Days Until Easter

Q: How is the date of Easter calculated?

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21). This means it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25 each year.

Q: Why does Easter change date every year?

Easter is a lunar holiday — its date is tied to the cycle of the moon. Specifically, it falls on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon on or after March 21.

Live countdown to Easter Sunday.

Easter Countdown

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When Is Easter?

Easter Sunday is a moveable feast — its date changes every year. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21 (the ecclesiastical spring equinox). This means Easter can land anywhere between March 22 and April 25. The countdown above uses the Anonymous Gregorian algorithm to calculate the exact date of Easter for the current year and counts down to it live.

Easter Dates by Year

Easter 2025 — Sunday, April 20, 2025
Easter 2026 — Sunday, April 5, 2026
Easter 2027 — Sunday, March 28, 2027
Easter 2028 — Sunday, April 16, 2028
Easter 2029 — Sunday, April 1, 2029

Why Easter's Date Changes Every Year

Unlike most holidays, Easter is a "moveable feast" with no fixed calendar date. In Western Christianity it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21), which places it between March 22 and April 25. This rule was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD to tie the celebration to the lunar cycle of the original events. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the central festival of the Christian year, preceded by the 40 days of Lent and by Holy Week.

Eastern Orthodox churches often celebrate on a different date because they calculate using the Julian calendar. Popular customs — egg decorating, egg hunts, and the Easter Bunny — draw on much older springtime symbols of new life and renewal. Because the date shifts each year with the moon, a countdown is especially useful for knowing exactly how many days remain until Easter Sunday.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the date of Easter calculated?

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon on or after March 21. This rule was established by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The calculation used here is the Anonymous Gregorian algorithm, which is accurate for any year from 1583 onward.

Why does Easter change date every year?

Easter is a lunar holiday — its date is tied to the phases of the moon. Because the lunar calendar does not align perfectly with the solar (Gregorian) calendar, Easter moves to a different date each year, always falling between March 22 and April 25.

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday — two days before. It is a public holiday in many countries. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is also a public holiday in many countries.