When Is Eid Al Adha 2024? The Definitive Answer and What It Means for Millions

Eid Al Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, lands on different Gregorian dates each year—rooted in the lunar Hijri calendar—and 2024 holds particular significance as the year when this sacred holiday will fall on June 16. For millions of Muslims worldwide, this date marks not just a religious observance but a profound moment of faith, charity, and communal unity. With its timing determined by the moon’s phases, Eid Al Adha 2024 falls precisely on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar year, signaling the conclusion of pilgrims’ rituals during Hajj in Mecca.

The precise moment of Eid Al Adha 2024 hinges on moon sighting certifications, as Islamic tradition relies on the actual visibility of the crescent moon to mark the start of the month. While scientific calculations predict the moon’s visibility in many regions around June 10–11, local religious authorities must confirm its appearance. As of now, credible moon sighting reports from key regions—including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and parts of Southeast Asia—indicate the moon should be observable shortly after sunset on June 10, 2024, suggesting Eid Al Adha will begin at dawn on June 11 or dawn on June 10, depending on jurisdiction.

Understanding the timing of Eid Al Adha requires grasping its lunar basis. Unlike the fixed Gregorian calendar, the Hijri calendar follows a 29- or 30-day lunar cycle, making Eid Al Adha shift annually: in 2023, it fell on June 21; in 2024, it moves forward to June 16. This year’s shift aligns with the ongoing Hajj, which concluded around June 10, timing the Eid celebration immediately afterward to honor the culmination of the holy pilgrimage.

As the Islamic closest *fadowa* (dual significance) day—simultaneously marking sacrifice and divine covenant—Eid Al Adha 2024 carries deep spiritual weight across diverse cultures.

For observant Muslims, the precise timing dictates preparations—ranging from ritual ablutions to final prayers—beginning well before dawn. The festival flows from June 10–16, with Eid Al Adha itself observed fully on June 16 in most regions.

In Saudi Arabia, where Hajj concludes and Mecca awakens with special prayers, processions and sermons emphasize sacrifice, remembrance of prophet Ibrahim’s devotion, and distributing meat to the needy. Meanwhile, in South Asia and Indonesia, vibrant community feasts and gift exchanges define the celebration, blending religious duty with social joy.

The festival’s core ritual—*Qurbani*—involves animal sacrifice in adherence to tradition, redistributing meat in three equal parts: to family, neighbors, and the poor. This act, rooted in obedience to divine command, underscores the balance between gratitude and compassion.

The Quran’s verses—“And proclaim the embarkation for Hajj. They come asking interview of mercy from their Lord, while they prepare for it” (Quran 2:196)—echo the spiritual imperative behind Eid Al Adha’s timing. Unlike Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates spiritual renewal after Ramadan, Eid Al Adha commemorates sacrifice as both personal and collective devotion.

Managing the global timing of Eid Al Adha presents ongoing logistical and astronomical challenges. With Muslim communities scattered across time zones—from Indonesia at UTC+7 to New York at UTC−4—local religious councils issue tailored announcements based on regional moon sightings and astronomical data. Discrepancies can spark discussions, but they also reinforce the personal connection between believers and the celestial rhythms governing their faith.

Organizations like the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences monitor celestial events closely, ensuring accurate, timely guidance for faithful worldwide.

Economically and socially, Eid Al Adha 2024 will likely resonate deeply. The timing amid summer preparation places families in a unique ritual phase—meals, visits, and charitable acts swell as households stock food and pack parcels.

Economically, demand for sacrificial animals rises ahead of the holiday, reinforcing local farming cycles and trade networks across regions. In countries like Pakistan and India, where the festival boosts consumption by an estimated 20% annually, the 2024 timing amplifies its societal impact, energizing markets and strengthening community bonds.

What makes Eid Al Adha 2024 particularly meaningful is its enduring relevance amid modernity.

While many events shift to digital perspectives, the lunar calendar and physical presence in communal spaces—mosques, family homes, neighborhood streets—preserve the ritual’s authenticity. For diaspora communities from East Africa to Europe, the convergence of moon sighting and June 16 anchors identity and continuity, turning a celestial event into a lived experience of faith and heritage.

In the months leading to June 16, preparations intensify: prayers grow more fervent, homes are cleaned in anticipation of guests, and charitable intentions crystallize around the sacred act of *Qurbani*.

Eid Al Adha seals a year of reflection, sacrifice, and unity—reminding Muslims worldwide that time in the Hijri calendar is not just a measurement, but a journey in devotion. As June 16 approaches, millions prepare not only to sacrifice but to renew their commitment to compassion, gratitude, and shared humanity, timed perfectly by the moon’s gentle arc.