch. Because its date depends on the moon, it can move by more than a month from one year to the next, which affects school spring breaks and travel plans. This countdown follows the Western church date used by Catholic and Protestant churches.

Easter in the next five years

Year	Date	Weekday
2026	April 5	Sunday
2027	March 28	Sunday
2028	April 16	Sunday
2029	April 1	Sunday
2030	April 21	Sunday

Facts about Easter

Western Easter can fall on any date from March 22 to April 25.
Orthodox churches calculate Easter with the Julian calendar, so their date often differs from the Western one.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Easter change date every year?: It is tied to the church's calculation of the spring full moon, which shifts against the calendar each year.
When is Orthodox Easter?: Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar for the calculation, so their Easter is often one to five weeks later.
Is Good Friday a holiday?: It is not a federal holiday in the US, but it is a public holiday in many other countries and some US states.

More countdowns

Counting to a different date? Try the Date Difference Calculator.