Saudi Arabia Announces Major Shift in Hajj Dates Starting 2026, Ending Hot Summer Pilgrimages
The Saudi National Meteorological Center (NMC) has confirmed that Hajj 2025 will be the last pilgrimage to occur during the extreme summer heat for at least the next 16 years. Starting in 2026, the dates for Hajj will gradually shift into cooler seasons, initially moving into spring and eventually winter. This adjustment is due to the Islamic lunar calendar, which moves roughly 10 days earlier each year compared to the Gregorian calendar.
This shift is expected to bring relief to millions of pilgrims who have had to endure scorching temperatures during the summer months, particularly in Makkah, where temperatures during the 2024 pilgrimage reached between 46°C and 51°C. That year, over 2,760 heatstroke cases were reported in just one day, along with several heat-related fatalities.
Read More: Saudi Government Imposes Makkah Entry Ban Without Permit Starting April 23
The NMC outlines that from 2026 to 2033, Hajj will take place in the spring months, followed by winter pilgrimages from 2034 to 2041. The pilgrimage will not return to the summer months until 2042, marking the beginning of a new cycle of hotter Hajj seasons.
In response to the increasing heat risks, Saudi authorities have ramped up safety measures in recent years. These efforts include expanding shaded areas, adding more water stations, deploying mobile cooling units, and launching public awareness campaigns on heat safety. In Hajj 2024, the Kingdom also introduced 33 new weather monitoring stations and expanded the use of mobile radar technology to enhance real-time climate monitoring at pilgrimage sites.
With over 1.8 million pilgrims expected for Hajj 2025, Saudi officials are preparing for one final summer challenge before the pilgrimage moves into a cooler, safer, and more sustainable era.
In related news, on April 11, Saudi Arabia approved an additional Hajj quota of 10,000 for Pakistani pilgrims who missed the initial registration deadline. This increase follows a request from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for an extension of Pakistan’s Hajj quota.
