Annual calendar · United Kingdom
Jewish holidays 2026: UK dates and greetings
A practical UK Jewish holiday calendar for 2026 with sunset-to-nightfall dates, the character of each occasion, appropriate greetings and planning notes.
Use language that fits the moment.
The direct answer
Jewish holidays begin on the preceding evening, usually at sunset, and end at nightfall. In the UK during 2026, Passover runs from 1–9 April, Shavuot from 21–23 May, Rosh Hashanah from 11–13 September, Yom Kippur from 20–21 September and Hanukkah from 4–12 December. Exact local start and end times vary across the country.
Know the moment
Calendar basis
The table gives UK dates. Check local festival times because London, Manchester, Glasgow and other locations differ.
Plan ahead
Dates and practical guidance
| Occasion | UK dates | Character | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Monday 2 February | Minor celebration | Work normally permitted; greeting optional. |
| Purim | Mon 2 March sunset – Tue 3 March nightfall | Joyful celebration | Happy Purim is appropriate; practices vary. |
| Passover / Pesach | Wed 1 April sunset – Thu 9 April nightfall | Major festival | Work restrictions traditionally apply 2–3 and 8–9 April; dietary needs continue throughout. |
| Yom HaShoah | Mon 13 April sunset – Tue 14 April | Commemoration | Use solemn, remembrance-focused language. |
| Lag BaOmer | Tuesday 5 May | Celebratory | Work permitted; community events may take place. |
| Shavuot | Thu 21 May sunset – Sat 23 May nightfall | Major festival | Traditionally no work; Friday leave may be required. |
| Tisha B’Av | Wed 22 July sunset – Thu 23 July nightfall | Solemn fast | Avoid celebratory greetings and optional social events. |
| Rosh Hashanah | Fri 11 September sunset – Sun 13 September nightfall | Celebratory and reflective | Shana Tova; traditionally no work. |
| Yom Kippur | Sun 20 September sunset – Mon 21 September nightfall | Solemn fast | Monday leave and time to prepare on Sunday may be needed. |
| Sukkot | Fri 25 September sunset – Fri 2 October nightfall | Joyful festival | Traditional work restrictions on 26–27 September. |
| Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah | Fri 2 October sunset – Sun 4 October nightfall | Joyful festival | Traditionally no work; Chag Sameach is appropriate. |
| Hanukkah | Fri 4 December sunset – Sat 12 December nightfall | Celebratory | Work normally permitted except Shabbat; evening events common. |
Words ready to use
Useful greetings across the Jewish year
Shana Tova — wishing you a happy, healthy and sweet New Year.
Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast.
Chag Sameach — wishing you a happy and meaningful festival.
Happy Hanukkah! Wishing you eight nights of light, warmth and joy.
Happy Purim! Chag Purim Sameach.
No festive greeting is needed; a quiet acknowledgement of the fast is more appropriate.
Avoid the awkward moment
What not to say or assume
Do not treat every listed date as equally celebratory. Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av are solemn fasts.
Do not assume that “all Jewish holidays” require leave; observance and work restrictions differ by festival and individual.
Avoid scheduling from the daytime date alone—the observance may have begun the previous evening.
Understand the context
Guidance beyond the greeting
Why do Jewish holidays begin in the evening?
A Jewish calendar day runs from evening to evening. That is why a festival shown as 12 September in a workplace diary may begin on the evening of 11 September. Most minor fasts are an exception and begin at dawn; Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av begin the evening before.
Which dates matter most for UK planning?
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most widely observed High Holy Days. Traditionally observant people may also avoid work, travel, writing and electronics on particular days of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Ask what the individual needs rather than estimating from identity alone.
How this calendar is maintained
Dates are checked against Diaspora calendars from Hebcal and Chabad, with UK observance guidance from UJS and the UK Civil Service Guide to Judaism. The page is reviewed before the High Holiday season and will receive a new annual edition.
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Questions, answered clearly
When do Jewish holidays begin?
Most begin at sunset on the evening before the daytime date and finish after nightfall. Exact local times change by place and date.
Are UK and Israeli Jewish holiday dates the same?
The starting Hebrew date is the same, but several festivals are observed for an extra day in Diaspora communities, including the UK. This guide uses Diaspora dates.
Which Jewish holidays have work restrictions?
Traditionally observant people may avoid work on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and specified days of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Individual observance varies.
Are all Jewish holidays happy occasions?
No. Yom Kippur is solemn and reflective, while Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning. The greeting should match the character of the day.
Are the times the same throughout the UK?
No. Sunset and nightfall differ by location. Use a local synagogue calendar for exact times, particularly in Scotland and northern England.
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