In 2026, Christians will again celebrate Easter on different days depending on their denomination. Catholics will celebrate on April 5, while Orthodox and Greek-Catholics in Ukraine will celebrate on April 12. This is reported by BBC Ukraine.
Easter 2026 in Ukraine: when do Orthodox celebrate
The difference in dates is explained by the different calendars and rules for calculating the holiday. In Ukraine, the transition of churches to the new calendar did not affect the date of Easter, as it belongs to movable feasts.
Despite the 2023 reform, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church switched to the New Julian calendar for immovable feasts, Easter continues to be determined by the traditional formula.
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Catholics — April 5, 2026
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Orthodox and Greek-Catholics in Ukraine — April 12.
At the same time, some Ukrainians abroad, particularly in Poland, will celebrate together with Catholics. This is due to the fact that local UGCC parishes have switched to the Gregorian calendar.
Why Easter dates differ across the world
The discrepancies between denominations have historical roots and are connected to different approaches to determining the day of Christ's Resurrection. This issue remains complex and controversial for centuries.
In 2025, all Christians celebrated Easter simultaneously — April 20, which raised hopes for a possible alignment of dates in the future. However, experts believe such changes are unlikely due to deep differences between churches.
Despite calendar reforms, the issue of Easter remains unchanged. Its calculation depends on church traditions that have historically developed and are not subject to rapid changes.
It should be noted that in 2026, the Orthodox Church will celebrate 12 major feasts, of which three are movable. Easter in 2026 will be celebrated on April 12, and Palm Sunday will fall on April 5. Among the major feasts, important dates such as Ascension of the Lord on May 21 and the Day of the Holy Trinity on May 31 will be celebrated.