The 2-Hour Fast vs 14-Hour Fast: Global Ramadan 2026 Guide When Does Ramadan 2026 Start? Dates, Fasting Hours, and Global

The holy month of Ramadan is approaching worldwide, and on Wednesday (18 February) or Thursday (19 February), Muslims around the world will observe their first fast. The difference in dates depends on which part of the world you live in.
In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month and holds great significance for Muslims. Every year, millions of Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during Ramadan.
Fasting was made obligatory in the second year of Hijrah (the second year after the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina). Since then, Muslims across the world have continued the practice.
The start date of Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, which is why it shifts each year on the Gregorian calendar. Typically, Ramadan moves back by about 11 days each year compared to the previous year.

The Impact of Geography and Weather on Fasting Duration

The length of daylight hours varies from one place to another around the world, depending on how far a location is from the equator.
Currently, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning days are longer and nights are shorter. As a result, fasting hours are longer in countries located in this hemisphere.
In contrast, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, so fasting durations there are shorter compared to warmer regions.
For example, in the Chilean city of Puerto Williams, often considered the southernmost city in the world, fasting at the start of Ramadan this year will last about 14 and a half hours.
By contrast, in Longyearbyen, Norway often regarded as the northernmost city in the world fasting at the beginning of Ramadan will last just over two and a half hours. However, as the days progress, the duration will increase to about 12 and a half hours.
In such extreme remote areas, Muslims often follow the fasting times observed in Mecca.
In northern parts of the world, the longest fasts occur around 21 June, and the shortest when Ramadan falls in December.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true: as Ramadan gradually moves toward December, fasting hours become longer, and toward June, they become shorter.

How Long Will Fasting Be in Muslim-Majority Countries?

In most parts of the Arab world, fasting hours will range between 12 and 13 hours, making Ramadan 2026 one of the more moderate fasting periods in recent years.
In Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, fasting at the start of Ramadan will begin at approximately 6:50 a.m. local time and end at 6:20 p.m. (about 11.5 hours). By the end of the holy month, this duration will increase by about half an hour.
In Pakistan, fasting will initially last just over 12 hours, increasing by about 40 minutes by the end of the month.
In contrast, Muslims living in the Southern Hemisphere will experience longer fasting durations.
For example, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fasting at the start of Ramadan will last about 13 hours and 15 minutes. The same duration will apply in Auckland, New Zealand.
However, in both cities, fasting hours will decrease by about an hour by the end of the holy month because the Southern Hemisphere will be moving toward winter, meaning daylight hours will gradually shorten.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Hemisphere, fasting durations will change more rapidly throughout the month. For instance, in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, Ramadan will begin with approximately nine-hour fasts and increase to more than 12 hours by the end of the month.
Fasting hours this year are much more manageable compared to when Ramadan falls in June or July, when daylight hours are much longer in high-latitude regions.
In parts of Norway, Russia, and Greenland, when Ramadan coincides with the long summer days, Muslims may fast for up to 20 hours.
In the Northern Hemisphere, fasting time will be slightly shorter than last year and will continue decreasing each year until 2031. That is when the shortest day of the year — 21 December — will fall during Ramadan. Naturally, in the Southern Hemisphere, fasting durations will increase each year until 2031.

Why Do Muslims Fast?

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, which form the foundation of a Muslim’s way of life.
Muslims eat before dawn for the fast, a meal known as suhoor. During daylight hours, they are not permitted to eat or drink until sunset, when they break their fast with iftar.
According to Islamic teachings, certain individuals are exempt from fasting. These include minors, pregnant or breastfeeding women, women who are menstruating, travelers, and people who are ill or whose health could be adversely affected by fasting.