Easter 2026: Western vs Orthodox — Why the Dates Differ
Easter 2026: Western vs Orthodox — Why the Dates Differ
Quick take: Western Easter (Catholic/Protestant) is Sunday, April 5, 2026. Orthodox Easter (Pascha) is Sunday, April 12, 2026. Below is a plain-English explainer of the date rules, plus Holy Week quick facts and an FAQ.
Dates at a glance (2026)
Local parishes will post service times for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Vigil, and Pascha services.
Why the dates differ
Both traditions follow the rule from Nicaea (325 CE): celebrate Easter on the Sunday after the Paschal full moon that follows the (ecclesiastical) spring equinox. The difference comes from the calendar and the tables used to approximate that full moon:
- Western churches use the Gregorian calendar and its ecclesiastical full-moon tables with a fixed equinox date of March 21.
- Most Orthodox churches still compute using the Julian calendar (13 days behind in the 1900s–2099 period) and different Paschal-moon tables; some traditions also ensure Easter falls after Passover.
The result: in 2026 the Western calculation lands on April 5, while the Julian-based calculation lands a week later on April 12.
Holy Week quick facts (Western)
- Palm Sunday: Mar 29, 2026
- Triduum: Holy Thursday Apr 2 • Good Friday Apr 3 • Easter Vigil Apr 4
- Easter Sunday: Apr 5
Great & Holy Week quick facts (Orthodox)
- Palm Sunday: Apr 5, 2026
- Holy Friday: Apr 10 • Paschal Vigil: night of Apr 11
- Pascha (Easter): Apr 12
FAQ
Do the dates ever match?
Yes—some years both calculations land on the same Sunday (e.g., 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2025). In 2026 they are one week apart.
Could there be a single global date?
Church leaders have discussed it periodically (often suggesting using modern astronomy and Jerusalem time), but no universal change has been adopted yet.
What is “computus”?
The traditional method (tables/cycles) for determining the Paschal full moon and, from it, the date of Easter.
Dates reflect widely used church calendars; follow your local parish announcements for service times.