When Is Easter?
Orthodox and Catholic Easter dates for every year from 2026 to 2035 — with the full movable-feast cycle and Bulgaria’s official days off.
The next Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, 2 May 2027. Catholic Easter 2027 falls on Sunday, 28 March 2027.
Easter dates by year
| Year | Orthodox Easter | Catholic Easter | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 Apr 2026 | 5 Apr 2026 | 1 week |
| 2027 | 2 May 2027 | 28 Mar 2027 | 5 weeks |
| 2028 | 16 Apr 2028 | 16 Apr 2028 | same day |
| 2029 | 8 Apr 2029 | 1 Apr 2029 | 1 week |
| 2030 | 28 Apr 2030 | 21 Apr 2030 | 1 week |
| 2031 | 13 Apr 2031 | 13 Apr 2031 | same day |
| 2032 | 2 May 2032 | 28 Mar 2032 | 5 weeks |
| 2033 | 24 Apr 2033 | 17 Apr 2033 | 1 week |
| 2034 | 9 Apr 2034 | 9 Apr 2034 | same day |
| 2035 | 29 Apr 2035 | 25 Mar 2035 | 5 weeks |
How the date of Easter is set
Easter is kept on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. The Orthodox Church reckons the full moon and the equinox by the Julian calendar, the Catholic Church by the Gregorian one — so the two feasts usually land one to five weeks apart, coinciding only in some years.
The whole movable cycle hangs off the Easter date: Forgiveness Sunday (7 weeks before), Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday (the week before), Good Friday and Holy Saturday, then Ascension (day 40) and Pentecost (day 50) after the feast. Each year page lists the complete cycle.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Easter?
The next Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, 2 May 2027.
Why does Easter fall on a different date every year?
Easter is kept on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Because the full moon shifts against the calendar, the date wanders — Orthodox Easter falls between 4 April and 8 May on the civil calendar.
When do Orthodox and Catholic Easter coincide?
Between 2026 and 2035 the two dates coincide in 2028, 2031, 2034.
Which days around Easter are public holidays in Bulgaria?
Under the Bulgarian Labour Code, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday and Monday are official days off — four consecutive days in total.