When is Rosh Hashanah 2026? The Jewish New Year begins at sundown Friday, September 11, with the first full day Saturday, September 12.
Current target date: Saturday, September 12, 2026 (Rosh Hashanah (day 1)). Calendar anchors follow public observance — your school district or country may use a different day.
Rosh Hashanah 2026 opens at sundown on Friday, September 11, and the first daytime observance is Saturday, September 12 (1–2 Tishrei). Synagogue services, apples and honey, and school absences for Jewish students cluster on those days. We count to September 12 as the civil first day most calendars highlight.
Rosh Hashanah (day 1)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
The year turns at sundown September 11 — September 12 is the daylight label
Rosh Hashanah opens in the evening. For 2026 that means Friday night, September 11, into Saturday the 12th. Counting only “September 12” without the sundown start is how people miss the first evening services.
This is a High Holiday — not a minor December festival
In traditional ranking, Rosh Hashanah (with Yom Kippur) sits at the top of the Jewish year. That is the opposite cultural weight from Hanukkah’s US December spotlight. If you only know Jewish holidays through December retail, this autumn New Year is the one workplaces and schools usually treat as non-negotiable absence time.
What the first days usually involve
- Evening start Sep 11 / daytime Sep 12–13: synagogue services and home meals (apples and honey are the familiar symbol).
- Shofar: ram’s-horn blasts during daytime services when the calendar allows.
- Work/school: not federal closures — plan PTO or excused absence locally.
- Travel: autumn High Holiday weekends can fill flights into cities with large Jewish communities.
Calling both January 1 and Rosh Hashanah "New Year" is accurate — and still confusing
English uses one phrase for two resets: the Gregorian civil year and the Hebrew year’s Tishrei opening. They almost never share a month. September 12, 2026 is the Jewish New Year’s first civil day on this page; January 1 is a different countdown with a different meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about this release date.
1When does Rosh Hashanah 2026 begin?
At sundown on Friday, September 11, 2026. The first full daytime observance most US civil calendars highlight is Saturday, September 12 (this page’s countdown). Jewish days run evening to evening.
2Is Rosh Hashanah one day or two?
In traditional practice outside some historical contexts, Rosh Hashanah is observed for two days (1–2 Tishrei). Synagogue schedules and school absences often cover both.
3Is this the same as January 1 New Year's Day?
No. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year on the Hebrew calendar. Gregorian New Year’s Day is January 1 on the civil calendar. Different systems, different months — see New Year’s Day for January 1.
4Is Rosh Hashanah a US federal holiday?
No. It is a major religious observance (a High Holiday). Federal offices stay open; absences are personal, school, or employer accommodations.
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