Ramadan 2026 Fasting Hours in the UK: How Long Muslims Will Fast in London, Edinburgh and Belfast
Muslims across the UK are expected to observe Ramadan 2026 from Thursday 19 February to Friday 19 March, according to calculations published by the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR).
As with every year, the religious start and end of Ramadan remain subject to moon sighting, meaning fasting may begin from the evening of Wednesday 18 February, depending on confirmed observations and local mosque announcements.
How many hours will Muslims fast in the UK during Ramadan 2026?
Fasting during Ramadan takes place from Fajr (dawn) until Maghrib (sunset). Because Ramadan 2026 falls between late winter and early spring, fasting hours will increase steadily throughout the month, with a noticeable difference between the first and last days.
The following figures are based on official Ramadan prayer timetables issued by central mosques in major UK cities, using standard prayer calculation methods.
Central London fasting times
- Start of Ramadan (19 February 2026)
- Fajr: 05:27
- Maghrib: 17:26
- Total fasting time: approximately 12 hours
- End of Ramadan (19 March 2026)
- Fajr: 04:26
- Maghrib: 18:15
- Total fasting time: approximately 14 hours
Increase across the month: nearly 1 hour and 55 minutes
Edinburgh fasting times
- Start of Ramadan
- Fajr: 05:25
- Maghrib: 17:26
- Fasting time: approximately 12 hours
- End of Ramadan
- Fajr: 04:11
- Maghrib: 18:25
- Fasting time: approximately 14 hours and 14 minutes
Increase across the month: more than 2 hours
Belfast fasting times
- Start of Ramadan
- Fajr: 05:38
- Maghrib: 17:38
- Fasting time: around 12 hours
- End of Ramadan
- Fajr: 04:26
- Maghrib: 18:35
- Fasting time: just over 14 hours
Increase across the month: approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes
Why fasting hours increase during Ramadan 2026
Ramadan 2026 coincides with a period when daylight hours increase rapidly in the UK as the country approaches the spring equinox later in March.
As a result:
- Dawn occurs earlier each day, bringing forward the start of the fast
- Sunset occurs later, delaying iftar
- The effect is more pronounced in northern parts of the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland
Unlike some years, the UK remains on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) throughout Ramadan, with the switch to British Summer Time taking place after the month ends. This means the increase in fasting hours is driven entirely by natural daylight changes, not clock adjustments.
Follow local mosque timetables
While national timetables provide a reliable guide, fasting times may vary slightly depending on:
- Prayer calculation methods
- High-latitude adjustments used by individual mosques
Muslims are therefore advised to follow the Ramadan timetable issued by their local mosque, particularly once the official start of Ramadan is confirmed.
As Ramadan continues to move earlier in the solar calendar each year, future Ramadans in the UK will gradually bring shorter fasting hours, before lengthening again as the lunar cycle progresses.
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