All Ekadashi Dates 2026: Complete Year Calendar with Parana Guidance

Quick answer: There are about 24 Ekadashis in 2026 (25-26 in an Adhika-maasa year), one each in the Shukla and Krishna paksha of every lunar month. Each Ekadashi is broken (parana) the next day on Dwadashi after local sunrise. Exact fasting and parana clock times vary by city and tradition, so confirm from a local panchang.

Ekadashi is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight, observed by Vaishnavas and many other Hindus as a day of fasting and devotion to Bhagavan Vishnu. Because there are two fortnights (paksha) in every lunar month, there are normally two Ekadashis a month and roughly 24 in a year — with 25 or 26 when an extra intercalary month (Adhika-maasa) is inserted.

Each Ekadashi carries its own name and story, and each is completed the following day on Dwadashi within a specific parana (break-fast) window that begins after local sunrise. Because sunrise, tithi start and end, and paksha counting all depend on your city and on whether your community follows the Amanta or Purnimanta system, the exact clock times differ from place to place. This page gives you the year-round dates and the correct method; always confirm the precise fasting and parana times from your local panchang.

• Observance: Ekadashi Vrat (fast for Vishnu)
• Frequency 2026: ~24 Ekadashis (two per lunar month)
• Key tithi: Ekadashi (11th lunar day)
• Parana: Next day on Dwadashi, after local sunrise
• Deity: Bhagavan Vishnu / Krishna
• Confirm times: Local city panchang (do not assume)

What is Ekadashi?

The word Ekadashi means "the eleventh" and refers to the eleventh day after both the new moon (Amavasya) and the full moon (Purnima). The Shukla-paksha Ekadashi falls in the waxing (bright) fortnight, and the Krishna-paksha Ekadashi falls in the waning (dark) fortnight. Traditionally the day is spent in a partial or full fast, extra prayer, chanting of Vishnu's names, and reading or hearing the story (katha) attached to that particular Ekadashi.

Many devotees avoid grains and beans (especially rice) on Ekadashi and eat only fruit, milk or a single sattvic meal, while some observe a waterless (nirjala) fast. Children, the elderly, the unwell and pregnant women typically follow a lighter observance. Ekadashi is meant to purify the mind and body and to deepen bhakti, not to be a test of endurance — choose the level of fasting your health allows.

How the parana (breaking the fast) works

The fast is not broken on Ekadashi itself but on the next morning, Dwadashi, within a defined parana window that opens after local sunrise. The general rule is to break the fast early on Dwadashi, after sunrise and before the Dwadashi tithi ends, avoiding the Hari Vasara (first quarter of Dwadashi) where that convention is followed. Because these depend on your exact sunrise and the tithi timings for your location, the parana time is city-specific.

1. Keep the fast through the whole of Ekadashi day and night, as per your chosen level (phalahar, single meal, or nirjala).
2. On the next morning (Dwadashi), wait until after local sunrise before eating.
3. Break the fast within the parana window shown in your local panchang — generally in the early part of the day.
4. If a special rule applies (e.g., Dwadashi ends very early, or two Ekadashis are marked for smarta vs vaishnava), follow your tradition's guidance.
5. Offer prayers to Vishnu and, where customary, give food or charity before breaking the fast.

All Ekadashi Dates 2026 (Indicative Calendar)

The table below lists the Ekadashis through 2026 with the common name and paksha. Dates are indicative and may shift by a day depending on your city, sunrise reckoning, and whether smarta or vaishnava observance is followed on split days. Ekadashi names also vary slightly by region and tradition. Always verify the exact date and parana window against your local panchang.

Note on the Bhadrapada (Aug-Sep) Ekadashis: because Bhadrapada 2026 spans roughly late August to early October and the Amanta and Purnimanta systems number the months differently, the Ekadashi names around this period — Aja (~7 Sep) and Parivartini / Parsva / Vamana (~22 Sep) — are labelled differently by different communities. Neither system is "wrong"; use the one your family follows and confirm locally.

