Pakistan Sights Zil Hajj Moon, Sets Eid ul-Adha for May 27

Pakistan will celebrate Eid ul-Adha on May 27, 2026, after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee sighted the Zil Hajj moon ^[1].

The announcement determines the timing of one of the most significant religious holidays in the Islamic calendar. Because the date of Eid ul-Adha depends on the lunar cycle, the committee's sighting is the official trigger for public holidays and religious observances across the country.

Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad chaired the committee meeting in Karachi ^[2]. The group met to determine the start of the holy month of Zil Hajj and the subsequent date of the festival ^[2]. According to the committee, the first day of Zil Hajj will be May 18, 2026 ^[1].

While the primary announcement sets the holiday for May 27 ^[1], some reports indicated the date could have fallen on May 28 depending on moon visibility ^[3]. The official sighting in Karachi resolved this uncertainty for the national calendar.

This timing may lead to an extended break for the public. Potential Eid ul-Adha holidays could run from May 27 to May 29, 2026, which would create a five-day break ^[4]. This window allows for the traditional animal sacrifice, and family gatherings central to the holiday.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee serves as the final authority on lunar sightings in Pakistan. Its decisions ensure that the majority of the population observes the religious dates in unison, avoiding discrepancies between different regions or religious sects.