Quick answer: In 2026 the first Fatimiyah (13–15 Jumada al-Awwal 1448) falls on about 24–26 October, and the second Fatimiyah (3–5 Jumada al-Thani 1448) falls on about 13–15 November. Shia communities follow local moon sighting and the ruling of their marja’, so your imambargah may begin one day later than the dates below.
Updated 28 October 2026. Dates are calculated from the Umm al-Qura calendar and are approximate until the new moon is sighted in your area.
Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah 2026 at a glance
| Observance | Hijri date (1448 AH) | Approximate date, 2026 | If your moon sighting is one day later |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Fatimiyah (75-day narration) | 13–15 Jumada al-Awwal | Sat 24 – Mon 26 October | Sun 25 – Tue 27 October |
| “First ten days” (customary) | 10–20 Jumada al-Awwal | Wed 21 – Sat 31 October | Thu 22 October – Sun 1 November |
| Second Fatimiyah (95-day narration) | 3–5 Jumada al-Thani | Fri 13 – Sun 15 November | Sat 14 – Mon 16 November |
| “Second ten days” (customary) | 1–10 Jumada al-Thani* | Wed 11 – Fri 20 November | Thu 12 – Sat 21 November |
| Wiladat of Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) | 20 Jumada al-Thani | Mon 30 November | Tue 1 December |
*Practice differs: some communities count the second ten days as 1–10 Jumada al-Thani, others as 10–20. Follow your local centre.
Jumada al-Awwal 1448 runs from about 12 October to 10 November 2026, and Jumada al-Thani 1448 from about 11 November to 9 December 2026 in the Umm al-Qura calendar.
Where are we right now? At the time of writing we are in the middle of Jumada al-Awwal, so the first three days have just passed in most places, the customary “first ten days” are ending this weekend, and the second Fatimiyah is about two weeks away. There is still plenty of time to prepare your home and family. See our 10-day family plan for Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah at home.
What are the Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah?
Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah (“the Fatimid days”, also written Fatimiyya or Ayam-e-Fatima) are the days on which Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (s.a.), the daughter of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). If you want the full meaning and background, read our main guide: Ayyam e Fatimiyah: Remembering Sayyida Fatima Zahra (SA).
Why are there two Fatimiyah dates?
Historical reports differ on how long Sayyida Fatima (s.a.) lived after the passing of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w.). The two best-known Shia narrations give 75 days (13 Jumada al-Awwal) and 95 days (3 Jumada al-Thani). Shia communities therefore observe both, and they are called the first and second Fatimiyah. We explain each report in detail in Why Two Fatimiyah Dates? The 75 vs 95 Days Narrations Explained.
How different countries observe the days
- Iran: the second Fatimiyah (3 Jumada al-Thani) has been an official public holiday since 2000, and many people hold mourning processions to the shrines in Mashhad and Qom.
- Iraq: communities in Najaf and elsewhere hold gatherings on three dates: 8 Rabi al-Thani (the 40-day report), 13 Jumada al-Awwal and 3 Jumada al-Thani.
- Pakistan, Australia and Europe: Shia centres hold majalis for three to five nights around the two Fatimiyah dates. Centres in cities such as Hamburg and Stockholm, and Islamic centres in England, are among those that hold Fatimiyah gatherings.
- UK, USA, Canada: most imambargahs and Shia Islamic centres announce their own programme, usually evening majalis on the nights leading up to 13 Jumada al-Awwal and 3 Jumada al-Thani.
Why the date can change in your city
The Islamic calendar is lunar, so each month begins when the new crescent is sighted. Calculation-based calendars (such as Umm al-Qura) and local sightings can differ by a day, and different maraji’ follow different methods. For the exact start in your city:
- Check the announcement from your local Shia centre or imambargah.
- Follow the calendar published by your marja’s office.
- Count from your confirmed 1 Jumada al-Awwal and 1 Jumada al-Thani.
Dates for the next few years
For planning ahead, one published calendar lists the expected Fatimiyah dates as 13–15 October and 2–4 November 2027, and 2–4 October and 21–23 October 2028. Treat these as estimates; dates move earlier by roughly 10 to 11 days each Gregorian year.
How to make these days meaningful for your family
You do not need to travel to a big city to take part. Families abroad can attend a local or online majlis, recite the Quran together, send salawat, give sadaqah, and teach children about Bibi Fatima (s.a.). Our guide to teaching children about Bibi Fatima Zahra by age and the Tasbih of Fatima Zahra are good places to start. If you are unsure what is appropriate during the mourning days, see Can We Celebrate During Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah? Shia Q&A.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah in 2026?
The first Fatimiyah is 13–15 Jumada al-Awwal 1448, which falls around 24–26 October 2026. The second Fatimiyah is 3–5 Jumada al-Thani 1448, around 13–15 November 2026. Your local moon sighting may move each by one day.
What is the date of 13 Jumada al-Awwal in 2026?
Using the Umm al-Qura calendar, 13 Jumada al-Awwal 1448 falls on Saturday 24 October 2026. Where the moon was sighted a day later, it falls on Sunday 25 October.
When is the second Fatimiyah in 2026?
3 Jumada al-Thani 1448 falls around Friday 13 November 2026, so the second Fatimiyah is about 13–15 November, or 14–16 November where the month starts a day later.
Is Ayyam-e-Fatimiyah three days or ten days?
The core observance is three days in each month (13–15 Jumada al-Awwal and 3–5 Jumada al-Thani). Many communities also hold a ten-day series of majalis, called the “first ten days” and “second ten days”. These ten-day periods are a modern custom that follows the pattern of the first ten days of Muharram, and they are not tied to a specific hadith, so practice varies.
When is the birthday of Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) in 2026?
Her wiladat is commemorated on 20 Jumada al-Thani, which falls on about Monday 30 November 2026. See our guide to the Wiladat of Fatima Zahra 2026.
Do the dates differ in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia?
The Hijri dates are the same, but the Gregorian date can differ by a day because of time zones and local moon sighting. Australian centres are often the first to begin, and North American centres the last.
Sources
- Jumada I and Jumada al-Thani 1448 date ranges (Umm al-Qura): Wikipedia: Jumada I, Wikipedia: Jumada al-Thani
- Fatimiyah dates, observances and country practices: WikiShia: Fatimiyya, Wikipedia: Fatimiyya
- Expected 2026–2028 Fatimiyah dates: USC Office of Religious and Spiritual Life: Islam Holy Days
- Mourning guidance of Ayatollah Safi Gulpaygani: saafi.com
Reviewed for accuracy by the Al Mehdi Center teaching team. For rulings on moon sighting and observance, please refer to your own marja’.
