Millions of Muslim pilgrims have gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage and celebrate Eid al-Adha this week [1], [2].
This annual event represents one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing faithful practitioners from across the globe to the Masjid al-Harām. The pilgrimage serves as a core spiritual requirement and a symbol of unity for the global Muslim community.
Footage from a timelapse video shows pilgrims offering prayers and performing Tawaf, the ritual of circling the Kaaba [2]. The Hajj officially began on May 25, 2026 [1].
Reports on the scale of the gathering vary. Yahoo News said nearly two million Muslims were preparing to embark on the pilgrimage [1]. However, the Associated Press said around 1.6 million Muslims had gathered in Mecca ahead of the start of the event [2].
As the rites progressed, pilgrims faced challenging environmental conditions. Globe and Mail staff said masses of pilgrims embarked on a symbolic stoning of the devil on Sunday under soaring summer heat [3]. This ritual is part of the final rites of Hajj, which coincide with the celebrations of Eid al-Adha [3].
The gathering in Mecca involves complex logistics to manage the flow of millions of people within the Masjid al-Harām. The rituals performed, including the Tawaf and the symbolic stoning, are central to the faith's tradition and the observance of the holiday [1], [3].
“Around 1.6 million Muslims have gathered in Mecca ahead of the start of Hajj”
The 2026 Hajj highlights the ongoing challenge of managing massive crowds in extreme heat, as pilgrims perform physically demanding rituals like the symbolic stoning of the devil. The discrepancy in reported attendance numbers—between 1.6 million and 2 million—reflects the difficulty of tracking real-time movement in one of the world's most densely populated religious sites.
