France's Grande Mosquée de Paris Sets Ramadan 2026 Start for February 18 Amid Diverging Dates

The Grande Mosquée de Paris has officially announced that Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in France. This date was determined during the "Nuit du doute," a meeting that combined scientific calculations and lunar observations to establish the start of the holy month. The announcement was made in collaboration with several Islamic groups, including Musulmans de France and the Fédération française des associations islamiques d'Afrique, des Comores et des Antilles (FFAIACA).

This decision contrasts with that of the Conseil français du culte musulman (CFCM), which had set the start date to Thursday, February 19, based solely on scientific methods. Notably, the CFCM lost official status in 2021, which has perhaps influenced differing approaches to Ramadan timing.

Ramadan in 2026 coincides with the Christian season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday. The Grande Mosquée de Paris acknowledged this overlap and extended its solidarity to Christians entering Lent. During Ramadan, Muslims observe one of the five pillars of Islam by fasting—refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations—from dawn until sunset. The Muslim population in France is estimated between five to six million, making Islam the country's second-largest religion and its Muslim community one of Europe's largest.

Ramadan traditionally starts with the sighting of the first crescent moon and concludes with the celebration of Aïd el-Fitr, marking a period of fasting, prayer, and sharing for French Muslims.