The yearly Islamic pilgrimage known as the Hajj will begin to transition to cooler seasons in 2026 for relief from summer hajj passing through spring, winter, and autumn, providing millions of worshipers with much-needed respite and solace.
Hussein Al Qahtani, spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology (NCM), shared that this year will be the last time Hajj takes place during the scorching summer months, according to reports from Gulf News.
He explained that for the next eight years, from 2026 to 2033, Hajj will fall in spring. Following that, the pilgrimage will move into winter for another eight years, then transition to autumn as temperatures begin to rise again. After this cycle, summer Hajj will not return until around 2050.
The NCM spokesperson emphasized that this change is entirely due to the lunar Islamic calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar. Because of this, the dates of Hajj move earlier each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar, allowing pilgrims to experience cooler and more comfortable weather during the pilgrimage for many years to come.
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The NCM has even released a detailed 25-year calendar showing how the dates of Hajj will align with the different seasons until 2050, helping everyone plan ahead.
Here’s how the Hajj seasons will look through 2050:
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2026–2033: Spring (around March to May)
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2034–2041: Winter (roughly December to February)
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2042–2049: Autumn (from September to November)
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2050: Hajj returns to summer, in August
This shift means the physically demanding pilgrimage will avoid the extreme heat of summer for over two decades, making the spiritual journey safer and more comfortable for all.
