Pesach Jewish Passover Date

Pesach (Jewish Passover): the Festival of Freedom

Pesach begins on the 15th of Nissan in the Hebrew calendar. That calendar is lunisolar, so the months track the Moon, but a leap month (Adar II) gets slotted in 7 times over a 19‑year cycle to keep Nissan landing in spring. The Gregorian calendar runs purely on the Sun, which is why Pesach drifts from one year to the next, somewhere between late March and late April.

It runs for 7 days in Israel and 8 days in the Diaspora (Brazil included), marking the Exodus from Egypt and the freeing of the Israelites from slavery. The first night, or the first two, center on the Seder: a ritual meal led by the Haggadah, with matzah (unleavened bread), four cups of wine, and the symbolic foods arranged on the Ke’arah plate.

Applications

It helps Jewish families plan the Seder, schools coordinate absences, kosher restaurants and caterers prep ahead, and synagogues (CONIB, FISESP and local communities in Brazil) line up their services. HR teams use it to manage religious leave, and travelers lean on it when booking trips around Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days).

FAQ

Why does Pesach fall on different Gregorian dates? The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar (~354 days/year, with 7 leap months every 19 years), so 15 Nissan never settles onto a fixed Gregorian date.

When does Pesach 2026 start? The estimate puts the start at sunset on April 1, 2026, ending on the evening of April 9 in the Diaspora. Check with your local rabbinate to be sure, since the Jewish day begins at sundown.

Why 7 days in Israel and 8 abroad? Back before the calendar was fixed by calculation, communities outside the Land of Israel couldn't confirm the new moon in time, so they tacked on an extra day (Yom Tov Sheni shel Galuyot). The Diaspora keeps that custom to this day.