Rosh Hashanah 2026: Key Dates, Times, and Observances Detailed
Rosh Hashanah in 2026 will commence on Friday evening, September 11th, and conclude on Sunday evening, September 13th. This Jewish holiday, marking the New Year, is unique in that it is observed for two consecutive days even within Israel, unlike many other holidays which are shortened by one day in the homeland. Specific candle-lighting and holiday-ending times for major Israeli cities have been provided, ranging from 6:12 PM to 6:32 PM for entry on September 11th and 7:24 PM to 7:27 PM for exit on September 13th.
The two-day observance stems from historical uncertainty regarding the determination of the New Moon, which traditionally relied on eyewitness testimony. To avoid doubt, both possible days for the New Moon were observed as Rosh Hashanah. Common greetings include "Leshana haba'ah tiktavu" (May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year) or simply "Shana tova" (Good year).
A central observance is the sounding of the shofar. In 2026, due to the first day of Rosh Hashanah falling on a Shabbat, shofar blasts will only occur on the second day. The shofar, typically made from a ram's horn, is sounded in a sequence of blasts: a single long blast (tekiah), broken blasts (shevarim), and a wailing sound (teruah), repeated in specific patterns. Women are exempt from the obligation to hear the shofar but traditionally participate.
Observances when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat include refraining from blowing the shofar on the first day due to concerns about carrying it into a public domain, omitting the "Avinu Malkeinu" prayer, and postponing the Tashlich ceremony (a custom of casting away sins at a body of water) to the second day. Cooking is also restricted on the first day, with preparations for the second day's meal commencing after Shabbat ends.
Prayers during Rosh Hashanah focus on God's sovereignty, distinct from the themes of repentance and atonement emphasized on Yom Kippur. Readings from the Torah on the first day include the story of Isaac's birth, and on the second day, the binding of Isaac. The Tashlich ceremony, a mid-13th-century Ashkenazi custom adopted by Kabbalists, involves reciting prayers by a water source. Festive meals are traditional, with symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, fish, and pomegranates eaten to invoke blessings for the new year.
