Tonight, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marks a pivotal moment for Muslims in Saudi Arabia and across much of the Islamic world with the official crescent moon sighting that will determine the start of Ramadan 1447 AH (2026). Saudi authorities, including the Supreme Court, have publicly urged Muslims throughout the Kingdom to look for the faint lunar crescent after maghrib or sunset and report any sightings to local courts or moon-sighting committees.
In the traditional Islamic calendar, the new month (in this case, Ramadan) only begins when the slender new crescent moon (hilal) is observed in the evening sky. If tonight’s sighting is confirmed, the first day of fasting will be declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026. If the crescent is not seen due to weather conditions, low visibility or astronomical factors, the month of Sha’ban will be completed as a full 30 days, pushing the start of Ramadan to Thursday, February 19.
