Easter is one of the most important celebrations in Christianity. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is observed by Christians across the world.
Unlike Christmas, which falls on December 25 every year, Easter does not have a fixed calendar date. Its date changes from year to year because it is determined through a traditional ecclesiastical calculation involving the solar calendar and the lunar cycle.
For Christians planning church services, family gatherings, travel, holidays and other Easter activities, knowing the date in advance can be useful. The table below provides the dates for Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday for 100 consecutive years, from 2027 through 2126.
The dates are based on the Western Christian, or Gregorian, calculation of Easter.
Easter dates from 2027 to 2126
| Year | Good Friday | Holy Saturday | Easter Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | March 26 | March 27 | March 28 |
| 2028 | April 14 | April 15 | April 16 |
| 2029 | March 30 | March 31 | April 1 |
| 2030 | April 19 | April 20 | April 21 |
| 2031 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 |
| 2032 | March 26 | March 27 | March 28 |
| 2033 | April 15 | April 16 | April 17 |
| 2034 | April 7 | April 8 | April 9 |
| 2035 | March 23 | March 24 | March 25 |
| 2036 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 |
| 2037 | April 3 | April 4 | April 5 |
| 2038 | April 23 | April 24 | April 25 |
| 2039 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2040 | March 30 | March 31 | April 1 |
| 2041 | April 19 | April 20 | April 21 |
| 2042 | April 4 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 2043 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2044 | April 15 | April 16 | April 17 |
| 2045 | April 7 | April 8 | April 9 |
| 2046 | March 23 | March 24 | March 25 |
| 2047 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
| 2048 | April 3 | April 4 | April 5 |
| 2049 | April 16 | April 17 | April 18 |
| 2050 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2051 | March 31 | April 1 | April 2 |
| 2052 | April 19 | April 20 | April 21 |
| 2053 | April 4 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 2054 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2055 | April 16 | April 17 | April 18 |
| 2056 | March 31 | April 1 | April 2 |
| 2057 | April 20 | April 21 | April 22 |
| 2058 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
| 2059 | March 28 | March 29 | March 30 |
| 2060 | April 16 | April 17 | April 18 |
| 2061 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2062 | March 24 | March 25 | March 26 |
| 2063 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15 |
| 2064 | April 4 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 2065 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2066 | April 9 | April 10 | April 11 |
| 2067 | April 1 | April 2 | April 3 |
| 2068 | April 20 | April 21 | April 22 |
| 2069 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
| 2070 | March 28 | March 29 | March 30 |
| 2071 | April 17 | April 18 | April 19 |
| 2072 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2073 | March 24 | March 25 | March 26 |
| 2074 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15 |
| 2075 | April 5 | April 6 | April 7 |
| 2076 | April 17 | April 18 | April 19 |
| 2077 | April 9 | April 10 | April 11 |
| 2078 | April 1 | April 2 | April 3 |
| 2079 | April 21 | April 22 | April 23 |
| 2080 | April 5 | April 6 | April 7 |
| 2081 | March 28 | March 29 | March 30 |
| 2082 | April 17 | April 18 | April 19 |
| 2083 | April 2 | April 3 | April 4 |
| 2084 | March 24 | March 25 | March 26 |
| 2085 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15 |
| 2086 | March 29 | March 30 | March 31 |
| 2087 | April 18 | April 19 | April 20 |
| 2088 | April 9 | April 10 | April 11 |
| 2089 | April 1 | April 2 | April 3 |
| 2090 | April 14 | April 15 | April 16 |
| 2091 | April 6 | April 7 | April 8 |
| 2092 | March 28 | March 29 | March 30 |
| 2093 | April 10 | April 11 | April 12 |
| 2094 | April 2 | April 3 | April 4 |
| 2095 | April 22 | April 23 | April 24 |
| 2096 | April 13 | April 14 | April 15 |
| 2097 | March 29 | March 30 | March 31 |
| 2098 | April 18 | April 19 | April 20 |
| 2099 | April 10 | April 11 | April 12 |
| 2100 | March 26 | March 27 | March 28 |
| 2101 | April 15 | April 16 | April 17 |
| 2102 | April 7 | April 8 | April 9 |
| 2103 | March 23 | March 24 | March 25 |
| 2104 | April 11 | April 12 | April 13 |
