Ash Wednesday 2027
Ash Wednesday 2027 is on Wednesday, February 10, 2027 (in 121 days). It is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, 46 days before Easter, and it is not a federal holiday.
- Date
- Wednesday, February 10, 2027
- Countdown
- In 121 days
- Federal holiday
- No
- Date rule
- 46 days before Easter (the Wednesday after Shrove Tuesday)
- Possible dates
- February 4 to March 10
- Next occurrence
- Wednesday, March 1, 2028
Ash Wednesday dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 18, 2026 | Wednesday | 236 days ago |
| 2027 | February 10, 2027 | Wednesday | in 121 days |
| 2028 | March 1, 2028 | Wednesday | in 16 months |
| 2029 | February 14, 2029 | Wednesday | in 2 years |
| 2030 | March 6, 2030 | Wednesday | in 3 years |
| 2031 | February 26, 2031 | Wednesday | in 4 years |
| 2032 | February 11, 2032 | Wednesday | in 5 years |
| 2033 | March 2, 2033 | Wednesday | in 6 years |
| 2034 | February 22, 2034 | Wednesday | in 7 years |
| 2035 | February 7, 2035 | Wednesday | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for February 2027.
How the date of Ash Wednesday is set
Ash Wednesday is always a Wednesday, 46 days before Easter. Lent lasts 40 days, not counting the six Sundays before Easter, and 40 plus 6 gives the 46 days. Because Easter moves between March 22 and April 25, Ash Wednesday moves between February 4 and March 10. Easter 2027 is on Sunday, March 28, 2027. In 2028 Ash Wednesday is on Wednesday, March 1, 2028.
What happens on Ash Wednesday
At services on Ash Wednesday, the clergy mark worshippers' foreheads with ashes, traditionally made by burning the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday, and say words such as "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The day is observed by Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists and many other Christians. In the United States, Catholics aged 14 and older abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on the Fridays of Lent, and the day is also a day of fasting. It is not a holy day of obligation.
Prayer, fasting and giving
Lent is traditionally a season of three practices: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which means gifts to the poor. Many Christians give up a food or habit for the 40 days, such as sweets or social media, and others add a practice such as daily prayer or volunteering. Catholic parishes in many communities hold Friday fish fries during Lent.
Ashes on the go
Some churches bring ashes outside their walls. "Ashes to Go" services have offered the ashes at train stations, street corners and drive-through lanes since the late 2000s, for people who cannot attend a service. Lent ends for Catholics on the evening of Holy Thursday, and Eastern Orthodox churches begin their Great Lent earlier, on Clean Monday.
Ash Wednesday and Mardi Gras
Ash Wednesday follows Shrove Tuesday, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras 2027 is on Tuesday, February 9, 2027. Mardi Gras is a legal state holiday in Louisiana, but Ash Wednesday itself is not a federal or state holiday, and offices, banks and schools are open.
Frequently asked questions about Ash Wednesday
When is Ash Wednesday 2027?
Ash Wednesday 2027 is on Wednesday, February 10, 2027.
When is Ash Wednesday 2028?
Ash Wednesday 2028 is on Wednesday, March 1, 2028.
Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
No. Catholics are not required to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, but it is a day of fasting and abstinence, and many people attend services to receive ashes.
How long is Lent?
Lent is 40 days, not counting Sundays. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends before the Easter Triduum, which starts on Holy Thursday evening.
Is Ash Wednesday a federal holiday?
No. It is a religious observance, and offices, banks and schools are open.