What Day Is It?In Türkiye, Regaib Kandili 2026 is on December 10, 2026, on the evening of Thursday. It is the first of the holy nights in the three months leading up to Ramadan.
What is Regaib Kandili?
Regaib is the night before the first Friday of Rajab, a month in the Islamic calendar. The word comes from Arabic and is linked to things that are hoped for and to generous gifts. In Türkiye, a holy night of this kind is called a kandil, after the oil lamps once lit on minarets.
The three months
Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan are known in Türkiye as üç aylar, the three months. Regaib opens this period, and Ramadan closes it. Many people pray and fast more often during these weeks.
Why does the date move?
The Islamic calendar follows the moon and is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so each kandil comes earlier every year. The dates here follow Türkiye’s official calendar. Regaib is not a public holiday, so offices and schools stay open.
How the night is marked
Mosques fill for the evening prayer, and many families read the Qur’an, pray and visit elders. The small sesame rings called kandil simidi are sold in bakeries. A common greeting is "Kandiliniz mübarek olsun", which means "May your holy night be blessed."
Regaib Kandili dates
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 10 | Thursday |
| 2027 | December 2 | Thursday |
| 2028 | November 23 | Thursday |
Frequently asked questions
Is Regaib Kandili a public holiday in Türkiye?
No. It is a religious observance, and working life continues as usual.
Why is Regaib always on a Thursday evening?
Because it is the night before the first Friday of Rajab, and in the Islamic calendar a new day begins at sunset.