In 2026, Easter falls on Sunday 5 April for most Western Christian churches, while Orthodox Pascha falls on Sunday 12 April. Around the world, Easter is celebrated with church services, Holy Week processions, family meals, decorated eggs, special breads and local customs, from British egg hunts and American egg rolling to Greek red eggs, Spanish Semana Santa, Polish basket blessings and Swedish Easter witches.
When is Easter in 2026?
For Western Christian churches, including most Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants, Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026. The Royal Observatory Greenwich notes that in the Western tradition Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the spring equinox.
For many Eastern Orthodox churches, Holy Pascha falls on 12 April 2026. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s Paschalion and chapel calendar both list Holy Pascha on 12 April 2026.
Why does Easter fall on different dates?
The date changes every year because Easter is a moveable feast, linked to the spring equinox and the ecclesiastical full moon rather than a fixed calendar date. In the Western calculation, Easter can fall between 22 March and 25 April.
Orthodox churches use a different paschal calculation and liturgical tradition, which is why Orthodox Easter can fall later than Western Easter. In 2026, that creates a one-week gap: 5 April in the West and 12 April in the Orthodox world.
How Easter is celebrated in the UK
In the UK, Easter blends church tradition, family activities and seasonal food. The Royal Family’s Royal Maundy Service takes place on Maundy Thursday and commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles, while hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.
For many families, Easter also means outdoor trails and chocolate eggs. National Trust properties across the UK are running Easter egg hunts and Easter trails in 2026, showing how strongly the family-friendly side of Easter remains part of modern British celebration.
How Easter is celebrated in the USA
In the United States, Easter is widely marked by church services, family meals, egg decorating and Easter egg hunts. One of the country’s best-known public traditions is the White House Easter Egg Roll, which the White House says will take place on Monday 6 April 2026 on the South Lawn.
The White House and White House Historical Association describe the Easter Egg Roll as one of the oldest annual public events in White House history, with the modern tradition dating back to 1878. That mix of religion, family celebration and national pageantry makes Easter in the U.S. feel both personal and public.
How Easter is celebrated in Greece
In Greece, Easter is one of the most important celebrations of the year, and in 2026 Greek Orthodox Easter falls on 12 April. Visit Greece says Easter celebrations are vibrant across the country, with famous destinations including Corfu, Patmos, Chios and Leonidio.
Greek Easter traditions include dyeing eggs red, symbolising rebirth and life, and gathering for a festive Easter Sunday meal that often includes lamb. In Corfu, one of the most famous customs is the “Botides” on Holy Saturday morning, 11 April 2026, when clay pots are thrown from balconies as part of the island’s Easter celebration.
How Easter is celebrated in Spain
In Spain, Easter is most famously celebrated as Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Spain’s official tourism site lists Easter Week in Seville from 27 March to 5 April 2026, one of the country’s best-known observances.
Across Spain, Holy Week is marked by religious brotherhoods, processions, music and elaborately decorated statues carried through the streets. Spain’s tourism site highlights Seville, Malaga, Cuenca, Zamora, Valladolid, Salamanca, Cartagena and other cities as especially renowned for their Easter Week traditions.
How Easter is celebrated in Poland
In Poland, Easter is a full festive season rather than just one Sunday. The official Study in Poland site says the celebration begins on Palm Sunday and continues through Easter Monday, known as Śmigus-Dyngus or Wet Monday.
Polish Easter customs include Święconka, the blessing of Easter baskets on Holy Saturday, richly decorated eggs called pisanki, and the playful water-splashing tradition of Śmigus-Dyngus on Easter Monday. Official Polish sources also highlight Easter palms, fairs and egg-painting workshops as part of the season.
How Easter is celebrated in Sweden
In Sweden, Easter combines Christian observance with springtime family tradition. The official site Sweden.se says churches across the country observe Easter over several days, while many families celebrate with foods such as eggs, herring, gravlax and roast lamb.
Swedish Easter is also known for its distinctive visual traditions. Sweden.se notes that homes are often decorated with birch twigs and coloured feathers, and children may dress up as Easter witches, making Sweden’s Easter one of the most recognisable and playful in Europe.
What Easter traditions around the world have in common
Although Easter looks different from country to country, the same themes appear again and again: faith, renewal, family, food and springtime symbolism. In some places the focus is solemn and devotional, such as Spain’s processions and Greece’s Holy Week rites; in others, it is more family-centred, such as Britain’s egg hunts or the White House Egg Roll in the United States.
That is why Easter continues to matter across so many cultures. Even when the customs differ, the season still brings people together around memory, ritual, shared meals and the feeling of a fresh beginning.
FAQ
When is Easter in 2026?
For Western churches, Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026. For many Orthodox churches, Pascha is 12 April 2026.
Why is Orthodox Easter on a different date in 2026?
Orthodox churches use a different paschal calculation and liturgical tradition, so the date can fall later than Western Easter. In 2026, Western Easter is 5 April and Orthodox Easter is 12 April.
How is Easter celebrated in Greece?
Greek Easter is celebrated with Holy Week services, red-dyed eggs, festive family meals and local customs such as Corfu’s Botides.
What is Semana Santa in Spain?
Semana Santa means Holy Week in Spain and includes major religious processions, brotherhoods, music and decorated religious statues, especially in places such as Seville.
What are traditional Easter customs in Poland?
Key Polish Easter customs include Święconka basket blessings, pisanki decorated eggs and Śmigus-Dyngus on Easter Monday.
What makes Easter in Sweden special?
Sweden is known for Easter foods like eggs, herring and gravlax, plus colourful feathered birch twigs and children dressing as Easter witches.
What is the White House Easter Egg Roll?
It is a long-running American Easter Monday tradition held on the South Lawn of the White House, with the 2026 event scheduled for 6 April.
