Hajj 2026 Dates Confirmed: Arafah on May 26, Eid al-Adha on May 27
Hajj 2026 dates are confirmed: Dhul Hijjah begins May 18, pilgrims move to Mina on May 25, the Day of Arafah is May 26, and Eid al-Adha falls on Wednesday May 27.
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Last updated: 15 May 2026, 12:52 PM (Saudi time)
Hajj 2026 dates are confirmed: Dhul Hijjah begins May 18, pilgrims move to Mina on May 25, the Day of Arafah is May 26, and Eid al-Adha falls on Wednesday May 27.
Saudi Arabia's Adahi facility - the world's largest automated slaughterhouse - is ready to process 800,000 Hajj sacrifices using AI, with meat distributed to 27 countries. Only sheep are being processed for 2026.
The Dhul Hijjah moon sighting is expected May 16-17, with Pakistan's SUPARCO predicting Eid al-Adha on May 27. Official confirmation from Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court will determine all Hajj 2026 dates.
Saudi Arabia has activated its live smart transport system for Hajj 2026, with 20,000+ GPS-tracked buses, the Haramain Railway, and 24/7 control centres managing pilgrim movement in real time.
Saudi forces arrested 34 people in Hajj 2026 enforcement operations including 18 caught forging Nusuk cards and wristbands, 5 attempting desert border crossings into Makkah, and 1 running social media scams.
Saudi Arabia has invested 6 billion SAR over four years to transform Hajj infrastructure: 7,800 bathrooms cutting waits by 75%, 200% more hospital capacity, 60,000 trees, and 400 misting fans at the Jamarat.
More than 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, officials say PBS
At least 1,300 hajj pilgrims died during extreme heat, Saudi Arabia says The Guardian
What's behind deaths at this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia? BBC
Over 1000 haj pilgrims die in extreme heat in Mecca Vatican News
Mecca sees over 1,000 deaths during the Hajj, a pilgrimage threatened by climate change Le Monde.fr
Journey to Mecca: Scenes from the Haj pilgrimage Reuters