| 2105 | April 3 | April 4 | April 5 |
| 2106 | April 16 | April 17 | April 18 |
| 2107 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2108 | March 30 | March 31 | April 1 |
| 2109 | April 19 | April 20 | April 21 |
| 2110 | April 4 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 2111 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2112 | April 15 | April 16 | April 17 |
| 2113 | March 31 | April 1 | April 2 |
| 2114 | April 20 | April 21 | April 22 |
| 2115 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
| 2116 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2117 | April 16 | April 17 | April 18 |
| 2118 | April 8 | April 9 | April 10 |
| 2119 | March 24 | March 25 | March 26 |
| 2120 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
| 2121 | April 4 | April 5 | April 6 |
| 2122 | March 27 | March 28 | March 29 |
| 2123 | April 9 | April 10 | April 11 |
| 2124 | March 31 | April 1 | April 2 |
| 2125 | April 20 | April 21 | April 22 |
| 2126 | April 12 | April 13 | April 14 |
What is Good Friday?
Good Friday is the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday. Christians observe it as a solemn day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
Churches around the world observe Good Friday in different ways. Services may include Scripture readings, prayers, hymns, sermons and periods of reflection on the crucifixion.
Good Friday always falls two days before Easter Sunday. The United States Naval Observatory lists Good Friday as one of the Christian observances that can be calculated from the date of Easter.
For example, in 2027:
Good Friday: March 26
Holy Saturday: March 27
Easter Sunday: March 28
What is Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
In Christian tradition, it commemorates the period when Jesus’ body was in the tomb following his crucifixion. It is therefore a day associated with waiting and reflection before the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
In some Christian traditions, Easter celebrations begin on Saturday evening through a special vigil. Other churches observe Holy Saturday more quietly and begin their main Easter celebrations on Sunday.
Because Holy Saturday is the day immediately before Easter Sunday, its date can be established by counting back one day from Easter.
What is Easter Sunday?
Easter Sunday is the central day of the Easter celebration.
Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of Christian belief concerning the victory of life over death.
In the Western Christian tradition, Easter Sunday is determined using the Gregorian ecclesiastical calculation. The United States Naval Observatory explains that Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon occurring on or after March 21.
This means the date is not determined simply by observing the astronomical full moon each year. The calculation uses an ecclesiastical full moon based on established tables.
Why does Easter change every year?
The changing date of Easter comes from the way the Christian calendar connects the celebration with the spring season and the lunar cycle. The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE established principles for determining Easter. Over the centuries, different calculation systems were developed.
The Gregorian calendar reform of 1582 introduced revised tables and rules that became the basis for the Easter calculation used by most Western Christian churches.
The Gregorian calculation fixes the ecclesiastical vernal equinox at March 21. Easter Sunday is then the first Sunday following the relevant ecclesiastical full moon.
As a result, Easter can occur on different dates each year.
Under the Gregorian system, Easter Sunday can never be earlier than March 22 or later than April 25.
Why can Easter be in March or April?
The calculation of Easter combines several calendar rules.
The first important date is March 21, which is treated as the ecclesiastical date of the spring equinox. The calculation then identifies the relevant ecclesiastical full moon. Easter is observed on the first Sunday that follows it.
This explains why Easter can move considerably from one year to another.
For instance, Easter Sunday is on March 28 in 2027, but it moves to April 16 in 2028. In 2030, it falls on April 21.
The movement does not mean the Christian celebration itself is changing. Rather, the calendar date assigned to the celebration changes according to the established calculation.
How are the Easter dates calculated?
