How Is The Easter Date Determined?

Unlike Christmas or New Year’s Day, which are set in stone, Easter shifts around the calendar. Some years it's in March and sometimes it's in April. In fact, it can be as early as 22 March or as late as 25 April.

Interestingly, some dates have been more common than others. Easter has most frequently fallen on 31 March and 16 April, while the rarest date is 24 April.

Here's what to know about why Easter dates shift every year..

How is the Easter date determined?

The date of Easter is linked to both the moon and the spring equinox — this is a tradition that dates back to early Christianity. Easter Sunday always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March (the spring equinox in the Church’s calendar).

If that full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is pushed back to the following Sunday. This means Easter can fall anywhere between 22 March and 25 April in any given year.

The system was established centuries ago to create a consistent method for determining Easter across different Christian communities. However, as the full moon doesn’t always fall on the same date each year, Easter doesn't either.

Why is Easter determined by the moon?

You might wonder why not just pick a fixed date? The reason goes back to ancient traditions. Easter is linked to the first full moon after 21 March, which helps keep it close to springtime.

This connection to the moon also reflects themes of renewal and fresh beginnings. Following the lunar cycle, Easter always falls after the start of spring.

What date is Easter 2026?

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In 2026, Easter falls on Sunday 5 April, over two weeks earlier than Easter 2025, which was a late one falling on 20 April.

Here are the key Easter dates for 2026, so you can start planning your celebrations:

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day): 17 February
Ash Wednesday (start of Lent): 18 February
Good Friday: 3 April
Easter Sunday: 5 April
Easter Monday (bank holiday): 6 April

If you’re travelling over the Easter break, it’s also worth noting that in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Easter is often celebrated on a different date due to the use of the Julian calendar. In 2026, Eastern Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday 12 April.

So, whether you’re planning a family feast, an Easter egg hunt or a countryside getaway around Easter 2026, now you know why Easter's date is different every year.