Major Ekadashis to remember in 2026

• Nirjala Ekadashi (~5 Jun) — the waterless fast said to grant the merit of all Ekadashis.
• Devshayani / Ashadhi Ekadashi (~5 Jul) — Vishnu's yoga-nidra begins; start of Chaturmasya.
• Parivartini / Parsva Ekadashi (~22 Sep) — Vishnu turns in cosmic sleep; falls in Bhadrapada.
• Devutthana / Prabodhini Ekadashi (~20 Nov) — Vishnu awakens; end of Chaturmasya, weddings resume.
• Vaikuntha / Mokshada Ekadashi (~19 Dec) — associated with the Gita Jayanti and opening of Vaikuntha's gates.

How to confirm your exact date and parana time

Because a single Ekadashi can fall on different English dates in different cities — and can even be observed on two consecutive days (one for smartas, one for vaishnavas) — the safest approach is to check a panchang set to your own city. Look up the sunrise, the Ekadashi tithi start and end, and the printed parana window for the following Dwadashi. If you are an NRI observing on a different date-line, this matters even more.

Related reading

• linkBhadrapada Masam 2026 — month pillarhttps://hindutone.com/festivals/bhadrapada-masam-2026/
• linkSeptember 2026 Hindu Festival Calendarhttps://hindutone.com/festivals/september-2026-hindu-festival-calendar/
• linkWhich panchang should NRIs follow?https://hindutone.com/festivals/which-panchang-should-nris-follow/
• linkGanesh Chaturthi 2026 — date, muhurat, city-wisehttps://hindutone.com/ganesh-chaturthi/ganesh-chaturthi-2026-date-muhurat-city-wise/

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ekadashis are there in 2026?

There are about 24 Ekadashis in 2026 — one in the Shukla (bright) paksha and one in the Krishna (dark) paksha of each lunar month. In years with an extra intercalary month there can be 25 or 26, but 2026 as counted here has the usual two per month.

What is parana and when do I break the Ekadashi fast?

Parana is the ritual breaking of the fast. You do not break it on Ekadashi itself but the next morning on Dwadashi, after local sunrise and within the parana window printed in your panchang — usually in the early part of the day. Exact times depend on your city.

Why do the Ekadashi dates differ by a day in some calendars?

The tithi (lunar day) is calculated from the moon's position and can begin and end at different clock times, so a single Ekadashi may span different English dates in different cities. Smarta and vaishnava traditions may also observe split Ekadashis on different days. Always confirm locally.

What can I eat during an Ekadashi fast?

Many devotees avoid grains, rice and beans and take only fruit, milk, nuts or a single sattvic meal. Some keep a waterless (nirjala) fast. The right level depends on your health — children, elders, the unwell and pregnant women should follow a lighter observance.

Which is the most important Ekadashi in 2026?

Nirjala Ekadashi (around 5 June) is considered especially meritorious because it is a waterless fast said to give the benefit of all the year's Ekadashis. Devshayani, Prabodhini and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are also widely observed.

Which Ekadashis fall in Bhadrapada 2026?

Aja Ekadashi (around 7 September) and Parivartini / Parsva Ekadashi (around 22 September) fall in the Bhadrapada period. Because the Amanta and Purnimanta systems number months differently, the names used can vary by community; follow the tradition your family keeps.

Do the Ekadashi names change by region?

Yes. The same Ekadashi can carry different names — for example Parivartini, Parsva, or Vamana Ekadashi — across regions and sampradayas. The vrat and its meaning remain the same; only the local name differs. Neither naming is incorrect.

Can I follow this calendar if I live abroad as an NRI?

Use these dates as a guide only. Because sunrise and tithi timings differ across the world, an NRI should always cross-check a panchang set to their own city to fix the correct Ekadashi date and parana time. See our guide on which panchang NRIs should follow.