Eid al-Adha Begins Today: What Two Billion Muslims Are Celebrating and Why It Matters
Netherlands, 27 May 2026
Eid al-Adha, confirmed by Saudi Arabia to begin today, 27 May 2026, sees nearly two billion Muslims worldwide mark the Festival of Sacrifice — including residents in Dutch reception centres.
A Holiday Rooted in Scripture and Shared Across the Globe
The starting point for today’s celebrations lies in an ancient story that cuts across three of the world’s great religions. Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic account of the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in obedience to God — an act of faith that was ultimately met with divine mercy when God provided a ram in Ishmael’s place [1][2]. The story, which parallels narratives found in the Bible and the Torah, forms one of the most profound theological foundations in Islam [GPT]. It is this act of devotion and surrender — not merely the sacrifice itself — that Muslims across the world are honouring today, Wednesday, 27 May 2026 [1][2].
The Islamic Calendar and Why the Date Shifts Each Year
Unlike fixed celebrations on the Gregorian calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar [1][2]. Because the Islamic lunar calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar year, the date of Eid al-Adha shifts backwards by roughly 11 days each year when viewed against the Gregorian calendar [3]. This year, the month of Dhul Hijjah began on 18 May 2026, following the sighting of the waxing crescent moon in Saudi Arabia [2]. Saudi Arabian moon-spotters then officially confirmed that the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah — and therefore Eid al-Adha — falls on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 [2]. For comparison, the same holiday fell on Thursday, 5 June 2025, and is tentatively forecast to fall between 15 and 16 May 2027 [3][4]. Islamic holiday dates are calculated according to the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, though they may shift by one day depending on actual moon sightings [5].
Hajj, Arafat Day, and the Week Leading up to Today
Eid al-Adha does not arrive in isolation — it is the culmination of one of the most spiritually intensive weeks in the Islamic year. The Hajj pilgrimage, the obligatory journey to Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia that every Muslim who is physically and financially able is required to undertake at least once in a lifetime, commenced on Monday, 25 May 2026, and is scheduled to run through Friday, 29 May 2026 [2][5]. Central to the Hajj is Yawm al-Arafah — Arafat Day — which fell on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah [2][3]. On that day, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat near Mecca in what is considered the spiritual heart of the entire Hajj. For Muslims not performing Hajj, Arafat Day carries its own significance: an encouraged nine-day fast of Dhul Hijjah concluded on 26 May 2026, and fasting specifically on the day of Arafat is considered highly meritorious [2]. Arafat Day is recognised as a national public holiday in Saudi Arabia, with schools and most businesses closed [3]. Today, 27 May 2026, fasting is strictly forbidden — Eid al-Adha is a day of celebration, not abstinence [2].
How Muslims Mark the Day: Prayer, Sacrifice, and Generosity
The rituals of Eid al-Adha follow a well-established sequence that begins before dawn. Observing the Sunnah — the traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad — Muslims are encouraged to bathe in the morning, wear their finest clothes and perfume, and attend mandatory congregational prayers at the mosque [2]. Following prayers comes Qurbani, the ritual animal sacrifice at the heart of the holiday. Permitted animals include goats, sheep, lambs, cows, and camels, with the meat divided into three equal portions: one-third distributed to those in need, one-third shared with friends and family, and one-third retained for the household [2]. In the Netherlands, the cost of a sheep for sacrifice is approximately €300 [5]. Other Sunnah traditions include taking a different route home from prayers and giving ‘Eidi’ — monetary gifts — to children, with the customary greeting of ‘Eid Mubarak’ exchanged throughout the day [2]. The celebrations formally span three days: from Wednesday, 27 May through Friday, 29 May 2026 [5]. Regionally, the holiday carries different names: it is known as ‘Kurban Bayrami’ in Turkey, ‘Eid al-Adha’ across the Arab world, and ‘Hari Raya Haji’ in Malaysia [4].
What This Means for Muslim Residents in the Netherlands
For Muslim residents living in AZC (asylum seeker centres) and other reception facilities managed by the COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers) across the Netherlands, today holds particular religious significance. While COA centres do not organise official religious celebrations, residents are free to observe Eid al-Adha privately or attend prayers and community events at local mosques [GPT]. No special permission is required to leave the centre for prayers or community gatherings, though residents are advised to inform reception staff if they expect to be away for an extended period [GPT]. Importantly, leefgeld — the weekly financial allowance provided to residents — follows standard payment schedules that are not affected by Islamic holidays [GPT]. Residents with specific halal dietary requirements related to the holiday are encouraged to speak with catering staff at their location in advance [GPT]. In broader Dutch society, Eid al-Adha is not a national public holiday, meaning that Muslim employees and students in the Netherlands are generally required to submit individual requests for leave or time off to observe the celebration [4].
A Global Observance Watched by Nearly Two Billion People
The scale of today’s observance is difficult to overstate. The month of Dhul Hijjah and its associated rituals are observed by nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide [2]. The previous year’s Eid al-Adha, on 7 June 2025, saw congregational prayers held at landmark sites such as the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan — one of the largest mosques in the world — serving as a visible measure of the holiday’s global reach [1]. In Germany, where a significant Muslim population resides, the festival is celebrated under the name Kurban Bayrami as well as Eid al-Adha, though — as in the Netherlands — it is not a statutory public holiday, and believers must arrange individual leave from work or school to observe it [4]. Looking ahead, the festival is tentatively scheduled to fall between 16 and 19 May 2027, and between 5 and 8 May 2028, continuing its annual progression backwards through the Gregorian calendar [4]. For the nearly two billion Muslims observing Eid al-Adha today, however, the focus is firmly on the present: on prayer, on generosity, and on the enduring story of faith that unites them across borders, languages, and continents [1][2].