Easter // Nova

Dates Guide

When is Easter, and why does the date change every year?

The short answer is that Easter is a moveable feast, so it does not stay on one fixed calendar day. The fuller answer is that Western Easter is tied to a springtime calculation involving Sunday, the ecclesiastical equinox, and the Paschal full moon.

  • Western Easter 2026: April 5, 2026
  • Western Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25
  • Orthodox Easter may fall on a different date

Quick Table

Western Easter dates from 2026 to 2036.

Upcoming Western Easter Sunday dates
Year Date
2026April 5, 2026
2027March 28, 2027
2028April 16, 2028
2029April 1, 2029
2030April 21, 2030
2031April 13, 2031
2032March 28, 2032
2033April 17, 2033
2034April 9, 2034
2035March 25, 2035
2036April 13, 2036

How It Works

The basic rule behind the Easter calculation.

In Western Christianity, Easter is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the ecclesiastical spring equinox marker. Because that formula depends on both the weekly cycle and a lunar marker, the result shifts from year to year.

The equinox used for the calculation is not re-measured by local astronomy in each country. Instead, churches use an ecclesiastical framework so that the festival can be calculated consistently for calendars and liturgical planning.

For most readers, the practical outcome matters more than the technical formula: Easter can land in late March or any part of April, which affects school breaks, travel, church schedules, and related holidays such as Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Western vs Orthodox

Why Orthodox Easter can land later.

Readers often assume there is one universal Easter date, but that is not always the case. Western churches and many Orthodox churches use different calendar frameworks, which means the spring calculation can produce a later observance in Orthodox traditions.

This difference is one reason Easter searches spike every year: families, schools, travelers, and workplaces may all need the date for planning, but the answer depends on which calendar tradition they mean.

If you are writing invitations, school material, or event pages, it helps to say “Western Easter” or “Orthodox Easter” rather than assuming everyone uses the same date.

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