OTS Fatwa Council sets start date for Ramadan

The Fatwa Council under the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Authorities of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has determined that Ramadan will begin on February 19 this year. This was reported on the organization’s website on February 3.

It was noted that during a meeting held in Samarkand, the dates of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for 2026 were approved. According to the council’s decision, the first day of Ramadan this year falls on February 19, while Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, March 20.

The statement said that the joint determination of the start of Ramadan and the date of Eid al-Fitr once again demonstrates the commitment of Turkic states to strengthening unity among Muslim communities and to harmonizing religious practices with modern scientific calculations.

“In this regard, we wish that the blessed month of Ramadan, a month of mercy, forgiveness, and blessings, brings peace, tranquility, and prosperity to the entire Islamic world and all humanity,” the statement said.

For reference, the Organization of Turkic States includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan as member states. Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status.

Earlier, Tajikistan’s Committee on Religious Affairs, citing preliminary calculations, reported that Ramadan in the country would begin on February 18, 2026.