Forget clock-watching—Ramadan is all about sun-watching. You break your fast at maghrib, which is the exact moment the sun dips below the horizon. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to start around February 18th and run through March 19th, according to astronomical calculations (though the moon might have its own chaotic schedule).
This means your iftar time will shift by about two to three minutes every single day. Yes, you read that right: you’ll be chasing the sunset like a caffeine-deprived astronomer. In New York City, for example, the fast will break at roughly 5:37 PM on the first day and stretch to about 7:10 PM by the end of March. That’s a 93-minute difference—enough time to watch an episode of your favorite show and still have room for a nap.
Why the Time Changes (and Why It’s Hilariously Annoying)
The Earth is tilted, the planet is spinning, and your dinner plans are at the mercy of celestial mechanics. As spring approaches, days get longer in the Northern Hemisphere, so your fast gets longer too. By the last week of Ramadan 2026, you’ll be fasting for about 13 to 14 hours, depending on your latitude. Londoners, for instance, will see iftar times creep from 5:22 PM to nearly 6:20 PM by March 19th.
And if you live in Iceland? Let’s just say you’ll be breaking fast at 6:04 PM on Day 1, but by the end, it’s past 7:30 PM. Your pre-dawn meal, suhoor, will become a comedy of errors—waking up at 4:40 AM one week, then 4:10 AM the next. Your alarm clock will start developing trust issues.
