The Church Calendar 2026–27: Dates, Seasons & Observances
The key dates of the 2026–27 church year, starting with Advent on November 29, 2026, plus a guide to each season with historical context, denominational perspectives, worship ideas, sermon topics, and practical admin tips.
Church Calendar 2026–27 Dates
Western (Revised Common Lectionary / most Protestant churches). Year B of the Sunday lectionary begins at Advent. Orthodox Easter and the US Catholic dates that differ are noted alongside.
Download the printable 2026–27 calendar (PDF, 19 KB)| Date | Observance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closing weeks of the 2025–26 church year (Year A) | ||
| Sunday | World Communion SundayFirst Sunday in October | First Sunday in October |
| Sunday | Reformation SundayLast Sunday in October; Reformation Day is October 31 | Last Sunday in October; Reformation Day is October 31 |
| Sunday | All Saints' DayFalls on a Sunday this year | Falls on a Sunday this year |
| Sunday | Christ the King (Reign of Christ)Last Sunday of the 2025–26 church year | Last Sunday of the 2025–26 church year |
| Thursday | Thanksgiving Day (US)Fourth Thursday in November | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Church year 2026–27 (Year B) | ||
| Sunday | First Sunday of AdventYear B of the Sunday lectionary begins | Year B of the Sunday lectionary begins |
| Thursday | Christmas EveLast day of Advent | Last day of Advent |
| Friday | Christmas DayThe Christmas season begins | The Christmas season begins |
| Wednesday | EpiphanyUS Catholic dioceses: Sunday, January 3 | US Catholic dioceses: Sunday, January 3 |
| Sunday | Transfiguration SundayLast Sunday before Lent (RCL) | Last Sunday before Lent (RCL) |
| Wednesday | Ash WednesdayLent begins, 46 days before Easter | Lent begins, 46 days before Easter |
| Sunday | Palm SundayHoly Week begins | Holy Week begins |
| Thursday | Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) | |
| Friday | Good Friday | |
| Sunday | Easter SundayWestern churches | Western churches |
| Sunday | Orthodox Easter (Pascha)Eastern Orthodox churches (Julian calculation) | Eastern Orthodox churches (Julian calculation) |
| Thursday | Ascension DayMost US Catholic dioceses: Sunday, May 9 | Most US Catholic dioceses: Sunday, May 9 |
| Sunday | PentecostSeven weeks after Easter | Seven weeks after Easter |
| Sunday | Trinity SundaySunday after Pentecost | Sunday after Pentecost |
| Sunday | World Communion SundayFirst Sunday in October | First Sunday in October |
| Sunday | Reformation SundayReformation Day (October 31) falls on this Sunday | Reformation Day (October 31) falls on this Sunday |
| Monday | All Saints' DayMany churches keep it on the first Sunday in November (Nov 7) | Many churches keep it on the first Sunday in November (Nov 7) |
| Sunday | Christ the King (Reign of Christ)Last Sunday of the 2026–27 church year | Last Sunday of the 2026–27 church year |
| Thursday | Thanksgiving Day (US)Fourth Thursday in November | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Sunday | First Sunday of AdventThe 2027–28 church year (Year C) begins | The 2027–28 church year (Year C) begins |
Catholic parishes. The US Catholic calendar shares the Sunday cycle and the dates for Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost, but moves two of the days in this table to a Sunday. US dioceses celebrate Epiphany on Sunday, January 3, 2027. All provinces except Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, and Philadelphia move the Ascension from Thursday, May 6, to Sunday, May 9, 2027. Check the USCCB liturgical calendar for your diocese.
Orthodox churches. Pascha is calculated with the Julian calendar, so it falls on the same Sunday as Western Easter or one, four, or five weeks later. In 2027 it is May 2, with Orthodox Ascension on June 10 and Pentecost on June 20.
Reformation Sunday. Reformation Day is October 31. The table shows the last Sunday in October (October 31 itself when it is a Sunday); LCMS congregations may also hold services on October 31 or on the Sunday after.
How these dates are worked out. Every date is calculated from the church calendar rules when the site is built: Western Easter by the Gregorian rule, the days from Transfiguration Sunday to Trinity Sunday counted from Easter, and Advent from the fourth Sunday before Christmas. We checked the 2026–27 dates against these sources on October 17, 2026:
- USCCB, Liturgical Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America 2027
- Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Revised Common Lectionary calendar 2026–27 (Year B)
- American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, Listing of Movable Feasts (Pascha)
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), World Communion Sunday worship resource 2026
- Working Preacher (Luther Seminary), Reformation Sunday commentary for October 25, 2026
- The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, church year calendar: Reformation Day 2026
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays (Thanksgiving Day)
Put the year on your church's calendar
Add each service and season event to MosesTab Events and track who attends. The Free plan covers up to 5 events; recurring events, such as weekly Advent or Lenten midweek services, are on the Growth plan.
