Passover 2026 - Start/End Dates, Seder, Calendar

Passover 2026 will begin in the evening of April 1st and end in the evening of April 8th, with a duration of 8 days. In Israel, the event only lasts for 7 days and ends in the evening of the 7th. 

During its last 2 days, families and communities often gather for a festive meal. This meal may include traditional Passover dishes as well as additional foods that are restricted during other days of the holiday.

Passover is one of the three major religious festivals in Israel. During the festival, Jews get together with their family members to remember the history and hardship of the Israelites' struggle for freedom by eating matzo (unleavened) pizza, drinking four cups of wine, and other observances.

The First Night of Passover - Things to Do

• Activities: family gatherings and having a seder meal

The First night of Passover is the most important day during the 8-day Passover celebration. The first Sedar takes place on this evening after sunset.

when the sun gets down, Jewish family will enjoy their special ritual meal called Seder. Seder means 'order' in Hebrew, and it refers to a special meal enjoyed during Passover. Jewish families specially organized the Seder to retell the Passover story step-by-step.

The Seder lasts for about 6 hours during which Jewish people will have an intense reading of the Haggadah (the Exodus account from the Torah) and then eat the Seder foods.

Food on a Seder plate includes bitter herbs dipped in saltwater, potatoes, boiled eggs, and a roasted lamb neck bone. All of these foods have symbolic meanings associated with the Exodus journey of the Israelites from Egypt.

In Israel, people are only required to have one Seder. Outside Israel, however, Jews are required to have two.

The 8 Days of Passover

Passover is an 8-day event. During this period, Jewish people will celebrate the event by having Seder meals and eating matzo (unleavened) pizza. See below the 8-day schedule for Passover:

Why are Passover and Easter so Far Apart

Passover and Easter are two different festivals celebrated on different dates. Although they have historical connections, they are rooted in different cultures.

Passover and Easter connections: According to Christian tradition, Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection occurred during the Jewish Passover. The Last Supper is believed to be the first Seder meal of Passover that Jesus and his followers enjoyed to celebrate the event.

Passover's date: Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt as described in the biblical Book of Exodus. It follows the Hebrew calendar, which begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew lunar month of Nisan. Passover usually begins in March or April.

Easter's date: Easter falls on the Sunday following the full moon on or after the vernal equinox, which falls between March 20th and April 23th in the Gregorian calendar.

Are Passover and Good Friday the Same Day?

No, Passover and Good Friday are not the same day nowadays.

The first "Good Friday" — the day of Jesus' crucifixion — was during the first day of Passover on Friday, April 3rd of A.D. 33. However, they are usually celebrated on different dates, and are determined by the differing calendar traditions of Judaism and Christianity.

While there are historical instances when the first day of Passover coincides with Good Friday, this is rare.

Passover is a Jewish holiday based on the Hebrew calendar and begins a day before the full moon after the spring equinox, irrespective of the day of the week. Good Friday, on the other hand, is a Christian holiday observed on the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday — the Sunday after the full moon after/on the vernal equinox.

So Passover Day 1 and Good Friday either occur within about a week of each other or within a week of a month apart in the period from March 23rd to April 23rd.

When Is the Second Passover?

The Second Passover (Pesach Sheni) takes place exactly 1 month after the regular Passover on the 14th day of the second Hebrew month of Lyar. It is observed by certain individuals who are unable to participate in the regular Passover observance.

What Can You Not Eat During Passover?

During Passover, all leavened foods are forbidden. Here are some things that are typically avoided or prohibited during Passover:

• Bread and bread products: This includes loaves of bread, rolls, bagels, cookies, and biscuits as well as any baked goods made with yeast, baking powder, or baking soda.
• Cakes and pastries: Cakes, muffins, croissants, pies, and other pastries that contain leavening agents are generally avoided.
• Grains: Cereals, pasta, rice (except for rice that's specifically labeled kosher for Passover), and other grains are typically avoided.
• Legumes and beans: Chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, peas, corn, peanuts, tofu, and other legumes are considered kitniyot (prohibited legumes) and are avoided by some Jewish communities.
• Fermented and alcoholic beverages: Beer, whiskey, vodka, and other fermented or distilled beverages made from grains are avoided.

Can You Say Happy Passover?

Happy Passover! Yes, you can say that to your Jewish friends, colleagues, or business partners during the event. Passover is a joyful event. Jews celebrate it to commemorate the freedom of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Happy Passover: "חַג פֶּסַח שָׂמֵחַ" (Chag Pesach Sameach) is the most traditional greeting for the event.

Do Christians Celebrate Passover?

Passover, or Pesach, is primarily a Jewish festival. Many Christians do not celebrate Passover even though it has historical and biblical significance for Christians, including Catholics.

According to Christian tradition, Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection occurred during the Jewish Passover. The Last Supper is believed to be the last seder meal of Passover that Jesus and his followers enjoyed together. Instead, they often focus on the Christian observance of Holy Week, which includes observances like Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. These events commemorate the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ respectively.

Even though the times for Easter and the Last Supper are quite close to the Jewish Passover, they are rooted in different cultures. Catholics, for example, may have Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) services that recall the Last Supper, but the specific rituals and practices differ from the traditional Jewish Passover seder.

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