Modern mathematical algorithms can calculate the Gregorian date of Easter for any year within their applicable range.
The U.S. Naval Observatory publishes an algorithm for determining the month and day of Gregorian Easter Sunday. Its calculation uses integer arithmetic and a series of calendar corrections to arrive at the Easter date.
The Observatory also provides a service for calculating selected Christian observances for years from 1583 onward. These include Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.
The 100-year calendar above follows the Gregorian Easter calculation.
Western Easter and Orthodox Easter can be different
One important point when looking at future Easter dates is that there is not a single calculation followed by every Christian church.
Most Western Christian churches use the Gregorian Easter tables. Many Eastern Orthodox churches use older tables based on the Julian calendar, although practices vary among Eastern Christian churches.
Consequently, Western Easter and Orthodox Easter can fall on different dates.
For example, in 2027, Western Easter is March 28, while Orthodox Easter is May 2.
Therefore, anyone using a future Easter calendar should first establish which Christian tradition’s calendar they need.
The importance of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday
Although the three days form part of the same Easter period, each has a distinct place in Christian observance.
Good Friday focuses on the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
Holy Saturday marks the period of waiting between the crucifixion and the resurrection.
Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Together, these days form an important part of Holy Week and the Easter observance for Christians worldwide.
Easter dates can help with long term planning
A 100-year Easter calendar can be useful for people and organisations that plan events well in advance.
Churches may use future dates when developing worship calendars and major programmes. Schools, universities and businesses may also consider Easter when preparing annual schedules.
The dates can also be relevant to travel planning because Easter holidays can affect demand for flights, hotels and other tourism services in countries where Easter is widely observed.
Families may also use the dates to plan reunions, religious activities and other gatherings.
However, the actual public holidays associated with Easter vary from country to country. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays in some countries, while other Easter-related days may have different legal or cultural status.
For this reason, a future Easter date should not automatically be treated as a public holiday everywhere.
A 100-year reference at a glance
The table provides a complete reference from 2027 through 2126.
The earliest Easter Sunday in this particular 100-year period is March 25, occurring in 2035, 2046 and 2073. The latest is April 25, occurring in 2038.
This demonstrates the wide range within which Easter moves under the Gregorian system.
The dates also show that Easter can occasionally return to the same date after only a few years. For example, Easter Sunday falls on March 28 in both 2027 and 2032.
The movement is governed by the calendar calculation rather than a fixed repeating pattern that can simply be read from one year to the next.
Final thoughts
Easter does not have a fixed date because its calculation is connected to the ecclesiastical lunar cycle and the spring equinox.
For the next 100 years, from 2027 to 2126, Easter Sunday will continue to fall between late March and late April under the Gregorian calculation. Good Friday will always be two days before Easter Sunday, while Holy Saturday will fall immediately before Easter Sunday.
This makes the 100-year calendar useful as a long term reference for anyone who needs to know when these important Christian observances will occur.
The dates in this article follow the Western Christian Gregorian system. Readers following an Orthodox or another Christian tradition should check the calendar used by their church because the date of Easter may differ.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational and planning purposes. The dates provided are based on the Western Christian Gregorian calculation of Easter. Christian denominations that use different calendars or calculation methods may observe Easter on different dates. Public holiday arrangements also vary between countries and can change according to national law. For official religious, government, educational, travel or business planning, readers should confirm the applicable dates with the relevant authority or organisation.
References
United States Naval Observatory. (n.d.). The date of Easter. Astronomical Applications Department. United States Naval Observatory: The date of Easter
United States Naval Observatory. (n.d.). Selected Christian observances. Astronomical Applications Department. United States Naval Observatory: Selected Christian observances
United States Naval Observatory. (n.d.). Introduction to calendars. Astronomical Applications Department. United States Naval Observatory: Introduction to calendars
van Gent, R. H. (n.d.). A perpetual Easter and Passover calculator. Utrecht University. Utrecht University: A perpetual Easter and Passover calculator