See how MosesTab Events worksGuides to Every Season
Liturgical Seasons
8 seasons in this category
Advent
A comprehensive guide to planning and leading your congregation through the season of expectation and preparation.
Four Sundays before Christmas (late November to December 24)
Read guideChristmas Season (Christmastide)
Why the celebration doesn't end on December 25, and how to lead your church through the full Christmas season.
December 25 to January 5 (Twelfth Night)
Read guideEpiphany
Understanding the significance of the Magi's visit and leading your church through the season of light and revelation.
January 6 (the season extends to Ash Wednesday)
Read guideLent
How to lead your congregation through the most introspective season of the Christian year with depth, authenticity, and practical wisdom.
Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (46 days; 40 excluding Sundays)
Read guideHoly Week
The most sacred week of the Christian year demands your best planning. Here's how to lead your congregation through it with depth and excellence.
The week before Easter Sunday (March or April)
Read guideEaster Season (Eastertide)
Easter is not just a day — it's a season. How to sustain the joy and explore the implications of the resurrection across seven weeks.
Easter Sunday to Pentecost (50 days, April to June)
Read guidePentecost
When the Holy Spirit fell, a fearful band of disciples became a world-changing movement. How to celebrate and harness the Spirit's power in your church.
Seven weeks after Easter Sunday, the 50th day of Easter (May or June)
Read guideOrdinary Time
The longest season of the church year isn't filler — it's where the Christian life is actually lived. How to make the most of these unhurried weeks.
Two periods: after Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, and after Pentecost to Advent
Read guideHoly Days & Holidays
7 seasons in this category
Ash Wednesday
A practical and theological guide to planning a meaningful Ash Wednesday service that launches your congregation into Lent.
46 days before Easter Sunday (February or early March)
Read guidePalm Sunday
The day of paradox — triumph and tragedy, celebration and foreshadowing — and how to lead your church into Holy Week.
The Sunday before Easter (March or April)
Read guideMaundy Thursday
The night Jesus washed feet, broke bread, and gave His church its most sacred meal. How to plan a service your congregation will never forget.
Thursday before Easter (March or April)
Read guideGood Friday
The darkest day in human history is also the hinge of salvation. How to lead your church through the cross with reverence, honesty, and hope.
Friday before Easter Sunday (March or April)
Read guideEaster Sunday
The most attended, most celebrated, most significant Sunday of the Christian year. How to plan a service that honors the resurrection and welcomes every guest.
First Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 22 - April 25)
Read guideChristmas Eve
One of the most attended church services of the year. How to plan a Christmas Eve experience that moves hearts and welcomes everyone.
December 24
Read guideChristmas Day
The feast of the Nativity of our Lord. Navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of December 25 worship.
December 25
Read guideObservances
4 seasons in this category
All Saints' Day
Remembering the faithful who have gone before us and celebrating the communion of saints across time and eternity.
November 1 (often observed on the nearest Sunday)
Read guideReformation Sunday
Commemorating the Reformation's legacy while embracing its ongoing call to renew the church in every generation.
Last Sunday in October (near October 31)
Read guideWorld Communion Sunday
When Christians around the world share the same table on the same day, the church's global unity becomes tangibly real.
First Sunday of October
Read guideNational Day of Prayer
How to lead your church and community in a meaningful day of prayer that transcends political division and focuses on genuine intercession.
First Thursday of May (United States)
Read guideCultural Sundays
2 seasons in this category
Mother's Day Sunday
Mother's Day is culturally expected, pastorally complex, and spiritually significant. How to get it right without hurting the hurting.
Second Sunday of May
Read guideFather's Day Sunday
Father's Day carries its own pastoral complexities — absent fathers, grief, and cultural expectations. How to honor men faithfully and compassionately.
Third Sunday of June
Read guideChurch Life
4 seasons in this category
Stewardship Season
How to lead your church through an annual stewardship emphasis that inspires generosity without guilt, funds the mission, and forms disciples.
October through November (varies by church)
Read guideBack to Church Sunday
The most effective outreach strategy is the simplest: personally inviting someone to church. Here's how to mobilize your entire congregation to do it.
Third or fourth Sunday of September
Read guideGraduation Sunday
More than cap-and-gown recognition — how to spiritually commission graduates and equip them for the transition ahead.
Late May or early June
Read guideMissions Month
Building a missions-minded church through intentional education, giving, and engagement with God's global work.
Often October or February (varies by church)
Read guideAbout This Guide
The church calendar is more than a schedule — it is a formative rhythm that shapes how congregations worship, learn, and grow together throughout the year. From the anticipation of Advent to the ordinary faithfulness of the long green season, each period carries its own theological emphasis, historical roots, and practical implications for church leadership.
This guide provides church leaders, worship planners, and volunteers with the context and tools they need to lead their congregations through each season with intentionality. Every entry includes perspectives from Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and non-denominational traditions, ensuring broad relevance regardless of your church background.